How to Publish a Book on Amazon

You’ve finished the manuscript. Now you want it on Amazon, where readers already shop for books.

The good news is that Amazon makes the upload easy. Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is free to join, and you can technically publish in an afternoon. The catch is that a book you can upload and a book people will buy are not the same thing. Most of the difference is made before you ever click “Publish.”

This guide walks through all eight steps, explains what each format costs and earns, and points out where first-time authors most often go wrong. By the end, you’ll know what you can comfortably do yourself and where paying for help is worth it.

Before You Start: What You Need Ready

Get these three things in order first, because fixing them later is slower and more expensive.

A finished, edited manuscript: Uploading a rough draft is the most common and most expensive mistake. Readers forgive a plain cover more readily than typos and clumsy sentences, and early reviews are hard to undo. At minimum, get a proofread by someone who isn’t you. For a full-length book, a developmental or copy edit is worth considering.

A KDP account with tax and payment details: Sign in with an Amazon account, complete the tax interview, and add your bank details. Do this early, since it can’t be skipped and payouts depend on it.

An ISBN decision: KDP will assign you a free ISBN for print books, but Amazon is then listed as the publisher of record and that ISBN can’t be used elsewhere. If you want your own imprint, or plan to distribute widely, buy your own ISBN from your country’s ISBN agency. Ebooks don’t require one on KDP.

Step 1: Choose Your Formats

Decide which versions of the book you’ll publish.

• Ebook (Kindle): Cheapest to produce, instant delivery, and the usual starting point for fiction.
• Paperback: Printed on demand, so you carry no inventory. Essential for nonfiction authors who want a book to hand out, sell at events, or use as a credibility piece.
• Hardcover: Best for gift books, illustrated titles, and premium editions. It costs more to print, so it’s rarely the first format.

Most first-time authors launch with ebook and paperback together. It gives readers a choice, and it lets your paperback price make the ebook look like a bargain.

Step 2: Format Your Manuscript to KDP Specs

Formatting is where many DIY books quietly lose credibility. A badly formatted book still uploads, but readers notice.

Ebook formatting: Ebooks are reflowable, meaning text adjusts to each reader’s screen. You’ll need a clickable table of contents, clean chapter breaks, and no manual spacing tricks like pressing Enter to push text onto a new page. Word files can work, but convert and preview carefully.

Print formatting: Paperbacks are fixed layout, and the details matter:

• Trim size: Common choices are 5″ x 8″ and 5.5″ x 8.5″ for fiction and narrative nonfiction, and 6″ x 9″ for most nonfiction and business books.
• Margins: Larger inside margins (the gutter) are needed as page count grows, so text doesn’t disappear into the spine.
• Page numbers, headers, and fonts: All fonts must be embedded, and front matter and page numbering should follow standard conventions.
• Images: Use high-resolution files, generally 300 dpi for print.

The three most common formatting problems:

1. Text or images sitting too close to the trim edge or gutter.
2. Low-resolution images that print fuzzy.
3. Missing or unembedded fonts.

KDP’s built-in previewer catches many errors, but not all of them. If you’d rather not fight with margins and fonts, formatting is one of the most commonly outsourced steps, and it’s usually one of the more affordable ones.

Step 3: Design a Cover That Meets Amazon Requirements

Your cover does more selling than anything else you control. On Amazon it appears as a small thumbnail next to dozens of competitors, so it has to read clearly at a glance.

Ebook cover: A single front image. KDP recommends a height-to-width ratio of 1.6:1, with an ideal size of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels.

Print cover: A full wraparound with front, spine, and back. The spine width depends on your page count and paper type, so you can’t finalize the cover until the interior is done. KDP provides a cover template and calculator to work out the dimensions.

Genre matters more than originality here. Thrillers, romance, memoirs, and business books each have visual conventions readers use to decide in a second whether a book is for them. A cover that ignores its genre often ends up confusing readers rather than standing out.

Canva and similar tools work for some authors, especially for simple nonfiction. But if your budget allows only one professional service, the cover is often the smartest place to spend it.

Step 4: Create Your Listing on KDP

In your KDP dashboard, choose “Create” and select ebook, paperback, or hardcover. Then complete the details page.

Title and subtitle: The title should suit the book. For nonfiction, a subtitle is your chance to say who the book is for and what it delivers, which also helps search.

Description: This is sales copy, not a summary. Open with the reader’s problem or a hook, explain what they’ll get, and close with a reason to buy. Short paragraphs and a few bolded phrases read better on Amazon than a wall of text.

Keywords and categories: KDP gives you seven keyword slots. Use phrases readers actually type, like “beginner vegan meal prep” rather than single words like “food.” To choose categories, look at the best-selling books closest to yours and see where they’re listed. Pick categories where your book can realistically climb the charts.

Series, contributors, and age range: Fill these in accurately. Series pages, in particular, help readers find your next book.

Step 5: Upload, Preview, and Proof

Upload your manuscript and cover, then use KDP’s online previewer to flip through every page. Check for cut-off text, odd line breaks, and images that look wrong.

Then order a printed proof copy. Author copies cost only the printing price, and they let you see what the previewer can’t: how the cover colors actually print, whether the spine text is centered, and whether the paper and margins feel right. Many authors skip this step to save a few dollars and then find an error only after readers do.

Step 6: Set Your Price and Understand Your Royalties

Pricing is where the numbers get specific, and where outdated advice online causes trouble.

Ebook royalties. KDP offers a 35% and a 70% royalty option. The 70% rate applies to list prices from $2.99 to $12.99 on Amazon.com, and Amazon deducts $0.15 per megabyte in delivery costs before paying it. That $12.99 ceiling is recent: the old $9.99 ceiling ended on July 7, 2026, so older articles quoting $9.99 are out of date. Delivery costs matter most for image-heavy books, since a large file eats into your royalty. Always confirm current terms in your own KDP dashboard before setting a price.

