KDP Royalty Calculator
See your printing cost, minimum list price, and royalty for a KDP paperback and ebook. Results update as you type, and the formula is shown.
Free. No signup.
Paperback
Ebook
The 70% option applies because $4.99 falls in KDP's $2.99 to $12.99 range. It pays more than the 35% option at this price and file size.
Show the formula with your numbers
Printing cost = $1.00 + $0.012 x 250 pages = $4.00
Paperback royalty = rate x list price - printing cost = 0.6 x $14.99 - $4.00 = $4.99
Ebook 70% = 0.7 x (list price - $0.15 x MB) Ebook 35% = 0.35 x list price
Paperback royalty at other prices
| List price | Rate | Amazon.com | Expanded Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| $9.99 | 60% | $1.99 | $0.00 |
| $12.99 | 60% | $3.79 | $1.20 |
| $14.99 | 60% | $4.99 | $2.00 |
| $17.99 | 60% | $6.79 | $3.20 |
| $19.99 | 60% | $7.99 | $4.00 |
| $24.99 | 60% | $10.99 | $6.00 |
| $29.99 | 60% | $13.99 | $8.00 |
Ebook royalty at other prices
| List price | Option that applies | Royalty |
|---|---|---|
| $0.99 | 35% | $0.35 |
| $2.99 | 70% | $1.88 |
| $3.99 | 70% | $2.58 |
| $4.99 | 70% | $3.28 |
| $6.99 | 70% | $4.68 |
| $9.99 | 70% | $6.78 |
| $12.99 | 70% | $8.88 |
| $14.99 | 35% | $5.25 |
How KDP calculates paperback royalties
KDP pays you a share of the list price and subtracts what it costs to print that copy. The share is 60% when the list price is $9.99 or more and 50% below that. Sales through Expanded Distribution pay 40% of the list price. The printing cost comes out after the percentage is applied, so a low price can leave you with little or nothing.
Royalty = rate x list price - printing cost Rate = 0.60 at $9.99 and above, 0.50 below $9.99 Expanded Distribution: rate = 0.40
Worked example: a 6 x 9 inch book with 250 pages, black ink on cream paper, listed at $14.99. The printing cost is $1.00 plus $0.012 per page, which is $4.00. Because $14.99 is above $9.99, the rate is 60%.
Printing cost = $1.00 + $0.012 x 250 = $4.00 Royalty (Amazon.com) = 0.60 x $14.99 - $4.00 = $4.99 Royalty (Expanded Distribution) = 0.40 x $14.99 - $4.00 = $2.00 Minimum list price = $4.00 / 0.50 = $8.00
How KDP calculates printing cost
Printing cost depends on the ink, the trim size, and the page count. Short black-ink books pay a flat price. Longer books pay $1.00 plus a rate for every page. Large trim means wider than 6.12 inches or taller than 9 inches, and it costs more. Cream and white paper cost the same to print. These are the Amazon.com figures; other Amazon marketplaces have their own tables.
| Book type | Flat price | Longer books |
|---|---|---|
| Black ink, regular trim | $2.30 up to 110 pages | $1.00 + $0.012 per page |
| Black ink, large trim | $2.84 up to 110 pages | $1.00 + $0.017 per page |
| Premium color, regular trim | $3.60 up to 40 pages | $1.00 + $0.065 per page |
| Premium color, large trim | $4.20 up to 40 pages | $1.00 + $0.08 per page |
The minimum list price follows from the printing cost. It is the price at which the royalty covers the cost. When 50% of the price covers the cost below $9.99, that price is the minimum. Otherwise the minimum is the printing cost divided by 0.6, and never less than $9.99. The highest paperback list price is $250.
How KDP calculates ebook royalties
An ebook has two royalty options. The 70% option applies to list prices from $2.99 to $12.99 on Amazon.com and takes a delivery cost of $0.15 per megabyte out of the price first. The 35% option covers $0.99 to $200 with no delivery cost. The lowest price for the 35% option rises to $1.99 for files from 3 MB and $2.99 from 10 MB. The 70% option also requires the ebook to be listed at least 20% below the price of any paperback of the same book on Amazon.
