Free book launch timeline planner
KDP publishing help
KDP preorder: how it works, what it locks, and why paperbacks are excluded.
Preorders build launch-day demand, but the rules surprise first-timers: Kindle only, one date change allowed, and a file deadline.
Checked:
✓Preorders are Kindle-only on KDP✓The release date locks with limited changes✓Miss the file deadline and the preorder cancels
What you can and cannot preorder
KDP supports preorders for Kindle editions. Paperbacks and hardcovers go on sale the day they are published, which is why the option is greyed out for print versions.
- Kindle preorder: yes, up to a year ahead
- Paperback preorder: not supported by KDP
- A preorder ASIN is separate from the live ASIN
The date lock
Once live, the preorder release date can be changed within limits — KDP allows one extension with justification. Repeated changes or a missed final-file deadline cancels the preorder and hurts ranking history.
Common mistakes
Setting a date before the final file is ready, forgetting that the final manuscript must upload several days before release, and treating the preorder page as a placeholder for an unfinished book.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I set a preorder for a paperback on KDP?
No. KDP preorders are Kindle-only. Print editions publish directly on release day.
How far ahead can I set a preorder?
Up to about a year for Kindle editions, with the final manuscript due before the release date.
What happens if I miss the preorder deadline?
The preorder cancels, buyers who ordered are refunded, and the title loses the accumulated sales history.
Can I change the release date after the preorder is live?
A limited extension is possible through support. Treat the first date as final.
Plan the launch around the date.
The launch timeline backs every task out from release day.