Revision 2
Amazon KDP

@namkyu · Aug 29, 2026, 4:19 PM
Added practical Amazon KDP costs, royalties, publishing workflow, requirements, earnings data, and current platform rules.
+979−424
+Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, commonly called Amazon KDP, is Amazon's self-publishing platform for selling Kindle eBooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers. Authors can publish without maintaining print inventory because physical books are manufactured on demand when customers order them.
−[Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing](/wiki/amazon-kindle-direct-publishing), commonly called Amazon KDP, is Amazon's self-publishing platform for selling Kindle eBooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers. Authors can publish without maintaining print inventory because physical books are manufactured on demand when customers order them.
  
 # Quick Facts
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 If any printed element extends to the edge of the page, the interior must be submitted as PDF with the appropriate bleed settings.
  
+For Kindle eBooks, authors can prepare books with tools such as Microsoft Word or Kindle Create. Kindle Create can export KPF, Amazon's preferred format for Kindle publishing, and EPUB for supported reflowable books.
−For Kindle eBooks, authors can prepare books with tools such as [Microsoft Word](/wiki/microsoft-word) or [Kindle Create](/wiki/kindle-create). Kindle Create can export KPF, Amazon's preferred format for Kindle publishing, and EPUB for supported reflowable books.
  
 ## 3. Prepare the cover
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 | Tool                                       | Price                   | Level        | Main use                                    |
 | ------------------------------------------ | ----------------------- | ------------ | ------------------------------------------- |
+| Kindle Create                              | KDP tool                | Beginner     | eBook and book formatting                   |
−| [Kindle Create](/wiki/kindle-create)       | KDP tool                | Beginner     | eBook and book formatting                   |
 | KDP Cover Creator                          | Free                    | Beginner     | Creating a basic book cover                 |
+| Microsoft Word                             | Paid / existing license | Beginner     | Writing and manuscript preparation          |
+| Kindle Previewer                           | KDP tool                | Intermediate | Checking Kindle rendering                   |
−| [Microsoft Word](/wiki/microsoft-word)     | Paid / existing license | Beginner     | Writing and manuscript preparation          |
−| [Kindle Previewer](/wiki/kindle-previewer) | KDP tool                | Intermediate | Checking Kindle rendering                   |
 | KDP Printing Cost &amp; Royalty Calculator | Free online tool        | Beginner     | Checking print cost and estimated royalties |
  
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 # Sources
  
+- [Amazon KDP — Kindle eBook Royalty](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200634500)
+- [Amazon KDP — eBook List Price Requirements](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200634560)
+- [Amazon KDP — Paperback Royalty](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834330)
+- [Amazon KDP — Print Book Pricing](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G8BKPU9AGVZSF9QF)
+- [Amazon KDP — Printing Cost and Royalty Calculator](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/royalty-calculator)
+- [Amazon KDP — KDP Select](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200798990)
+- [Amazon KDP — Kindle Unlimited Royalties](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201541130)
+- [Amazon KDP — ISBN](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GTJ8LBXL6Z4WV5QX)
+- [Amazon KDP — Set Up Your KDP Account](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G202187760)
+- [Amazon KDP — Identity Verification](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GH7TYHP6FR9QAUM9)
+- [Amazon KDP — Book Status and Publishing Timelines](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G202173620)
+- [Amazon KDP — Content Guidelines](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200672390)
+- [Amazon KDP — Expanded Distribution](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GQTT4W3T5AYK7L45)
+- [Amazon KDP — Royalty Payment Schedule](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GK2MKZUL6U3SFBPZ)
+- [Written Word Media — 2025 Author Survey](https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/2025-author-survey/)
−- Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing — Self Publishing / KDP overview.
−- Amazon KDP — Digital Book Pricing Page, updated April 21, 2026.
−- Amazon KDP — eBook List Price Requirements, including the July 7, 2026 70% royalty price-band change.
−- Amazon KDP — Paperback Royalty.
−- Amazon KDP — Print Book Pricing Page.
−- Amazon KDP — KDP Select and Royalties in Kindle Unlimited.
−- Amazon KDP — Get an ISBN.
−- Amazon KDP — Set Up Your KDP Account and Identity Verification.
−- Amazon KDP — Publishing &amp; Review and Timelines.
−- Amazon KDP — Content Guidelines, including AI-generated content rules.
−- Amazon KDP — Expanded Distribution.
−- Amazon KDP — When Will I Get Paid?
−- Written Word Media — 2025 Author Survey Results, based on more than 1,300 responding authors.