How KDP royalties work
Paperbacks: KDP pays (royalty rate × list price) − printing cost. On Amazon.com the rate is 60% at $9.99 or more and 50% at $9.98 or less (UK £7.99 / CA and AU 13.99 / EU €9.99 thresholds); Expanded Distribution pays 40% (Paperback Royalty). eBooks: 35% of list price, or 70% of (list price − delivery cost) for Amazon.com prices from $2.99 to $12.99 (eBook Royalty Options, eBook List Price Requirements).
Our engine reproduces KDP’s own example to the cent: a $15, 333-page black-ink paperback pays $4.00 a copy.
| List price | Total fees | Fee rate | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| $7.99 | $8.59 | 107.5% | −$0.60 |
| $9.98 | $9.59 | 96.1% | $0.39 |
| $9.99 | $8.60 | 86.1% | $1.39 |
| $12.99 | $9.80 | 75.4% | $3.19 |
| $14.99 | $10.60 | 70.7% | $4.39 |
| $19.99 | $12.60 | 63.0% | $7.39 |
KDP Royalty Calculator: The 50% vs 60% Line at $9.99
That one-cent line is the most important number in paperback pricing. A 200-page book priced at $8.99 earns $1.10; at $9.99 it earns $2.59, more than double for a dollar more. Unless you have a strong reason to stay under $10, price at $9.99 or above.
Printing cost is the other lever: fixed cost + pages × per-page cost (Printing Cost). On Amazon.com, black ink is $2.30 flat up to 110 pages, then $1.00 + 1.2¢ per page; premium color starts at $3.60 and costs 6.5¢ a page after 40 pages. Large trim sizes cost more per page.
Amazon KDP Royalty Calculator for eBooks: 35% vs 70%
| eBook on Amazon.com | Fees | Fee rate | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2.99 · 70% | $0.94 | 31.4% | $2.05 |
| $4.99 · 70% | $1.54 | 30.9% | $3.45 |
| $9.99 · 70% | $3.04 | 30.4% | $6.95 |
| $14.99 · 35% (above the 70% band) | $9.74 | 65.0% | $5.25 |
| $0.99 · 35% | $0.64 | 64.6% | $0.35 |
The 70% option is the better deal for almost every in-copyright book priced inside the band. Above $12.99 on Amazon.com you drop to 35%, which is why so many eBooks sit at $9.99–$12.99.
| Fee | Amount | Charged on | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paperback royalty | 60% of list price at $9.99+, 50% below | List price, minus printing | Every salesource |
| Expanded Distribution | 40% | List price, minus printing | Every salesource |
| Printing · black ink | $2.30 flat up to 110 pages; then $1.00 + 0.012 USD per page | Each copy (regular trim) | Every salesource |
| eBook 70% option | 70% of (list − delivery) | Amazon.com list price $2.99–$12.99 | Every salesource |
| eBook 35% option | 35% of list price | Any allowed price | Every salesource |
Selling direct as well? Compare what you’d keep on Gumroad or Ko-fi.