Skip to content
SLC

Comparison

IngramSpark vs. KDP: Print Cost & What You Keep

KDP and IngramSpark both print on demand, but they pay you on completely different models — which is why their 'earnings' numbers never line up on their own. This page reconciles both to one number you can actually compare: dollars you keep per copy, plus the break-even scenarios that decide which setup nets you the most.

Share on XShare on Facebook

Side-by-side comparison

A quick overview of how KDP and IngramSpark stack up on the things that matter most.

FactorKDPIngramSpark
Pay modelRoyalty: a share of list price minus printing (60% on Amazon, 40% on Expanded Distribution).List price minus the wholesale discount you set, minus printing.
Discount controlNone — retailer cut is baked into the royalty rate.You set the wholesale discount (commonly 30-55%) per title.
Per-copy on Amazon ($16.99 book, ~$4.05 print)≈$6.14 (60% − print).Not the right channel — use KDP.
Per-copy on bookstore distribution≈$2.75 via KDP Expanded Distribution (40% − print).≈$3.60 at 55% wholesale discount (the typical trade rate).
Print cost shapeFixed per-book + per-page, varies by trim, ink, marketplace.Fixed per-book + per-page, varies by trim, ink, binding, marketplace.
Setup feeFree.Historically a one-time per-title setup/revision fee (sometimes waived by promo).
Best forAmazon sales (highest royalty there).Bookstores, libraries, international wholesalers — and hardcover formats KDP doesn't offer.
Match-point math60% royalty on Amazon.A 40% wholesale discount on IngramSpark earns roughly the same per copy.

Pros and cons

KDP

Pros

  • Free to publish — no setup fee to recoup.
  • Best per-copy on Amazon, where most indie books sell.
  • Lower per-unit print cost on most standard paperbacks.
  • Simple, fast workflow with forgiving file specs.

Cons

  • Expanded Distribution pays a much lower royalty than Amazon (~40% vs 60%).
  • Limited hardcover options (case laminate only; no jacketed).
  • Bookstores rarely stock KDP-only titles.
  • No control over the retailer cut — it's baked in.

IngramSpark

Pros

  • You control the wholesale discount — the master dial for per-copy vs reach.
  • Higher per-copy than KDP Expanded Distribution on non-Amazon channels.
  • Real bookstore, library, and international wholesale reach via Ingram.
  • Hardcover options KDP doesn't match (case laminate + jacketed across many trims).

Cons

  • Setup/revision fees can apply per title.
  • Stricter PDF/cover specs and longer learning curve.
  • Higher per-unit print cost on some specs.
  • Slower payouts and possible returns charged back to the author.

Example scenarios

Realistic situations and which platform tends to fit best.

Why the two models don't line up

KDP prices the retailer cut in for you — you set a list price and the royalty rate decides what's left. IngramSpark hands you the dial: you set the wholesale discount that goes to whoever sells the book, then keep list minus that discount minus printing. Comparing 'rates' is meaningless — only dollars-per-copy at the discount you'd actually set is honest.

The match point: 60% royalty = 40% discount

KDP's 60% Amazon royalty is economically the same as granting a 40% wholesale discount on IngramSpark (before any print-cost difference). That's the financial pivot. Above a 40% discount on Ingram, you're trading per-copy earnings for retailer reach — and the question becomes whether the wider distribution earns enough extra units to clear the difference.

Why pros run both with KDP Expanded Distribution off

Through KDP Expanded Distribution, the same $16.99 book pays about $2.75/copy. Through IngramSpark at a 55% discount, it pays about $3.60/copy on the same channel — that's more per copy, plus better catalog presence with bookstores and libraries. Running KDP for Amazon and IngramSpark for everywhere else (ED off) is strictly better than either alone once volume clears the setup fee.

Three break-evens to run

1) Setup-fee break-even: copies to recoup = setup fee ÷ your IngramSpark keep-per-copy. 2) Discount-vs-reach multiplier: a 55% discount needs ~1.7× the units a 40% discount would sell to match total dollars. 3) Both-platforms break-even: the point where incremental non-Amazon copies at $3.60 each exceed the setup fee.

Frequently asked questions

Is IngramSpark better than KDP?
Neither is universally better — they pay differently. KDP keeps you more per copy on Amazon; IngramSpark keeps you more per copy on non-Amazon distribution than KDP's Expanded Distribution does. Convert both to dollars-per-copy for your exact book and the answer is specific to you.
Should I use both KDP and IngramSpark?
Often yes for titles with non-Amazon demand — KDP for Amazon, IngramSpark for everywhere else, with KDP Expanded Distribution turned off so they don't compete at the worse rate. Below the setup-fee break-even, KDP-only can net more.
What wholesale discount should I set on IngramSpark?
High enough to earn the reach you need — trade distribution typically expects something in the 53-55% range — but every point of discount is per-copy earnings you give up. Set it against the reach it actually buys, using the unit multiplier (1.7× to match KDP-Amazon dollars at the 40-to-55 jump).
Does IngramSpark cost money?
It has historically charged a one-time per-title setup/revision fee (sometimes waived by promotions), whereas KDP is free to publish. Factor that one-time cost into low-volume titles using the setup-fee break-even.
Is IngramSpark print cost the same as KDP?
The shape is the same (fixed per-book + per-page), but the exact numbers differ and both change over time. Don't assume one print cost covers both — pull each platform's real number for your trim, page count, and ink.

Related calculators

Put the comparison into numbers for your own shop.

Related guides

Plain-English deep dives that pair with this comparison.

Seller hub

IngramSpark Seller Hub

Calculators and guides for IngramSpark print and wholesale distribution.

All seller tools

Browse every calculator and guide

Etsy, KDP, print-on-demand, and more.

More comparisons