Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is the world's largest self-publishing platform, giving independent authors access to hundreds of millions of potential readers across every Amazon marketplace on the planet. Whether you want to publish a novel, a how-to guide, a cookbook, or a children's book, KDP lets you do it for free.
This guide walks you through every step of the KDP publishing process, from creating your account to seeing your book go live on Amazon. We cover manuscript formatting, cover specifications, pricing strategies, royalty structures, and the KDP Select program. By the end, you will have everything you need to publish your first book.
What Is Amazon KDP?
Kindle Direct Publishing is Amazon's self-service publishing platform. Launched in 2007 as a way for authors to publish Kindle ebooks, it has since expanded to include paperback and hardcover print-on-demand options. KDP is used by millions of authors worldwide, from first-time writers to bestselling independents earning six and seven figures annually.
Here is what makes KDP compelling:
- Free to use: There are no setup fees, no listing fees, and no subscription costs. You pay nothing until your book sells, at which point Amazon takes its cut from the sale price.
- Global distribution: Your book becomes available on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.jp, and every other Amazon marketplace. That is access to readers in over 100 countries.
- Print-on-demand: Paperbacks and hardcovers are printed only when ordered. No inventory, no upfront printing costs, no boxes of unsold books.
- Fast publishing: KDP gives a typical publication timeline of up to 3 business days. Low-content books (journals, notebooks) can take up to 10 business days. These are estimates, not guarantees.
- Full control: You set your own price, write your own description, choose your own categories, and can update your content at any time.
Step 1: Create Your KDP Account
To get started, go to kdp.amazon.com and sign in with your existing Amazon account, or create a new one. Once logged in, you will need to complete your account setup:
- Author/publisher information: Enter your real legal name and address. This is used for tax and payment purposes and is kept private by Amazon — it is not your public author name. You set the author name (which can be a pen name) separately when you create each book.
- Payment information: Add a bank account where Amazon will deposit your royalties. KDP pays monthly, approximately 60 days after the end of each month. For example, January royalties are paid around the end of March.
- Tax information: Complete the tax interview. If you are a US resident, you will fill out a W-9. International authors complete a W-8BEN. This step is mandatory before you can publish. Without a completed tax interview (or an applicable tax treaty with the US), the default US withholding rate on your royalties is 30%.
Tip: Use your real legal name for the tax interview even if you plan to publish under a pen name. Your legal name is kept private by Amazon and is only used for tax and payment purposes. Your pen name goes on the book itself.
Step 2: Prepare Your Manuscript
KDP accepts several manuscript formats, but the quality of your published book depends heavily on which format you use and how well it is prepared.
Recommended: EPUB Format
EPUB is the industry-standard ebook format, and it is our strong recommendation for Kindle publishing. A well-structured EPUB file gives you the best results because:
- It produces clean, reflowable text that looks good on every Kindle device and app
- The table of contents is generated from the document structure, ensuring proper navigation
- Images, fonts, and styling are embedded in the file
- Amazon converts EPUB to their internal KPF format with high fidelity
Also Accepted: DOCX, PDF, KPF
- DOCX (Microsoft Word): Acceptable for simple text-heavy books. Amazon converts it to Kindle format automatically, but the conversion can sometimes produce unexpected formatting issues. Use simple formatting: standard fonts, minimal manual spacing, and Word's built-in heading styles for chapter titles.
- PDF: Only recommended for print editions, not ebooks. PDF ebooks do not reflow on different screen sizes, making them difficult to read on phones and small Kindle devices.
- KPF (Kindle Package Format): Created using Amazon's free Kindle Create tool. Good for fixed-layout books like cookbooks or children's books with heavy visual elements.
Manuscript Checklist
Before uploading, make sure your manuscript includes:
- A title page with your book title and author name
- A copyright page with year and rights information
- A table of contents with working hyperlinks (for ebooks)
- Properly structured chapters using heading styles
- Page breaks between chapters
- Images in JPEG or PNG format, at least 300 DPI for print editions
If formatting feels overwhelming, DraftZero generates KDP-format EPUB files automatically. You can go from an idea to a formatted first draft in roughly 20–90 minutes (a few hours for 20 chapters). Learn more in our guide to creating ebooks with zero technical knowledge.
