Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, usually called KDP, lets anyone publish an ebook, paperback or hardcover and sell it on Amazon worldwide. Opening an account is free and the upload takes minutes. Publishing a book that looks professional and actually sells takes more planning. Here is the full process, in the order it really happens.
Finish and edit the manuscript first
Everything downstream depends on a final manuscript. Page count decides your spine width and printing cost. Chapter structure decides your table of contents. If you edit after formatting, you format again. Get the book professionally edited and proofread before you touch layout, and freeze the text once you start design.
Set up your KDP account
Create your account with the details you want associated with your royalties. KDP asks for your bank information for payments and walks you through a tax interview. Non-US authors can usually claim a reduced withholding rate under their country's tax treaty, so complete this part carefully.
Decide on formats and ISBNs
Most authors publish a Kindle ebook and a paperback together, and some add a hardcover. Kindle ebooks do not need an ISBN on Amazon. For print editions, KDP offers a free ISBN that lists the publisher as independently published. If you want your own imprint name to appear, buy your own ISBNs from the official ISBN agency in your country. Each format needs its own ISBN.
Format the interior for each format
Print and ebook files are built differently. A paperback interior is a fixed PDF at your chosen trim size, such as 6 x 9 inches, with margins that widen toward the spine as page count grows. A Kindle ebook is reflowable, so readers can change fonts and sizes, which means clean heading styles and a linked table of contents matter more than exact positions. Use KDP's previewer to check both before you publish.
Create a cover for each format
The ebook needs a front cover image. The paperback and hardcover need a full wrap: back cover, spine and front cover as one file, with 0.125 inches of bleed on all sides. Spine width depends on page count and paper type, so the print cover can only be finalised once the interior is done. Books under 80 pages cannot have text on the spine.
Write a listing that helps readers find you
Your listing is where most books are won or lost. You get a title and optional subtitle, a description, seven keyword boxes and category selections. Use the keyword boxes for phrases readers actually search, not single words that repeat your title. Choose categories where similar books sell and where your book can realistically appear near the top. Write the description like a back cover: hook, stakes or promise, then a reason to buy now.
Price for royalties
Kindle ebooks priced from $2.99 to $9.99 qualify for the 70% royalty option in most markets, minus a small delivery fee based on file size. Prices outside that range earn 35%. Paperback royalties on Amazon are 60% of the list price minus printing cost, which depends on page count and ink. Check the royalty calculator for every format before you settle on a price.
Consider KDP Select
Enrolling your ebook in KDP Select makes it available in Kindle Unlimited, where you earn money from pages read, and unlocks promotional tools such as free days and countdown deals. The trade-off is 90 days of ebook exclusivity to Amazon, renewable each term. It suits many fiction authors and some nonfiction, but not every book.
Order a proof, then publish
Always order a printed proof copy before you publish a paperback. Check the cover alignment, the spine, the margins and a few random pages. When everything looks right, submit. Amazon's review usually takes up to 72 hours, after which your book goes live and appears in search shortly afterwards.
Plan the launch before you press publish
A book that goes live with no reviews, no readers waiting and no promotion tends to disappear quickly. Line up advance readers, prepare your author page and decide on a launch budget for ads before publication day, so the book has momentum from the start.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to publish on Amazon KDP?
Yes. KDP charges no upfront fee. Amazon takes its share from each sale, and print costs are deducted from paperback and hardcover royalties.
How long does it take for a book to go live on Amazon?
After you submit, Amazon's review usually takes up to 72 hours. Print editions can take a little longer to link with the ebook on the same product page.
Can I publish on Amazon from outside the United States?
Yes. Authors from most countries can publish on KDP and receive royalties by bank transfer. You complete a tax interview during setup.