Book launch timeline
Pick a launch date. Get every step dated, with KDP's deadlines marked, ready for your calendar.
120 days
- Launch date
- Thu, Jan 28, 2027
- Steps
- 24
- KDP deadlines and waits
- 5
- From KDP A deadline or wait from KDP's help pages.
- Our suggestion A timing we recommend, not a rule. Move it to suit you.
Your launch schedule
Three to four months out
120 days before
Lock the title, subtitle and cover brief Our suggestion
Your title and subtitle go on the cover, the listing and every ad, so settle them before the cover is designed.
105 days before
Start or grow your reader list Our suggestion
A newsletter or launch team gives you readers to tell on launch day. Add a sign-up link to your website and social profiles.
100 days before
Recruit advance readers (ARC team) Our suggestion
Invite readers, reviewers and book bloggers in your genre to read an advance copy. Ask them to post honest reviews once the book is out.
95 days before
Draft the description, keywords and categories Our suggestion
Write the description, plan your seven keywords and pick three categories, so every listing uses the same words.
Two to three months out
90 days before
Earliest day to schedule the print release From KDP
KDP lets you set a print release date up to 90 days ahead. Until release day the Amazon page stays hidden, but you can order author copies once review is done.
90 days before
Set up the ebook pre-order on KDP Our suggestion
Our suggestion is about three months ahead. KDP allows a release date up to 18 months out, and you can upload a draft file for now.
60 days before
Send advance copies to your ARC team Our suggestion
About two months gives readers time to finish before launch. Include the launch date and where to post a review.
60 days before
Reveal the cover Our suggestion
Share the cover with your list and on social media, with a pre-order link if you have one.
45 days before
Upload the print files and order a proof Our suggestion
A printed proof shows trim, margins and cover color before readers see them. Allow time to fix and review again.
The last month
30 days before
Schedule the print release on KDP Our suggestion
Set it up well before the 5 day lock, so review and any fixes are done in time.
30 days before
Plan launch week Our suggestion
Write the launch newsletter and social posts, and line up anything you are doing on launch day.
21 days before
Upload the final ebook manuscript Our suggestion
Our suggestion is three weeks early. KDP review can take up to 72 hours, and early upload leaves time to fix anything it flags.
14 days before
Draft your ad campaigns Our suggestion
Choose targeting, budget and bids now, so the ads are ready to submit.
7 days before
Remind your ARC team of the launch date Our suggestion
Send the store links they will need, and thank them.
Launch week
5 days before
Print release locks From KDP
From 5 days before a scheduled print release you cannot change the manuscript, the book details or the date, or order author copies.
4 days before
Submit your ad campaigns Our suggestion
KDP says ad review takes up to 3 days, so submit ads for any format already on sale or on pre-order in time for launch.
3 days before
Final pre-order manuscript due From KDP
Upload and submit the final file at least 72 hours before release, or KDP cancels the pre-order. No changes after that until release.
Launch day
Launch day Our suggestion
Send the newsletter, post the links, and check each format's Amazon page, price and description.
After launch
1 day after
Start ads for every format now on sale Our suggestion
A scheduled print book is hidden until release day, so add its ads once the page is live.
3 days after
Set up your Amazon Author Page Our suggestion
Once the book is published, claim it in Author Central and add your bio and photo.
7 days after
Check the ebook and print are linked From KDP
KDP links formats 48 hours to one week after each is live, if the title and author match exactly. If they are not, ask KDP to link them.
12 days after
Check the Read Sample (Look Inside) From KDP
KDP says the ebook sample appears 7 to 8 business days after publishing.
14 days after
Review ad results Our suggestion
KDP says ad sales can take up to 14 days to show in reports, so judge a campaign after two weeks, not two days.
30 days after
Thank your readers and plan what is next Our suggestion
Thank your ARC team and launch helpers, and tell your list about the next book.
Rather have a pro handle this? Our studio can: book marketing.
Short answer
Start about four months out: lock the title and cover, recruit advance readers, and set up an ebook pre-order around three months ahead. Send ARCs about two months out, then work back from KDP's hard deadlines: the final pre-order file 72 hours before release, and a scheduled print book locks 5 days before.
