Key takeaways
- eBook and print royalty formulas are materially different.
- Printing cost is deducted from print royalties.
- Marketplace, price, format, delivery cost, and distribution channel can change earnings.
- Use current KDP calculators for the exact book rather than relying on a generic percentage.
Kindle eBook royalties
KDP currently offers 35% and 70% eBook royalty options, subject to territory, price, rights, delivery-cost, and other eligibility requirements. The higher percentage is not automatically available for every book or every sale.
For an eligible 70% sale, delivery cost can reduce the royalty. File size therefore matters, especially for image-heavy books. Review Amazon's current formula for the exact marketplace and price rather than multiplying the list price by 70%.
Paperback royalties
For paperback sales on Amazon marketplaces, KDP currently applies a 50% or 60% royalty rate depending on list price and marketplace, then subtracts printing cost. The US threshold for the 60% rate is currently $9.99, but thresholds differ by marketplace and can change.
Expanded Distribution currently uses a different rate and still subtracts printing cost. A format that is profitable through an Amazon sale may produce a much smaller contribution through another channel.
For the broader publishing workflow, continue with How Much Does It Cost to Publish a Book on Amazon KDP?.
Why page count and ink matter
Print cost depends on specifications such as marketplace, page count, trim size, ink type, and sometimes format. A longer book or color interior can reduce the royalty unless the market accepts a higher price.
Model the physical product early. If a workbook needs generous writing space, reducing pages may harm usability. The answer may be a different trim size, black-and-white interior, higher price, or a separate digital product—not simply squeezing the layout.
For the closely related decision, read How to Make Money with Amazon KDP Without Chasing Passive-Income Hype.
A planning example
Suppose a paperback has a $14.99 list price and qualifies for a 60% Amazon-marketplace rate. The royalty begins with 60% of the list price, then subtracts the exact printing cost. If the printing cost were $4.50, the illustrative royalty would be $4.49. This is only an example; use Amazon's current calculator for the real specifications.
That royalty is not business profit. Editing, design, software, advertising, refunds, taxes, and other expenses still belong in the business calculation.
Before moving to the next stage, use Is Amazon KDP a Good Side Hustle? Costs, Royalties, and Work Involved as a practical follow-through.
Use royalties to make better decisions
- Compare eBook, paperback, and hardcover economics independently.
- Test the likely reader price range before finalizing a costly interior.
- Calculate break-even sales for fixed production expenses.
- Set an advertising ceiling from contribution per sale, not revenue.
- Recheck the formula whenever Amazon changes pricing or royalty rules.
Common questions
Does Amazon KDP pay 70% royalties on every eBook?
No. The 70% option has eligibility requirements involving price, territory, rights, and other conditions. Otherwise the 35% option may apply.
How much do authors earn on a $10 paperback?
The exact amount depends on marketplace, applicable royalty rate, page count, trim size, ink, and printing cost. At price thresholds, a small list-price change can also alter the applicable rate. Use KDP's current calculator.
Are KDP royalties the same as profit?
No. Royalties are platform earnings after Amazon's applicable deductions. Business profit also subtracts your production, marketing, software, contractor, and other expenses.
Official sources and further reading
Platform policies and royalty terms can change. Check the current Amazon documentation before publishing.
Move from research to production
Create the nonfiction manuscript you plan to publish on KDP.
Give Draft Fast your reader, promise, and project details, then review an organized manuscript prepared for editing and publishing.