KDP / Amazon Book Royalty Calculator

How KDP Royalties Work

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing uses a print-on-demand model for paperbacks. Each time a book sells, Amazon prints it and deducts the printing cost before paying your royalty. The printing cost formula is: Black & White = $0.85 + ($0.012 × pages), Standard Color = $0.85 + ($0.07 × pages), Premium Color = $0.85 + ($0.12 × pages).

Royalty rates: Amazon-only distribution pays 60% of the list price minus printing cost. Expanded Distribution (bookstores, libraries, online retailers) pays 40%. Your list price must be high enough that the royalty rate × list price exceeds the printing cost — otherwise you earn $0 and the option is blocked by KDP.

For eBooks, prices between $2.99 and $9.99 earn the 70% royalty rate (minus a $0.15/MB delivery fee). Prices outside that range earn 35%. eBooks have no printing costs, so all royalty is profit.