Step 3: Create Your Book Cover
Your cover is the single most important marketing asset for your book. On Amazon, it is the first thing readers see, and it determines whether they click on your listing or scroll past it.
Cover Specifications
| Specification | Ebook | Paperback |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended dimensions | 1600 x 2560 pixels | Varies by trim size (use KDP calculator) |
| Aspect ratio | 1:1.6 | Depends on trim size + spine width |
| Minimum dimensions | 625 x 1000 pixels | Varies |
| File format | JPEG or TIFF | One continuous PDF with bleed (back, spine, front) |
| Color space | RGB | CMYK recommended for print |
| Maximum file size | Less than 50 MB | 650 MB |
For ebooks, the ideal cover size is 1600 x 2560 pixels. Print cover resolution is a separate requirement: at least 300 DPI at the intended print size. This gives Amazon enough resolution for high-quality display on all devices, from phone screens to tablets. Remember that your cover will often be displayed as a thumbnail, so the title needs to be legible even at small sizes. Use bold, clear fonts and avoid cluttering the design with too many elements.
Cover Design Options
- KDP Cover Creator (free): Amazon's built-in tool offers basic templates. Acceptable for getting started but limited in customization.
- Design tools: A template editor can help with a cover layout. Check its current price and the licence for every image, font, and template you use.
- Professional designer: Request a quote covering the ebook front cover and, if needed, a print wrap at your exact trim and page count. Evaluate samples and usage rights before commissioning work.
- AI-generated covers: Newer AI image tools can create professional-looking cover concepts. These often need refinement by a designer but can serve as excellent starting points.
Step 4: Set Up Your Book Details
When you create a new title on KDP, you will fill in several fields that determine how your book appears in Amazon's store and search results.
Title and Subtitle
Your title should be clear, compelling, and include relevant keywords for discoverability. The subtitle is an opportunity to add additional keywords and clarify what the book is about. For nonfiction, a descriptive subtitle is especially important. For example: "Sourdough Mastery: A Complete Guide to Baking Artisan Bread at Home."
Book Description
You get up to 4,000 characters for your book description. This is your sales page, so make it count. Use HTML formatting (bold, italic, line breaks) to make it scannable. Start with a hook, describe what the reader will get from the book, describe verified author experience where relevant, and end with a call to action.
Keywords
KDP allows you to enter seven keywords or keyword phrases. These help Amazon's algorithm surface your book in relevant searches. Research what your target readers are searching for. Think about specific topics, problems, and phrases your audience uses. Avoid keyword stuffing or using irrelevant popular terms, as this can hurt your visibility.
Categories
You can select up to three categories that accurately match the book. Available choices depend on the marketplace and audience settings. Do not choose an unrelated category just because it looks easier to rank in; category selection cannot guarantee a badge, clicks, or sales.
Use up to seven relevant keywords or short phrases. Avoid repeated metadata, other authors' names, and misleading promotional terms. See the keyword guidance, category guidance, and metadata rules, checked October 4, 2026.
Step 5: Pricing and Royalties
The 35% option is calculated on the list price less applicable VAT. The 70% option also deducts delivery costs before applying the rate. Compare the actual amounts for your file rather than choosing from the percentage alone.
For Amazon.com, the 70% price band is $2.99–$12.99. Eligibility also depends on the customer's territory, rights and other requirements, including the price difference from a physical edition. The US 35% minimum depends on file size: $0.99 below 3MB, $1.99 from 3MB to below 10MB, and $2.99 for 10MB or more. The maximum is $200.
US delivery costs are $0.15 per MB, with a $0.01 minimum. The table assumes $0 VAT, a KDP-calculated 2MB file, $0.30 delivery cost and all eligibility requirements met. Amounts are royalties per sale before production or advertising expenses.
| List price | 35% royalty | 70% royalty |
|---|---|---|
| $0.99 | $0.35 | Ineligible |
| $2.99 | $1.05 | $1.88 |
| $4.99 | $1.75 | $3.28 |
| $9.99 | $3.50 | $6.78 |
| $14.99 | $5.25 | Ineligible |
A large image file can change the comparison: at $5.99 with a 20MB file and $0 VAT, the 35% amount is $2.10 and the 70% amount is $2.09. Japanese-yen delivery rules differ, including no delivery deduction for files of 10MB or more. Sales to customers in Japan, Brazil, Mexico and India require Select enrollment for 70%.
