Free tool · KDP rates checked 2026-10-29
KDP Royalty Calculator for Paperbacks
A KDP paperback earns royalty rate × list price − printing cost, where printing cost is a fixed fee plus a per-page fee. On Amazon.com a 300-page black-ink 6 × 9 in book costs $4.60 to print, so at $9.99 (60% rate) you earn $1.39 per sale and at $14.99 you earn $4.39. Prices below $9.99 drop to the 50% rate.
- Royalty per sale
- $1.3960% rate (list price ≥ $9.99)
- Printing cost
- $4.601 + 300 × 0.012 · regular trim
- Minimum list price
- $9.20printing cost ÷ royalty rate
- Formula
- 60% × 9.99 − (1 + 300 × 0.012) = 1.39
How to use it
- Choose the marketplace. Each Amazon store has its own printing costs and 50%/60% threshold.
- Pick ink, trim size and page count. Large trims (wider than 6.12 in or taller than 9 in) cost more per page.
- Enter your list price without tax. The calculator picks the 50% or 60% rate for you.
- Compare prices. Try a few list prices around the threshold to see where the 60% rate pays off.
KDP’s published formula
Printing cost = fixed cost + page count × per-page cost. Royalty = royalty rate × list price − printing cost. Rates: 60% at or above the marketplace threshold, 50% below it, 40% for Expanded Distribution.
| Marketplace | 60% from | Black ink, regular trim |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com | $9.99 | $2.30 (24–110 pp.) · $1.00 + $0.012/page |
| Amazon.co.uk | £7.99 | £1.93 · £0.85 + £0.010/page |
| Amazon.de / .fr / .es / .it | €9.99 | €2.05 · €0.75 + €0.012/page |
| Amazon.ca | CA$13.99 | CA$2.99 · CA$1.26 + CA$0.016/page |
| Amazon.com.au | A$13.99 | A$4.74 (24–108 pp.) · A$2.42 + A$0.022/page |
| Amazon.co.jp | ¥1,000 | ¥422 · ¥206 + ¥2/page |
Royalties are only worth calculating for a file KDP accepts. Check your interior PDF for free before you set the price, and use the cover calculator once your page count is final.
Source: KDP Help: Printing Cost · KDP Help: Paperback Royalty · KDP Help: Print Book Pricing Page. Checked .
When to use it
- Setting or testing a paperback list price
- Comparing black ink, standard color and premium color
- Checking whether a large trim size still pays
When not to
- eBook royalties (35%/70% with delivery costs) — a different formula
- Hardcover: KDP prices hardcovers differently and has no Expanded Distribution for them
At a glance
- Free: full check report, cover/spine calculator, royalty calculator. No account needed.
- Paid: $9 per book, one-time — fixed interior PDF + full-wrap cover (PDF, PNG, layered PSD). Re-download for 30 days.
- Files are processed in your browser; your manuscript is never uploaded to our servers.
- Pagination never changes; text is scaled uniformly (default keeps ≥ 0.08″ clearance inside KDP's margins).
- Supports paperback, no-bleed interiors, trim sizes 5×8 to 8.5×11, 24–828 pages. Bleed (picture books) and hardcover: coming soon.
- Refund: if KDP rejects a problem we fixed, full refund.
- Not affiliated with Amazon. KDP's previewer is the final authority.
FAQ
How are KDP paperback royalties calculated?
Royalty = royalty rate × list price (without tax) − printing cost. On Amazon.com the rate is 60% at a list price of $9.99 or more and 50% below that; Expanded Distribution pays 40%. A 300-page black-ink 6 × 9 book at $9.99 earns 0.60 × 9.99 − 4.60 = $1.39.
How much does KDP charge to print a paperback?
Printing cost = fixed cost + pages × per-page cost. On Amazon.com, black ink on a regular trim costs $2.30 flat for 24–110 pages, then $1.00 + $0.012 per page; large trims cost $2.84 flat, then $1.00 + $0.017 per page.
What counts as a large trim size?
KDP prices a book as large trim when it is wider than 6.12 in or taller than 9 in, e.g. 6.14 × 9.21, 7 × 10 or 8.5 × 11 in.
What is the minimum list price on KDP?
Printing cost ÷ royalty rate. A book that costs $4.60 to print can’t be listed below $9.20 at 50%, and at 60% the price must also be at least $9.99 on Amazon.com.
When did KDP add the 50% royalty rate?
KDP lowered the rate from 60% to 50% for paperbacks listed below a marketplace threshold ($9.99 on Amazon.com) in June 2025. The calculator uses the thresholds KDP publishes for each marketplace.
Is VAT included in the list price?
No. KDP’s royalty formula uses the tax-exclusive list price. Amazon adds VAT, GST or JCT on top based on the buyer’s location.