KDP royalty calculator
See what you earn per sale on Amazon KDP: paperback printing cost, royalty and minimum list price for every marketplace, and Kindle eBook royalties at 70% and 35%.
How KDP paperback royalties work
For each paperback sold on Amazon, you earn a share of the list price, minus the cost of printing that copy:
| Royalty | (royalty rate × list price) − printing cost |
|---|---|
| Royalty rate | 60% at or above $9.99 (£7.99, €9.99, C$13.99, A$13.99, ¥1,000); 50% below that |
| Expanded Distribution | 40% × list price − printing cost (bookstores and libraries) |
| Printing cost | a fixed fee plus a per-page fee, by marketplace, ink and trim size |
The 50% rate under $9.99 is why many paperbacks are priced at $9.99 or more: at $9.98 a 300-page book earns $0.39, while at $9.99 it earns $1.39.
Printing costs on Amazon.com
| Ink | Regular trim | Large trim |
|---|---|---|
| Black, up to 110 pages | $2.30 flat | $2.84 flat |
| Black, 110 to 828 pages | $1.00 + $0.012/page | $1.00 + $0.017/page |
| Standard color, 72 to 600 pages | $1.00 + $0.0255/page | $1.00 + $0.0402/page |
| Premium color, up to 40 pages | $3.60 flat | $4.20 flat |
| Premium color, 42 to 828 pages | $1.00 + $0.065/page | $1.00 + $0.08/page |
“Large trim” means wider than 6.12″ or taller than 9″. A 6″ × 9″ book is regular; 6.14″ × 9.21″ and up are large. Cream and white paper cost the same.
How Kindle eBook royalties work
| 70% option | 70% × (list price − VAT − delivery cost). List price $2.99 to $12.99 on Amazon.com. |
|---|---|
| 35% option | 35% × (list price − VAT). No delivery cost. |
| Delivery cost | $0.15 per MB on Amazon.com (£0.10 UK, €0.12 EU, A$0.15, ¥1) |
In July 2026 KDP raised the top of the 70% band from $9.99 to $12.99, so books priced $10 to $12.99 now earn 70% too. Many older calculators still use $9.99. In Japan, Brazil, Mexico and India, the 70% rate also needs KDP Select.
Rates and costs from KDP's help pages “Paperback Printing Cost”, “Paperback Royalty”, “eBook List Price Requirements” and “Digital Book Pricing Page”, checked November 13, 2026. Taxes and currency conversion can change what reaches your bank; KDP's royalty report is the final word.
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Questions
How much does KDP pay per paperback?
On Amazon.com, 60% of the list price minus printing cost, for books priced $9.99 or more. A 300-page black-and-white 6″ × 9″ paperback costs $4.60 to print, so at $14.99 you earn $4.39 per copy.
How much does it cost to print a paperback on KDP?
On Amazon.com, black ink costs $1.00 plus $0.012 per page for regular trim sizes, or a flat $2.30 up to 110 pages. A 300-page book costs $4.60. Larger trim sizes and color cost more.
What's the minimum price for a KDP paperback?
The price where your royalty would be zero: printing cost divided by 50% (or 60% at $9.99 and up). For a 300-page black-and-white regular-trim book on Amazon.com that's $9.20.
Should I choose 70% or 35% for my eBook?
If your list price is between $2.99 and $12.99 on Amazon.com, 70% almost always pays more, even after the delivery fee. Outside that range, only 35% is available.