Paperback and hardcover royalties. Amazon pays 60% at $9.99 or above and 50% at $9.98 or below, then subtracts the printing cost. That one-cent line matters. Here is a worked example using a $14.99 paperback with a $3.85 printing cost: at 60% the royalty is $5.15 per sale, and at 50% the same book would earn $3.65. Your own printing cost depends on page count and trim size, so use the calculator inside KDP before finalizing your price.

Kindle Unlimited. Kindle Unlimited has no fixed rate; you take a share of a monthly fund based on pages read. Earnings vary from month to month, so treat it as a bonus rather than something to plan your budget around.

A practical pricing approach: Look at comparable books in your genre and price in the same range. Very low prices can signal low quality, especially in nonfiction. Very high prices need reviews and reputation to justify them.

Step 7: Choose KDP Select or Wide Distribution

For ebooks, KDP asks whether to enroll in KDP Select. This is a decision about exclusivity.

KDP Select: Your ebook is sold only on Amazon for 90-day periods. In return you get access to Kindle Unlimited and promotional tools. This often suits fiction authors, especially series writers whose readers binge through books.

Going wide: You sell on Amazon and also on other stores such as Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. You give up Kindle Unlimited but reach more readers and avoid depending on one retailer.

A simple rule of thumb: if your genre is heavy on Kindle Unlimited readers, Select is worth testing. If your book is a credibility piece for your business, wide distribution and paperback availability usually matter more. You can leave Select at the end of any 90-day period, so the choice isn’t permanent.

Step 8: Publish and Launch

Click “Publish.” KDP reviews your book, which per Amazon’s guidance usually takes up to 72 hours, though it can be longer. Once approved, it goes live on Amazon.

Then the real work starts. In the first 30 days:

• Tell your existing audience. Email list, social media, colleagues, and clients are your first buyers.
• Ask for honest reviews. Send advance copies to readers who are likely to enjoy the book and ask them to post reviews when it launches. Never buy reviews, since it violates Amazon’s rules and can get your account banned.
• Set up Author Central. It gives you an author page with your bio, photo, and all your books in one place.
• Watch your dashboard. Check sales, page reads, and how readers are finding you, then adjust your description, keywords, and price if something isn’t working.

How Much Does It Cost to Publish a Book on Amazon?

Publishing on KDP itself is free. The real costs come from preparing the book. The ranges below are rough planning estimates only; quotes vary widely by book length, genre, and provider.

There are three common paths:

1. Lean DIY: You do nearly everything and spend little. Best for authors with time, design skill, and a modest goal.
2. Hybrid: You handle the writing and listing, but hire out the cover and formatting. This is the most popular route for first-time authors.
3. Full service: A publishing company handles editing, design, formatting, upload, and launch support. This suits authors whose time is expensive or who need a polished result quickly.

If you can only afford to hire help for one thing, the cover usually gives the strongest return. Editing is a close second for longer books.

DIY vs. Hiring a Publishing Service: How to Decide

Ask yourself four questions.

1. How much time do I have?

Doing everything yourself takes real hours, especially formatting and the learning curve of KDP’s tools.

2. How comfortable am I with technical tasks?

Margins, fonts, file conversions, and cover dimensions frustrate some people and don’t bother others.

3. What is this book for?

A hobby project and a book meant to build a business or a speaking career have different stakes. The more the book represents your professional reputation, the more a polished result matters.

4. What would a weak launch cost me?

If a badly formatted or poorly designed book would damage your credibility with clients, paying for help is cheaper than repairing that impression later.

If you do hire a provider, watch for red flags:

• Rights grabs: You should keep the rights to your book. Be cautious of contracts that take them.
• Vague royalty terms: Ask exactly who receives sales income and how you’ll be paid.
• Bundled packages full of upsells: Get an itemized list of what’s included.
• Guaranteed bestseller promises: No one can promise that.

A trustworthy provider will explain the process plainly, show samples of past work, and be happy to answer all of the above in writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to publish a book on Amazon?

The upload and KDP review can take just days. Preparing the book (editing, formatting, cover) is what takes weeks or months, depending on how much you do yourself.

Is it free to publish on Amazon KDP?

Yes, there’s no fee to publish. You pay only for services you choose to hire and, for paperbacks, the printing cost that KDP deducts from each sale.

Do I need an ISBN to publish on Amazon?

Not for ebooks. For paperbacks and hardcovers, KDP offers a free ISBN, or you can supply your own if you want to be listed as the publisher.

Can I publish a book on Amazon without an editor?

You can, but it’s risky. Even authors who edit well themselves benefit from a fresh pair of eyes, since reviewers notice errors quickly.

What is the best trim size for a paperback on KDP?

For most nonfiction, 6″ x 9″ is common. Fiction and narrative nonfiction often use 5″ x 8″ or 5.5″ x 8.5″. Look at successful books in your genre.

How do Amazon authors get paid?

KDP pays royalties by direct deposit or another available payment method after you’ve set up your account. Payments arrive after a delay following the month of the sales, so check KDP’s current payment schedule.

Do I keep the rights to my book if I publish through KDP?

Yes. KDP is non-exclusive for paperbacks and hardcovers, and you retain your rights. Exclusivity applies only to ebooks enrolled in KDP Select, and only for the enrollment period.

What’s the difference between KDP and IngramSpark?

KDP is Amazon’s platform and is simple to use, with strong Amazon visibility. IngramSpark focuses on wider distribution, including bookstores and libraries. Many authors use both.

Can I publish an ebook, paperback, and hardcover at once?

Yes. You create each format separately in KDP and link them on the same book page.