Check KDP's royalty rules and price requirements, or compare assumptions with the royalty calculator. This section was checked on October 4, 2026.
Print Book Pricing
For paperbacks and hardcovers, KDP calculates a minimum list price based on your book's page count, trim size, ink type (black-and-white or color), and marketplace. Your royalty is 50% or 60% depending on list price (US: $9.99 or above = 60%, $9.98 or below = 50%; Amazon.co.jp: ¥1,000 or above = 60%, ¥999 or below = 50%) minus the printing cost; expanded distribution is 40%. Use KDP's pricing calculator to model different scenarios before setting your price.
Step 6: Publish and Wait for Review
Once you have uploaded your manuscript, cover, filled in your book details, and set your price, click "Publish Your Kindle eBook" (or paperback/hardcover). Amazon will review your submission to ensure it meets their content guidelines.
- Review time: KDP gives a typical publication timeline of up to 3 business days. Low-content books (journals, notebooks) can take up to 10 business days. These are estimates, not guarantees.
- What Amazon checks: Content policy compliance, cover quality, formatting issues, and metadata accuracy. Books with public domain content or very short page counts may receive additional scrutiny.
Once approved, your book is live and available for purchase worldwide. You will receive an email confirmation with a link to your book's Amazon listing.
Disclosing AI-generated content: If your book contains AI-generated text, images, or translations, you must disclose this to KDP when you publish or edit the title. Content that is merely AI-assisted — where you wrote it yourself and AI only edited or refined it — does not need to be disclosed. This disclosure is for Amazon's internal use and is not shown to buyers.
Do You Need an ISBN?
Ebooks do not require an ISBN — Amazon assigns each Kindle edition an ASIN automatically. For print editions (paperback and hardcover), you can get a free KDP-provided ISBN, or supply your own. The free ISBN is available for eligible print books; low-content books are excluded.
KDP Select: Is It Worth It?
After publishing, you will have the option to enroll your ebook in KDP Select. This is a separate program with significant benefits and one major trade-off.
Benefits of KDP Select
- Kindle Unlimited (KU): Your book becomes available to subscribers. Payment depends on eligible KENP read and the fund; there is no guaranteed fixed per-page rate. Ordinary manuscript pages are not KENP. Use your actual KDP reports for estimates. Official KU royalty guidance.
- Kindle Countdown Deals: Eligible books can run time-limited discounts on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. Check the promotional price and royalty conditions before scheduling a deal.
- Free Book Promotions: Make your book free for up to 5 days per 90-day enrollment period. Useful for building readership and generating reviews.
- Promotional tools: KDP Select adds your book to Kindle Unlimited and unlocks Countdown Deals and Free Book Promotions. Amazon does not publicly document a search-ranking or "algorithmic placement" boost for exclusivity, so treat any ranking benefit as unverified.
The Trade-Off: Exclusivity
KDP Select requires 90-day digital exclusivity. It covers distribution on your website, blog and newsletter as well as other ebook retailers. If you are turning existing posts into a book, check compatibility before enrolling; publishing without Select is an option. Ask KDP support about unclear cases. Print distribution is treated separately. Official Select terms.
Decide whether exclusivity fits your existing audience and publishing plan. You can budget with zero KU income until you have reports, then compare actual earnings and distribution opportunities before the next enrollment period.
After Publication: Share the Book and Gather Feedback
Share the contents, sample, intended audience, and purchase page on your existing channels. Track visits, clicks, and sales separately rather than assuming a launch will produce income. Reader reviews should be voluntary and unbiased. A free or discounted book must not be offered in exchange for a review, and you must not influence the rating or offer other rewards. Check the rules for reviews involving close personal or business relationships.
Sources, checked October 4, 2026: customer reviews, publishing timelines, and ebook cover requirements. For print covers, use the paperback submission guidelines.
Getting started is easier than you think. The biggest obstacle to publishing on KDP is not the platform itself but preparing your manuscript. If formatting and file creation feel daunting, tools like DraftZero can generate a KDP-formatted EPUB first draft from just a title and concept, so you spend less time on formatting and more on reviewing and editing the content before you publish.
Royalty and Select sections verified: 2026-10-04 (source: official Amazon KDP Help; policies may change).