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Guide

How do I self publish on Amazon?

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We build free, sourced tools for self-publishing authors and check every spec against the official help pages.

Last updated 4 min read

Short answer

Sign in to KDP with an Amazon account, then add your book: enter the title, description, up to 7 keywords and 3 categories, upload the manuscript and cover, choose a price and royalty plan, and publish. Paperbacks need an ISBN, which KDP gives free. New books go live within 72 hours.

What do you need before you publish on Amazon?

  • A KDP account, which you open with an Amazon account. Fill in your payment and tax details so royalties can be paid.
  • A final, edited manuscript: a Word file or EPUB for the ebook, a print-ready PDF for the paperback.
  • A cover: a front image for the ebook, and for print a full wrap sized to your trim, paper and page count.
  • Your book details: title, author name, description, keywords and categories. The book metadata checklist holds them all with KDP's limits.

How do you fill in the book details on KDP?

  • Title and subtitle: exactly as on the cover, under 200 characters together, with no words like "bestselling" or "free". Keep the title the same across formats so they link.
  • Author: your name or a pen name, with no extra punctuation. The primary author cannot be changed after publishing.
  • Description: up to 4,000 characters, with a few HTML tags for bold and line breaks. The KDP description formatter writes the HTML.
  • Keywords: up to 7 words or short phrases readers would search. Plan them with the KDP keyword planner.
  • Categories: choose 3, after picking your primary marketplace.
  • Reading age: optional, but set it for children's and teen books.

How do you upload the manuscript and cover?

For the ebook, upload the manuscript and front cover, then check every page in KDP's previewer. For the paperback, choose the ISBN, trim size, paper and ink, bleed and cover finish before you upload, because they set the page size and the cover size. A print cover is back, spine and front in one PDF, with 0.125 in of bleed on the outside edges; the KDP cover calculator gives the exact size and a template. KDP flags most file problems before you can publish.

How do you price your book on KDP?

Paperback royalty = royalty rate x list price - printing cost. On Amazon.com the rate is 60% from $9.99 and 50% below. A 300-page 6 x 9 in novel at $14.99 costs $4.60 to print and earns $4.39 a sale.

Kindle ebooks earn 70% from $2.99 to $12.99 on Amazon.com, minus a delivery cost per megabyte, and 35% outside that band. A $4.99 ebook of 2 MB earns $3.28 on the 70% plan. Try other prices in the royalty calculator.

Should you enroll in KDP Select?

KDP Select is a free, optional 90-day program for ebooks. Enrolled ebooks join Kindle Unlimited, where you earn for pages read, and can run free and discount promotions. In return the ebook must be sold only on Amazon during the term; paperbacks are not affected. Estimate page read earnings with theKindle Unlimited earnings estimator.

How long does it take for a book to go live on Amazon?

  • Review: up to 72 hours for a new book or an update.
  • Linking: paperback and ebook join one detail page 2 to 7 days after both are live, if the details match.
  • Look Inside: about 7 to 8 business days for an ebook.
  • Ahead of time: ebook pre-orders up to 18 months ahead; print release dates up to 90 days ahead.

How do you publish a book on Amazon and make money?

Publishing is the start, not the income. What you earn is royalty per sale times sales, so it helps to price for a healthy royalty, write a description that sells, choose keywords and categories readers actually browse, and publish more than one book: readers who like one often buy the next. Ads can help once the book page converts; check your break-even point with the ACOS calculator before spending. Nobody can promise sales, and most books earn modestly.

For the platform-neutral overview, read how to publish a book, step by step. If you would rather have help with setup, our publishing setup service works with you in your own KDP account. USA Book Studios is independent and not affiliated with Amazon or KDP.

Rather have a pro handle this? Our studio can: publishing setup.

Questions authors ask

How do I publish a book on Amazon for free?

KDP charges nothing to set up or list a book. Use KDP's free ISBN for a paperback (it works only on KDP), make the cover and interior yourself, and publish. KDP takes the printing cost out of each paperback sale, and you pay only for proof or author copies you order.

How much does Amazon pay authors?

A KDP paperback earns 60% of the list price from $9.99 on Amazon.com, or 50% below it, minus printing. A Kindle ebook earns 70% between $2.99 and $12.99 (minus a small delivery cost), and 35% outside that band.

Do I need an ISBN to publish on Amazon?

For a paperback or hardcover, yes, and KDP offers one free. For a Kindle ebook, no. A free KDP ISBN can only be used on KDP, so buy your own if you also want to sell the same edition elsewhere.

Can I publish only a Kindle ebook?

Yes. You can publish an ebook, a paperback, a hardcover or any mix, and add formats later. If the title and author match exactly, KDP links them on one detail page.

Do I have to enroll in KDP Select?

No. KDP Select is optional and covers ebooks only. It runs in 90-day terms and requires the ebook to be sold only on Amazon; in return it joins Kindle Unlimited and you earn for pages read.

Can I change my book after publishing?

Yes, mostly. Description and keywords can change as often as you like, and updates appear within 72 hours. The title, edition and primary author cannot be changed after publishing; a significantly changed book needs a new edition.

Sources

Every number in this guide comes from our spec data, last verified against the official help pages below. Retailers change their terms, so check the source before you rely on a figure.

KDP