KDP Royalty Calculator
Estimate your Amazon KDP earnings: enter your book price, page count, format, print cost, and royalty rate to see your royalty, printing cost, net profit per sale, and margin.
Last Updated: June 2026
Reviewed for current platform fees and pricing rules.
Royalty earned
$5.99
Printing cost
$2.85
Net profit / sale
$3.14
Profit margin
31.5%
KDP Royalty Quick Tips
- KDP royalties can vary depending on your book price, printing costs, marketplace, and royalty option selected.
- Books with heavy color interiors often have higher printing costs, which can reduce profit margins.
- Many self-publishers test different price points to balance royalties, competitiveness, and reader demand.
Royalty estimates may vary depending on Amazon marketplace fees and future pricing changes.
Selling on Etsy too? Try the Etsy Profit Calculator to compare margins across platforms.
Formula
Royalty = Price × Royalty% ÷ 100 · Net profit = Royalty − Printing cost · Margin = Net profit ÷ Price × 100
Worked example
A $9.99 paperback, 250 pages, black & white interior, $2.85 print cost, 60% royalty.
- Royalty = 9.99 × 0.60 = $5.99
- Printing cost = $2.85
- Net profit = 5.99 − 2.85 = $3.14
- Margin = 3.14 ÷ 9.99 × 100 ≈ 31.4%
Answer: $3.14 net profit per sale (≈31.4% margin)
How it works
Amazon KDP pays a royalty that is a percentage of your book's list price. For paperbacks and hardcovers, Amazon then deducts the printing cost of each copy before paying you. The leftover is your net profit per sale.
Printing cost depends on page count, trim size, interior type (black & white is much cheaper than color), and format (hardcover costs more than paperback). Get the per-copy cost from KDP's printing cost calculator and paste it in here.
The royalty rate is usually 60% for paperback and hardcover on Amazon's main marketplaces. For Kindle eBooks the choice is 35% or 70% depending on price and territory — adjust the royalty field to match your book's setup.
Common mistakes
- Confusing list price with what Amazon actually pays — the royalty is a percentage of price, not the full price.
- Forgetting to subtract printing cost on paperbacks and hardcovers — only eBooks skip this step.
- Using a 70% Kindle royalty for a book priced outside the $2.99–$9.99 band where Amazon requires 35%.
- Estimating print cost from page count alone without accounting for color interior or hardcover binding.
FAQ
- What royalty rate should I use?
- Paperback and hardcover are typically 60% on Amazon. Kindle eBooks are 35% or 70% depending on list price and territory — check KDP's pricing page for current rules.
- Where do I get the print cost?
- KDP's own printing cost calculator gives an exact per-copy figure based on page count, trim size, ink (black & white vs. color), and format. Paste that number into the print cost field.
- Does this include Amazon Ads or marketing spend?
- No. This is the per-sale profit before ads. Subtract your ad spend per sale separately to get your true take-home.
- Why is my margin lower on color or hardcover?
- Color printing and hardcover binding both raise the per-copy print cost a lot. A hardcover with a color interior can leave very little profit unless the list price is high.
- Does this work for Kindle eBooks?
- Yes — set print cost to 0 and use 35% or 70% as your royalty rate. The net profit will simply be your royalty.
- Is the royalty before or after Amazon's delivery fee?
- For 70% Kindle royalties Amazon also charges a per-MB delivery fee that this calculator doesn't subtract. For 35% and for print books, no delivery fee applies.
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