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KDP Expanded Distribution vs IngramSpark Calculator

On non-Amazon channels you can distribute through KDP Expanded Distribution or through IngramSpark. This is a pre-decision comparison: KDP Expanded Distribution pays 40% of list minus your current KDP printing cost, while IngramSpark pays the current publisher compensation you enter. Each platform uses its own print cost.

Who this calculator helps

  • Authors choosing a non-Amazon distribution route before publishing an ISBN.
  • Hybrid publishers modelling the trade-channel side of a release.
  • Series planners forecasting library and bookstore availability.
  • Authors reviewing which route pays more for their own numbers.

From the KDP pricing page for your book

From your IngramSpark title setup

KDP Expanded Distribution / copy

$3.15

40% × list − KDP print cost

Moderate Profit Potential

IngramSpark compensation / copy

$3.00

As entered

Per-copy difference

$0.15

Positive = more per copy on KDP-ED in this scenario

Monthly compensation in this scenario — non-Amazon channels

  • KDP Expanded Distribution$188.76
  • IngramSpark$180.00

Higher estimated compensation in this scenario: KDP Expanded Distribution.

This is a pre-decision comparison of one distribution route against the other. For paperback Expanded Distribution eligibility, KDP currently requires that the ISBN not already have been submitted for distribution through another service. If the same ISBN has already been submitted through IngramSpark distribution, it does not meet that KDP Expanded Distribution ISBN eligibility condition. KDP hardcover is not eligible for Expanded Distribution.

Pick one distribution route for a given ISBN rather than running both for the same distributed ISBN. Each platform uses its own print cost. Confirm the current publisher compensation and any current distribution charges shown for your title and market in IngramSpark.

All calculations are estimates based on average platform fees. Real profits may vary depending on category, ads, and shipping.

Free worksheet for your next step

Turn this calculator result into a plan with a matching worksheet, checklist, or printable resource.

  • WorkbookPublishing Toolkit

    Self-Publishing Comparison Workbook

    A printable workbook for comparing Amazon KDP and IngramSpark using your own current print costs, compensation inputs, distribution priorities, return settings, and publishing goals.

    Open the worksheet →
  • Cheat SheetPublishing Toolkit

    Wholesale Discount Cheat Sheet

    A printable guide to understanding how IngramSpark wholesale discounts affect publisher compensation, trade availability, and return risk — with a worksheet for checking your current title settings.

    View the cheat sheet →

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter your numbers in each field above — the calculator updates instantly as you type, so there's nothing to submit.
  2. Use your real figures when you have them, or sensible estimates while you're planning. If a field doesn't apply, leave it at zero.
  3. Compare the results, then change one input at a time to see how each lever (price, cost, fees, volume) moves the outcome.

When to use this calculator

  • Before choosing a distribution route for a new ISBN.
  • When reviewing an existing title's distribution setup.
  • When your printing cost or compensation changes on either side.

Formula

KDP Expanded Distribution/copy = (List × 40%) − Current KDP print cost · IngramSpark/copy = Current publisher compensation

Worked example

A $16.99 paperback with a $3.65 current KDP printing cost; IngramSpark currently shows $3.45 compensation per copy; 60 non-Amazon copies a month.

  1. KDP-ED per copy = (16.99 × 0.40) − 3.65 = 6.796 − 3.65 = $3.15
  2. KDP-ED monthly = 3.15 × 60 = $189
  3. IngramSpark monthly = 3.45 × 60 = $207

Answer: $189 vs $207 monthly in this scenario

More worked examples

The same paperback where IngramSpark currently shows $5.99 compensation per copy.

  1. KDP-ED per copy = $3.15 (unchanged)
  2. IngramSpark per copy = $5.99

Answer: IngramSpark is higher by $2.84 per copy in this scenario

How it works

KDP Expanded Distribution is convenient — one platform, one upload — and pays 40% of list on non-Amazon sales, minus KDP's own printing cost. IngramSpark pays the wholesale price minus its own print cost, which is why you enter the compensation figure currently shown for your title.

Eligibility matters as much as the arithmetic. For paperback Expanded Distribution eligibility, KDP currently requires that the ISBN not already have been submitted for distribution through another service. If the same ISBN has already been submitted through IngramSpark distribution, it does not meet that KDP Expanded Distribution ISBN eligibility condition. KDP hardcover is not eligible for Expanded Distribution. Treat this as a choice of one route for a given ISBN.

Expert tips

  • Check the current eligibility rules on both platforms before committing an ISBN to either route.
  • Enter KDP's printing cost from KDP and IngramSpark's compensation from IngramSpark — they are not interchangeable.
  • Availability is not the same as stocking; a store still decides for itself.
  • Factor in the work of managing an extra distribution setup, not only the per-copy difference.

How to interpret your results

  • Dollar values are shown per sale, per order, or per item unless a result is explicitly labelled monthly, weekly, or daily.
  • Percentages (margin, ROI, conversion rate) are easier to compare across products and price points than raw dollars — use them when you benchmark.
  • A positive result means you're ahead after the costs and fees you entered. A negative result means the current numbers don't work — change a lever (raise price, cut a cost, lower ad spend) and recalculate.
  • Treat the output as a planning estimate, not a guarantee. Fees, taxes, and conversion rates shift over time — re-run the numbers whenever a key input changes.

Limitations

  • Uses the values you enter; it does not look up current costs or compensation.
  • Does not include current title setup or revision charges — check current IngramSpark pricing for those.
  • Does not model the time cost of managing distribution.

Common mistakes

  • Running both distribution routes for the same distributed ISBN.
  • Using one print cost for both platforms.
  • Assuming a distribution route guarantees that stores will stock the book.

Related Guides

Go deeper with plain-English guides on the same topic.

FAQ

Will Amazon stop selling my book if I turn off Expanded Distribution?
Expanded Distribution governs non-Amazon channels, so your Amazon listing is a separate matter. Check the current KDP terms for your account before changing a setting.
Can I use both for the same ISBN?
For paperback Expanded Distribution eligibility, KDP currently requires that the ISBN not already have been submitted for distribution through another service, so choose one route for a given distributed ISBN. KDP hardcover is not eligible for Expanded Distribution.
Which pays more?
It depends entirely on your list price, your current KDP printing cost, and the current IngramSpark compensation for your title. Enter all three and compare.

Why trust this calculator?

This tool uses standard mathematical formulas and commonly accepted calculation methods, shown openly in the Formula section above so you can verify the math yourself. Results are estimates based on the information you enter and do not account for every individual circumstance. For important financial, tax, legal, medical, or business decisions, please double-check with a qualified professional before acting on the numbers.

Keep going

One calculator rarely tells the full story. Pair this one with a related tool below to pressure-test your numbers from a different angle, or browse Work & Money Calculators for more in the same category.

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