KDP paperback royalties: 60% or 50% minus printing cost
Checked against Amazon’s pages on 2026-11-09. Not affiliated with Amazon.
How much royalty does Amazon KDP pay on a paperback?
KDP pays 60% of the paperback's list price minus the printing cost when the list price is $9.99 or more on Amazon.com, and 50% minus printing cost at $9.98 or less. Sales through Expanded Distribution earn 40% of the list price minus printing cost. For a $15, 333-page black ink book the US royalty is (0.60 x $15) - $5.00 = $4.00.
| Royalty rate, Amazon.com list price $9.99+ | 60% minus printing cost |
|---|---|
| Royalty rate, Amazon.com list price $9.98 or less | 50% minus printing cost |
| Expanded Distribution rate | 40% minus printing cost |
| Formula | (rate x list price) - printing cost |
| Maximum list price (Amazon.com) | $250 |
| Minimum list price | Printing cost / royalty rate |
Free calculator: KDP royalty and printing cost calculator · Amazon BSR to sales estimator
Terms on this page: Paperback and hardcover royalty
Two rates, set by list price
KDP now offers two paperback royalty rates on Amazon marketplaces. The rate depends on the list price in each marketplace:
| Marketplace | 50% at or below | 60% at or above |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com | 9.98 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Amazon.co.uk | 7.98 GBP | 7.99 GBP |
| Euro marketplaces | 9.98 EUR | 9.99 EUR |
| Amazon.ca | 13.98 CAD | 13.99 CAD |
| Amazon.com.au | 13.98 AUD | 13.99 AUD |
The printing cost is then subtracted. It depends on page count, ink and paper type, whether the trim is regular or large, and the marketplace where the book was ordered.
Worked examples (Amazon.com)
Amazon’s own examples:
- $15 list price, 333-page regular trim black ink paperback: (0.60 × $15) − $5.00 = $4.00. Through Expanded Distribution: (0.40 × $15) − $5.00 = $1.00.
- 300-page black ink paperback, printing cost $4.60: at $9.99 the royalty is (0.60 × $9.99) − $4.60 = $1.39; at $9.98 it drops to (0.50 × $9.98) − $4.60 = $0.39.
One cent separates the two cases, so pricing just under the threshold is the most common mistake.
Minimum and maximum prices
KDP will not accept a list price below printing cost divided by the royalty rate, so every sale covers its printing cost. The US maximum is $250 (350 CAD, 250 EUR, 250 GBP, 350 AUD and 30,000 JPY in other marketplaces).
Reporting and payment
Royalties appear in reports as copies ship; Expanded Distribution units show about 30 days after month end. Amazon-channel royalties are paid about 60 days after the end of the month of sale, Expanded Distribution about 90 days. Paperbacks in Japanese cannot use Expanded Distribution.
Amazon changes these rules; the linked KDP help pages are the authority.
Questions
- Does a customer discount reduce my royalty?
- No. If Amazon sells your paperback below list price in a promotion, your royalty is still calculated on the list price.
- Is the 50%/60% threshold the same in every marketplace?
- No. It is $9.99 on Amazon.com, 9.99 EUR in the euro marketplaces, 7.99 GBP on Amazon.co.uk, and 13.99 CAD or AUD on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com.au.
- Should the list price include VAT?
- No. KDP list prices exclude VAT, GST and consumption tax; Amazon adds the applicable tax for the customer's location.
Related tools
- Amazon KDP: Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing is Amazon's free self-publishing platform for Kindle ebooks and print paperbacks and hardcovers.
Sources
- https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834330
- https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G8BKPU9AGVZSF9QF
- https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834340
More on royalties & payments
- KDP ebook royalties: the 35% and 70% options
- KDP hardcover royalties: 60% or 50% minus printing cost
- When and how KDP pays royalties: schedule, thresholds, methods
Spotted a change on Amazon’s side? Send a correction. Plain-text version.