# KDP proof copies and author copies: cost, limits and how to order

> How do I order proof copies and author copies on KDP, and what do they cost?

Proof and author copies cost the book's printing cost in the chosen marketplace times the number of copies, plus shipping, which never qualifies for free or Prime shipping. You can order up to 5 proofs per order, even for a draft once it is approved in the Print Previewer, and up to 999 author copies per order once the book is live. Neither earns royalties.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Price per copy | Printing cost in the selected marketplace |
| Proof copies per order | Up to 5 |
| Author copies per order | Up to 999 |
| Proofs available | Draft books approved in Print Previewer |
| Author copies available | Live or Live with unpublished changes |
| Shipping | Paid at checkout, no free or Prime shipping |
| Royalties | None on proofs or author copies |

## Proofs versus author copies

A **proof copy** is a test print for checking your book before it goes on sale. It has a "Not for Resale" watermark and a unique barcode without an ISBN. An **author copy** is a print of your live book, without any unpublished draft changes, that you may sell or give away. Neither appears in KDP reports or earns a royalty; past orders show in your Amazon order history.

## How ordering works

- **Proofs:** from the Bookshelf ellipsis menu choose Request Printed Proofs, pick a quantity of up to 5 and the marketplace for your shipping address. Within 4 hours KDP emails a cart link, and the proofs are removed from your cart if you do not buy within 24 hours of that email.
- **Author copies:** available once the book is Live or Live with unpublished changes, up to 999 per order. The button can take an extra 24 hours to appear after the book goes live.

Order from the marketplace that serves your address: Amazon.com for the US, Amazon.co.uk for the UK, Amazon.com.au for Australia and New Zealand. Japan orders must come from Amazon.co.jp and can only ship within Japan.

## Worked example

A 300-page black ink 6 x 9 in paperback has an Amazon.com printing cost of $1.00 + (300 × $0.012) = $4.60. Ten author copies cost 10 × $4.60 = $46.00 before shipping, which is shown at checkout based on your destination.

## Common mistakes

- Ordering author copies right after an update. If the status is still Live with unpublished changes, you receive the previous version, and copies printed from an earlier file can't be replaced or refunded.
- Selling proof copies. They are marked Not for Resale; order author copies for stock you plan to sell.

Amazon changes these rules; the linked KDP help pages are the authority.

## FAQ

**Can I sell my author copies?**

Yes. KDP says you can resell or give away author copies. Proofs carry a Not for Resale watermark and a barcode with no ISBN, and are meant for review.

**Can I get a discount for ordering in bulk?**

No. KDP says the author price is the lowest price it can offer and no additional discounts are available.

**How do I get a hardcover proof shipped to Canada?**

Hardcover proof and author copies are not available on Amazon.ca, so KDP says to order them from Amazon.com for delivery to Canada.

## Sources

- https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GVEG4YA9G2T7N6DR
- https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G2MYNEKHT443C2H2
- https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G7BBN68RYX5UMDZF
- https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834340

Last checked: 2026-11-09. Page: https://kdp123.com/facts/author-copies-and-proofs/. Data: CC BY 4.0, kdp123.com.