How to use it
- Pick your launch date: the day the book goes on sale.
- Choose ebook, print or both, and whether the ebook goes on pre-order and the print release is scheduled.
- Switch advance reader copies, ads and KDP Select on or off to match your plan.
- Read the schedule. From KDP steps are fixed; Our suggestion steps can move.
- Download the calendar file, or copy the checklist.
How it works
Every step is a number of days before or after launch. The tool adds that to your launch date and groups the results by phase. Two kinds of step are kept apart. From KDP steps come straight from KDP's help pages: pre-order and print deadlines, review times and how long formats take to link. Our suggestion steps are timings we recommend from common launch practice. They are not rules.
Step date = launch date + days from launch (negative before, positive after)
Pre-order file deadline = launch date - 72 hours
Print lock = launch date - 5 days
Worked example: an ebook on pre-order and a scheduled paperback, both launching Tue, Mar 2, 2027. KDP opens the print schedule window on Wed, Dec 2 (90 days out), the print release locks on Thu, Feb 25, and the final pre-order file is due by Sat, Feb 27. Our suggestions put the pre-order setup on Wed, Dec 2, ARCs out on Fri, Jan 1 and the final ebook file on Tue, Feb 9, well ahead of the deadline.
Reference
KDP's release rules and waits that the timeline counts from.
| Rule | KDP says | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ebook pre-order, furthest ahead | 18 months | Pre-orders created on or after September 2, 2026 |
| Final pre-order manuscript | 72 hours before release | Or the pre-order is canceled |
| Active pre-orders at once | 10 titles | New ebooks only |
| Scheduled print release, furthest ahead | 90 days | Print only; KDP has no print pre-orders |
| Scheduled print release locks | 5 days before release | No changes to files, details or date |
| Review of a new book or update | Up to 72 hours | Low-content books take longer |
| Ebook and print linked | 48 hours to 1 week | After each edition is live, if details match |
| Ebook Read Sample appears | 7 to 8 business days | Print takes a little longer |
| Ad review | Up to 3 days | After you submit |
| Ad sales in reports | Up to 14 days | Judge ads after two weeks |
Questions authors ask
How far ahead should I plan a book launch?
We suggest about four months for a first launch: enough time for a cover reveal, advance reader copies and a pre-order. That is our recommendation, not a rule. KDP only sets the deadlines shown as From KDP, and you can launch sooner by skipping or squeezing the rest.
How far ahead can I set up a Kindle pre-order?
Ebook pre-orders only. Up to 18 months ahead for pre-orders created on or after September 2, 2026 (12 months before that). You can have up to 10 active pre-orders, and the final manuscript must be submitted at least 72 hours before release or KDP cancels the pre-order.
Can I put a paperback on pre-order on KDP?
No. KDP offers pre-orders for ebooks only. For print you can schedule a release date up to 90 days ahead: the Amazon page stays hidden until release day, and from 5 days before, you cannot change the book or the date.
When should I send advance reader copies?
We suggest about two months before launch, so readers can finish and are ready to review on launch day. Recruit them a month or so before that. These are our timings, not rules.
How long does KDP take to publish a book?
KDP's timelines page says: A new book or update takes up to 72 hours to go live (3 business days); low-content books up to 10 business days. That is why the tool has you publish a book that is not on pre-order or scheduled a few days before launch day.
How do I add the timeline to my calendar?
Download the .ics file and open it, or import it into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook. Each step is an all-day event with its note, and KDP steps link to the help page they come from.
Is my book title sent anywhere?
No. The timeline is built in your browser. The share link holds only the launch date, formats and switches; the book title you type is used in the calendar file and nowhere else.
Before and after this step
- Previous stepBook metadata checklist
- Next stepAuthor bio generator
Related tools
Sources
Last verified against KDP's help pages for every step marked From KDP. The other timings are our recommendations. Help pages change, so check the source before you set dates.
KDP
- KDP Help: Kindle eBook Pre-Order kdp.amazon.com
- KDP Help: Schedule a Release kdp.amazon.com
- KDP Help: Timelines kdp.amazon.com