How To Publish Your First Book On Amazon KDP
Anyone with a finished manuscript can publish a book on Amazon KDP in a single afternoon, for free, in ebook, paperback, and hardcover. Here's exactly how to do it without leaving royalties on the table.
What KDP is
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is Amazon's free self-publishing platform. You upload a manuscript and cover, set a price, and Amazon lists your book worldwide as a Kindle ebook, print-on-demand paperback, and print-on-demand hardcover. There's no upfront cost, no inventory, and no warehouse — print books are printed only when someone orders one.
Creating your KDP account
Go to kdp.amazon.com, sign in with your Amazon account, and complete three things: author/publisher details, bank account for direct-deposit royalties, and the tax interview (W-9 in the US, W-8 international). You can't be paid until the tax interview is done, so finish it first. The whole setup takes about 15–20 minutes.
Choosing formats
Most beginners start with ebook + paperback. Ebook captures digital readers and impulse buyers at a low price; paperback satisfies readers who want a physical copy. Add a hardcover for premium or gift editions. Low-content books (journals, planners, notebooks) are almost always paperback only. You can publish all three formats of the same title from one dashboard.
How royalties work
Ebooks earn 70% royalty in the $2.99–$9.99 band (minus a small $0.15/MB delivery fee) or 35% outside it. Print earns 60% of list price for books $9.99 and above, 50% below $9.99 — minus the printing cost, which depends on page count, trim, and ink. A 300-page B&W paperback prints for ~$3.65–$4.60; premium color is much higher.
Uploading manuscript and cover
Ebook manuscripts: DOCX, EPUB, or KPF; keep file size small (delivery fee), use proper styles for reflow, and include front matter. Print manuscripts: a print-ready PDF formatted to your exact trim (6×9" is a safe default), with correct interior margins and bleed if images run to the edge — use KDP's templates. Covers: ebooks need ~2,560 × 1,600 px JPG/TIFF; print needs a single PDF covering front, spine, and back at your exact trim and page count.
Pricing and KDP Select
Run your price through a royalty calculator before publishing — the difference between $8.99 and $9.99 on print is huge because of the 50%/60% threshold. Keep your ebook at least 20% cheaper than the print edition (a requirement for the 70% royalty). KDP Select gives Kindle Unlimited inclusion and promotional tools in exchange for 90-day ebook exclusivity — useful for some genres, restrictive for others.
Timeline and going live
Once you hit Publish, Amazon reviews the book — usually within 72 hours, often faster for ebooks. Print formats can take a few extra days to fully link and become searchable. After launch, you manage everything from the KDP dashboard: sales, royalty estimates, marketing tools, and edits to manuscript, cover, description, keywords, categories, and price (updates go through a brief review).
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to publish on KDP?
- Publishing is free. For print books, the printing cost is deducted from each royalty — you never pay upfront. Optional costs are professional editing, cover design, or formatting help.
- Do I need an ISBN?
- For print books, KDP provides a free ISBN (or you can use your own). Ebooks don't need an ISBN — Amazon assigns an ASIN automatically.
- How long until my book goes live?
- Amazon's review usually completes within 72 hours, often faster for ebooks. Print formats may take a few extra days to fully link and become searchable.
- Can I edit my book after publishing?
- Yes. You can update the manuscript, cover, description, keywords, categories, and price anytime from your Bookshelf. Updates go through a brief review before going live.
Paired calculator
KDP Royalty Calculator
Put this guide into practice with the matching free calculator.
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