KDP Paperback Royalty Calculator
See what you earn on every paperback sale after KDP's printing cost, which royalty rate applies, and the list price you need to hit a target royalty.
How KDP calculates paperback royalties
royalty = list price × royalty rate − printing costThe rate is 60% at or above $9.99 (£7.99, €9.99) and 50% below it. Expanded Distribution pays 40%. Printing cost depends on ink, page count, trim and marketplace; this calculator works it out for you using the same tables as the printing cost calculator.
Worked example: the $9.99 cliff
A 250-page, 6" x 9" black ink paperback costs $4.00 to print on Amazon.com.
| List price | Rate | Royalty per copy |
|---|---|---|
| $9.98 | 50% | $0.99 |
| $9.99 | 60% | $1.99 |
| $12.99 | 60% | $3.79 |
One cent on the list price is worth $1.00 more per copy. If your book sits just under the threshold, test pricing it at exactly $9.99.
Choosing a price
Start from what readers pay for similar books in your category, then check the royalty here. Low-content books (journals, planners, workbooks) often sell at $6.99-$8.99, where the 50% rate applies and printing cost takes a large share. Novels and non-fiction usually sit above $9.99. Use the target royalty field to see the lowest price that earns, say, $3 per copy, and compare that with competitors before you publish.
Prices on other marketplaces are set separately. If you let KDP derive them from your US price, check that each one still lands on the right side of that marketplace's threshold.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my royalty jump at $9.99?
Since June 2025 KDP pays 60% on paperbacks listed at $9.99 or more (£7.99 on Amazon.co.uk, €9.99 on EU stores) and 50% below that. Moving from $9.98 to $9.99 can add more than a dollar per copy.
What is Expanded Distribution?
An opt-in that lists your paperback with bookstores, libraries and other retailers outside Amazon. You earn 40% of the list price minus printing cost, and it often needs a higher list price to earn anything.
What is the minimum list price?
KDP won't let you price below the point where your royalty would be zero, which is the printing cost divided by the royalty rate.
Does VAT affect paperback royalties?
On EU stores KDP calculates royalties from the price without VAT. Enter your price excluding VAT for EU marketplaces. Printed books are zero-rated in the UK, and Amazon.com prices exclude sales tax.
Sources
Rates last checked against KDP's help pages on 2026-10-16.