How paperback royalties work
For a KDP paperback sold on Amazon, your royalty is the royalty rate times the list price, minus the printing cost:
Royalty = rate × list price − printing cost
The rate is 60% at or above a threshold price in each marketplace and 50% below it.
| Marketplace | 50% up to | 60% from |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com | $9.98 | $9.99 |
| Amazon.co.uk | £7.98 | £7.99 |
| Amazon EU stores | €9.98 | €9.99 |
| Amazon.ca | C$13.98 | C$13.99 |
| Amazon.com.au | A$13.98 | A$13.99 |
| Amazon.co.jp | ¥999 | ¥1,000 |
Printing costs
Printing cost is a fixed amount per book plus an amount per page. Black-ink books of up to 110 pages pay only a flat fee. Large trims (wider than 6.12 in or taller than 9 in) cost more per page.
| Regular trim | Black ink (110+ pages) | Premium colour (42+ pages) | Black ink, 24 to 110 pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com | $1.00 + $0.012 per page | $1.00 + $0.065 per page | $2.30 |
| Amazon.co.uk | £0.85 + £0.010 per page | £0.85 + £0.0435 per page | £1.93 |
| Amazon EU stores | €0.75 + €0.012 per page | €0.75 + €0.0525 per page | €2.05 |
Worked example: why $9.99 matters
A 6 × 9 in, 300-page black-ink paperback on Amazon.com costs $1.00 + 300 × $0.012 = $4.60 to print.
- At $9.98: 50% × $9.98 − $4.60 = $0.39 per sale
- At $9.99: 60% × $9.99 − $4.60 = $1.39 per sale
- At $12.99: 60% × $12.99 − $4.60 = $3.19 per sale
One cent more earns a dollar more per copy. Our guide on how to price a KDP paperback goes further.
Minimum list price and Expanded Distribution
KDP won't let you set a list price where the royalty falls below zero, so the minimum price is the printing cost divided by the royalty rate. Expanded Distribution, which offers your paperback to bookshops, libraries and other sellers outside Amazon, pays 40% of the list price minus printing. KDP's own example: a $15, 333-page black-ink paperback earns (0.40 × $15) − $5.00 = $1.00. KDP doesn't say which marketplace's printing cost applies to these orders, so treat the calculator's figure as a guide. Japanese-language paperbacks can't use Expanded Distribution.
How ebook royalties work
Ebooks have two options. 35% pays 35% of the list price after any VAT. 70% pays 70% of the list price after VAT, minus a delivery cost based on your file size, and is only available within a set price range.
| Store | 70% price range | Delivery cost per MB (70% only) |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com | $2.99 to $12.99 | $0.15 |
| Amazon.co.uk | £1.77 to £12.99 | £0.10 |
| Amazon EU stores | €2.69 to €12.99 | €0.12 |
| Amazon.ca | C$2.99 to C$12.99 | C$0.15 |
| Amazon.com.au | A$3.99 to A$15.99 | A$0.15 |
The 70% option only applies to sales in KDP's 70% territories (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of western Europe). In Brazil, Japan, Mexico and India, it also needs the book enrolled in KDP Select. To get 70%, your ebook must also be priced at least 20% below the list price of any physical edition on Amazon.
Worked example
A $2.99 ebook with a 1 MB file on Amazon.com: at 70%, 0.7 × ($2.99 − $0.15) = $1.99 per sale. At 35%, it would be $1.05. A $0.99 ebook can only use 35%, earning about $0.35.
VAT
For paperbacks, Amazon adds VAT on top of the list price you set, so the calculator uses your price as entered. For ebooks in the UK, EU, Australia and some other stores, your list price includes the buyer's local tax, which comes off before your royalty is worked out. KDP doesn't publish one rate per store, so enter the rate for the country you're estimating.
Questions
What's the highest price I can set?
Paperbacks can go up to $250 on Amazon.com, £250 on Amazon.co.uk and €250 in the EU stores. Ebooks on 35% can go up to $200, £150 or €215.
Does paper colour change the printing cost?
No. Black-ink books cost the same on white or cream paper. Cream only changes the spine width.
Rates from KDP's help pages on printing costs, paperback royalties and ebook list prices, checked 28 October 2026. KDP's own calculator in your Bookshelf is the final word.