To publish a book on Amazon KDP, create a free Kindle Direct Publishing account, enter your book details, upload a formatted manuscript and a cover, set your price and royalty, and submit the book for review. KDP says review can take up to 72 hours, and most books go live within a few days. The work that takes time is preparing the files and listing so the book is ready before you start.
This guide walks through each step for Kindle eBooks, paperbacks and hardcovers, and points out the mistakes that cause rejections or weak sales. If you want hands-on help, our Amazon KDP publishing services set everything up in your own account. If you are still counting costs, read how much it costs to self-publish a book first.
Key takeaways
- KDP is free to use; you pay only for the services you choose and for print costs deducted from print sales
- Finish editing, cover and formatting before you start, because changes later cause delays
- The details you enter, such as title, description, categories and keywords, decide how readers find the book
- Preview the book in KDP before you submit it
- After publishing, set up Author Central and plan reviews and promotion
In this article
- Step 1: Get the book ready to publish
- Step 2: Create and complete your KDP account
- Step 3: Enter your book details
- Step 4: Decide on an ISBN
- Step 5: Upload your files and preview
- Step 6: Set your price and royalty
- Step 7: Consider KDP Select and pre-orders
- Step 8: Submit the book, then plan the launch
- What are the most common KDP mistakes?
- Frequently asked questions
- Services that can help
Step 1: Get the book ready to publish
Before you open KDP, have a final edited manuscript, a finished cover and files formatted for each edition. The eBook needs a clean, reflowable file, and print needs a PDF interior sized to your trim and page count. Uploading a rough draft is the most common mistake, because errors appear in your listing and reviews. Our book editing services and KDP formatting services prepare files that pass review.
Step 2: Create and complete your KDP account
Sign in to KDP with an Amazon login, accept the terms and complete your author details, payment method and tax information. Use your real legal name where the forms require it and a bank account in the same name. Mistakes here delay payments. Our KDP account setup service walks you through each screen, and our royalty and tax setup help explains the tax interview.
Step 3: Enter your book details
In your Bookshelf, choose to create a Kindle eBook, paperback or hardcover and enter the language, title, subtitle, series information, author name, description, keywords and categories. Write the description for readers, not only for search, and choose keywords that real readers would type. Check spelling twice, because titles and author names are hard to change after publication. Our listing optimization service improves titles, descriptions and categories.
Step 4: Decide on an ISBN
KDP can assign a free ISBN for print books, and eBooks do not need one on Amazon. A free ISBN lists KDP as the publisher of record and applies to Amazon. If you plan to sell elsewhere or want to be the publisher, buy your own ISBNs, one for each format. See our ISBN and copyright registration service.
Step 5: Upload your files and preview
Upload your manuscript and cover, choose the trim size, paper and bleed for print and let KDP process the files. Use the online previewer to check every page, the headings, the images and the table of contents. For print, order a printed proof if you can, because paper shows problems a screen hides. Fix any errors the checker flags before you continue.
Step 6: Set your price and royalty
Choose the territories where you hold the rights, then set your list price. For eBooks, KDP offers two royalty options, 35 percent and 70 percent, and the 70 percent option depends on your price band and a file delivery fee. For print, royalties are a percentage of list price minus printing cost, and the percentage depends on your price and sales channel. Amazon changes these rules from time to time, so check the current KDP help pages and the printing cost calculator before you decide.
Step 7: Consider KDP Select and pre-orders
KDP Select enrols your eBook in Kindle Unlimited in return for exclusivity on Amazon for a set period, so you cannot sell the eBook in other stores meanwhile. Pre-orders let readers reserve an eBook before launch day, with a firm deadline for the final file. Read our guides to KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited and Amazon pre-order setup before you choose.
Step 8: Submit the book, then plan the launch
Select publish. KDP reviews the book and sends an email when it is live or if there is a problem. Then claim your page on Author Central, plan early reviews from genuine readers, tell your newsletter and prepare a first promotion. Never buy reviews, because Amazon removes them and can penalise accounts. Our Amazon bestseller launch service plans the weeks around release.
What are the most common KDP mistakes?
Most problems come from rushing the first upload, and nearly all of them are avoidable with a short checklist.
- Uploading before the book is fully edited and proofread
- Using the wrong trim size or bleed for print
- Choosing categories without checking real competing books
- Leaving the description as one long block of text
- Skipping a printed proof
- Forgetting to set up Author Central
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to publish on KDP?
Publishing is free. You pay for editing, cover design and formatting if you buy them, and print costs are deducted from print sales.
How long does it take for a KDP book to go live?
KDP says review can take up to 72 hours. Problems with files or details can add time.
Can I publish a paperback and an eBook together?
Yes. You can create both, and Amazon can link them on one page when the details match.
Do I need an ISBN for an eBook on KDP?
No. KDP does not require one for Kindle eBooks, though you may want one if you sell in other stores.
Why was my book rejected?
Common causes are formatting errors, a wrong cover size, content or metadata that breaks guidelines and copied material. KDP’s message explains the issue.
Can I change my book after publishing?
Yes. You can update files, description and price, and changes usually go through review before they show.
Services that can help
- Amazon KDP publishing services
- KDP account setup
- KDP formatting services
- Amazon book listing optimization
- Amazon book publishing services
This guide is part of our amazon publishing guides and connects to our amazon publishing services.