Will my low-content book have a Look Inside sample?

Not if you publish without an ISBN. Amazon suggests buying your own ISBN to enable Read Sample, or adding interior images through A+ Content.

Can I switch from no ISBN to my own ISBN later?

No. The ISBN choice cannot be changed after publishing; you would have to unpublish and republish the book.

Is a coloring book low-content?

Generally not. Amazon says activity books such as puzzle and coloring books usually do not have repetitive content on every page, though exceptions exist.

Can I schedule a release date for a low-content book?

No. KDP says it does not currently offer Release Date for low-content books.

KDP low-content books: definition, ISBN option and limits

Checked against Amazon’s pages on 2026-11-09. Not affiliated with Amazon.

What counts as a low-content book on KDP, and do I need an ISBN for one?

KDP defines a low-content book as one with minimal or no interior content, usually repetitive pages meant to be filled in, such as notebooks, planners, journals and log books; puzzle and coloring books are generally not low-content. Low-content print books do not need an ISBN: you can publish without one or use your own, but the free KDP ISBN is not available. They cannot use Expanded Distribution or series pages.

Key facts
Typical examples	Notebooks, planners, journals, log books, coupon books
Generally not low-content	Puzzle books, coloring books, novels, children's books
ISBN options	Publish without an ISBN, or use your own
Free KDP ISBN	Not available
Expanded Distribution	Not supported, with or without ISBN
Series	Not eligible
No-ISBN barcode area	2 in x 1.2 in (50.8 x 30.5 mm), lower right of back cover

Terms on this page: ISBN · Low-content book

What KDP treats as low-content

A low-content book has minimal or no interior content and is generally repetitive, designed to be filled in by the user. Amazon’s examples include notebooks, planners, diaries and journals, prompt journals, log books, coupon books, score card templates, crafting templates and blank sheet music. Puzzle books, coloring books, photography, sheet music, manuals, textbooks and children’s books are generally not low-content, though Amazon notes there can be exceptions.

Setting one up

Low-content books are paperbacks or hardcovers. In the details step you must tick the Low-content box under Categories; Amazon says books that skip this box, or choose a different one, will be rejected. In the content step you pick Publish without an ISBN or Use my own ISBN.

ISBN and barcode

Without your own ISBN, KDP places a barcode in a 2 x 1.2 inch white box in the lower right corner of the back cover, so keep that area free of text and images. With your own ISBN you can supply your own barcode or let KDP add one.

What you give up

Expanded Distribution is not supported for low-content books, whichever ISBN option you choose.
Read Sample and the back cover thumbnail are not shown for books without an ISBN.
Low-content books cannot be part of a series.
Release Date scheduling is not offered.

Worked example

A lined journal published without an ISBN sells only through Amazon, gets an Amazon-placed barcode and has no Look Inside. The same journal with a purchased ISBN can show a reading sample, but it still cannot use Expanded Distribution or join a series.

Common mistakes

Repeating keywords such as “notebook” or “journal” in the title. Amazon’s metadata guidelines prohibit repeating generic keywords in the title field.
Printing art in the barcode box, which can get the file rejected.

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

Questions

Will my low-content book have a Look Inside sample?: Not if you publish without an ISBN. Amazon suggests buying your own ISBN to enable Read Sample, or adding interior images through A+ Content.
Can I switch from no ISBN to my own ISBN later?: No. The ISBN choice cannot be changed after publishing; you would have to unpublish and republish the book.
Is a coloring book low-content?: Generally not. Amazon says activity books such as puzzle and coloring books usually do not have repetitive content on every page, though exceptions exist.
Can I schedule a release date for a low-content book?: No. KDP says it does not currently offer Release Date for low-content books.

Related tools

Book Bolt: Book Bolt is a subscription app that combines niche research with a KDP-sized cover and interior designer for low-content and puzzle books.
Low Content Profits: Low Content Profits is a blog and course site for low-content and medium-content KDP publishers, with free interior templates.
Canva: Canva is a template-based design tool widely used for KDP ebook covers, simple low-content interiors and marketing graphics.
Bowker MyIdentifiers: Bowker MyIdentifiers is the official U.S. agency where publishers buy ISBNs.