KDP Royalty Calculator
Kindle and paperback royalty, after printing and delivery
Amazon does not pay you the list price. It takes a royalty share, and on Kindle it also charges a delivery fee based on your file size. On paperback it deducts the printing cost, which depends on page count and whether the interior is black and white or colour. This calculator shows what actually lands in your account per sale.
How does Amazon KDP royalty actually work?
KDP has two ebook royalty tiers. The 70% tier applies when your list price is between $2.99 and $9.99, and it subtracts a delivery fee of about $0.15 per MB. The 35% tier applies at any price, has no delivery fee, and is the only option outside that price window. Paperbacks pay 60% of list price minus the printing cost.
Why does file size change my Kindle royalty?
On the 70% tier Amazon charges roughly $0.15 per megabyte for delivery. A text-only novel is usually under 2 MB, so the fee is a few cents. An illustrated children's book or a cookbook can be 20 MB or more, which can quietly remove several dollars from every sale. If your file is large, the 35% tier sometimes pays more.
How is paperback printing cost calculated?
Amazon charges a fixed cost per book plus a per-page cost. In the US marketplace black and white on white paper runs about $0.0120 per page with a $0.85 fixed charge, while premium colour is far higher. A 300-page black and white paperback costs roughly $4.45 to print, which comes out of your 60% share before you see anything.
What price should I set?
For most fiction the sweet spot is $2.99 to $5.99 on Kindle, because it stays inside the 70% band while remaining an easy purchase. Non-fiction and how-to books support higher prices because readers judge them on the problem solved rather than the page count. Run both tiers in the calculator before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
What royalty does Amazon KDP pay?
Amazon pays 70% on ebooks priced $2.99 to $9.99 (minus a delivery fee of roughly $0.15 per MB), 35% at any other price with no delivery fee, and 60% of list price minus printing cost on paperbacks.
Is 70% always better than 35%?
No. On a large file the delivery fee can be big enough that the 35% tier pays more. Compare both tiers with your real file size before choosing.
How much does it cost to print a paperback on KDP?
In the US, black and white interiors cost about $0.85 fixed plus $0.0120 per page. A 300-page book is roughly $4.45. Colour interiors cost substantially more.
Does KDP charge a fee to publish?
No. Publishing on KDP is free. Amazon takes its share from each sale rather than charging up front.
Do I earn the same royalty in every country?
No. Royalty rates and printing costs differ by marketplace, and some countries only offer the 35% tier for ebooks. This calculator uses US rates.