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KDP royalties, explained

KDP royalties explained: 35% vs 70%, and which one you actually get.

The 70% option has a price band and a delivery fee; the 35% option applies everywhere else. This guide walks the real rules and the print side too.

Checked:

The $2.99–$9.99 band, explainedDelivery fees with real examplesPrint royalty basics in plain terms

The ebook options

Amazon.com offers two ebook royalty options. The 35% option applies to any price from $0.99 and takes no delivery fee. The 70% option applies only between $2.99 and $9.99, and Amazon deducts a delivery fee based on the ebook's file size — in the US, $0.15 per megabyte.

A $4.99 ebook with a 2 MB file earns about $3.19 under the 70% option and $1.75 under 35%. The gap is why most authors aim inside the band.

The print side

Print royalties start from list price minus printing cost, then the 60% rate applies to the remainder. Printing cost depends on trim size, page count, and ink. That is why final page count drives both the cover and the earnings.

  • Ebook 70%: only inside $2.99–$9.99, minus delivery fee
  • Ebook 35%: any price from $0.99, no delivery fee
  • Print: 60% of list price after printing cost
  • KENP: pages read × monthly rate, separate from sales

How to use this when pricing

Price inside the band when the book's value supports $2.99 or more. Use the royalty calculator to see the per-sale number, then compare it against the KENP estimator if you are in Kindle Unlimited.

Next release checks

Free KDP royalty calculator

KDP royalty calculator: what one sale actually pays you.

Choose the 35% or 70% option, enter your list price and ebook size, and see the per-sale royalty after Amazon's delivery fee. Built for Amazon.com planning.Open check

Free KENP earnings estimator

KENP earnings estimator: pages read into dollars.

Enter your KENP pages read, your book's KENPC page count, and the current rate per page. The tool converts them into an estimated payout for the month.Open check

eBook pricing strategy

eBook pricing strategy: pick the price the royalty rules reward.

The best price is the one inside the 70% band that your category tolerates. This guide walks the sweet spot, the series trick, and the launch math.Open check

KDP tools for authors

A KDP tool path for authors who already finished the manuscript.

Start with the current block: page planning, formatting, cover geometry, validation, metadata, or a failed upload. Each free result points to the next dependency.Open check

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Did KDP change royalty rates recently?

Ebook rates have stayed at 35% and 70% for years. What changed for some formats is print economics; low-price paperback rates were reduced in 2025, which hit low-content books hardest.

Do I pick the royalty option once per book?

You set list price and the eligible royalty option per marketplace at upload, and you can change it later. The band rules apply at each marketplace's own thresholds.

What is the minimum and maximum price?

On Amazon.com the list price range runs from $0.99 to $250 for ebooks. The 70% band only covers $2.99–$9.99.

Run your numbers before you upload.

The royalty calculator shows what one sale pays at your planned price.

Open the royalty calculator