70% option = 0.70 x (list price - $0.15 x file size in MB) 35% option = 0.35 x list price Example: $4.99 ebook, 2 MB file 70% option = 0.70 x ($4.99 - $0.30) = $3.28 35% option = 0.35 x $4.99 = $1.75
Delivery cost is why a large file with many images can lower the 70% royalty. A text-based nonfiction book is usually a small file, so the delivery cost is a few cents.
What to check next
A royalty only matters if the book is the right size. Check the trim sizes and margins before you format the interior, and use the cover size calculator once you know the page count. If you only have a word count, the words to pages calculator estimates the pages. The calculator on this page does not include tax, other marketplaces, or hardcover pricing.
Sources
Figures checked against KDP Help on . KDP can change them, so confirm on the linked page before you publish.
Your Next Title, Written in About 10 Minutes
You know the numbers. Now get the book: a complete nonfiction manuscript planned around your reader, with the rights to publish it under your own name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the KDP Royalty Calculator.
- How does KDP calculate paperback royalties?
- KDP pays 60% of the list price when the price is $9.99 or more and 50% when it is lower, then subtracts the printing cost. Sales through Expanded Distribution pay 40% of the list price minus the printing cost. The calculator applies the same formula to the price you enter.
- How much does KDP charge to print a paperback?
- On Amazon.com, a black-ink book of up to 110 pages in a regular trim costs a flat $2.30 per copy, and a longer one costs $1.00 plus $0.012 per page. Large trims cost $2.84 flat, or $1.00 plus $0.017 per page. Premium color costs $3.60 up to 40 pages, then $1.00 plus $0.065 per page, or $4.20 and $0.08 for large trims. Other Amazon marketplaces use different tables.
- What is the minimum list price for a paperback?
- It is the price at which your royalty equals the printing cost. If 50% of the price covers the cost below $9.99, that price is the minimum. Otherwise the minimum is the printing cost divided by 0.6, and it never drops below $9.99. For a 250-page, 6 x 9 black-ink book the printing cost is $4.00, so the minimum is $8.00.
- Should I pick the 35% or the 70% ebook royalty?
- On Amazon.com the 70% option applies to list prices from $2.99 to $12.99. It pays 70% of the price after a delivery cost of $0.15 per megabyte, and it requires the ebook to be listed at least 20% below the price of any paperback of the same book. The 35% option covers $0.99 to $200 with no delivery cost, but KDP raises its lowest price for files of 3 MB or more. Inside the 70% range it usually pays more, and the calculator shows both.
- Does the calculator include other Amazon marketplaces or taxes?
- No. It uses Amazon.com (US) figures and does not model VAT, income tax, or currency conversion. Use KDP's own calculator in your account for other marketplaces.
- Do I have to tell KDP that a book is AI-generated?
- Yes. KDP asks you to disclose AI-generated text, images, or translations when you publish or republish a book, even if you edited the result. AI used only to edit or polish text you wrote yourself does not need to be disclosed. TailoredRead books are AI-generated, so you tick the disclosure box when you publish them.
More free KDP tools
Related pages
TailoredRead is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon. Amazon, Kindle, Kindle Direct Publishing, and KDP are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. This free tool provides general information only, not legal, financial, or publishing advice. Results are estimates based on KDP's published figures as of October 6, 2026, which KDP may change at any time and which vary by marketplace, so confirm everything with KDP before relying on it. We do not guarantee accuracy, completeness, KDP acceptance, or any sales or earnings. You are responsible for your book and listing, including disclosing AI-generated content to KDP. Use is at your own risk, and to the fullest extent the law allows, TailoredRead is not liable for any loss arising from it. Use of this page is subject to our Terms of Service.