Publishing a book on Amazon is done through Kindle Direct Publishing, usually shortened to KDP. It is free to use, it takes an afternoon to set up, and the first upload is less frightening than it looks. Here is the process in the order you will meet it.
Step 1: Create your KDP account
Sign in at KDP with an existing Amazon login or create a new one. Before you can be paid, you add your bank details and complete the tax interview. Do this first, because the dashboard treats your account as incomplete until it is done.
Step 2: Start a new title
From your dashboard you choose a format: a Kindle ebook, a paperback or a hardcover. Many first-time authors begin with the ebook, then add print from the same dashboard once the book is live. You then enter the language, title, subtitle, author name and book description, and choose your categories and keywords. These fields are what Amazon uses to show your book to the right readers, so treat them as marketing, not paperwork.
Step 3: Upload your manuscript and cover
Ebooks need a clean, properly formatted file and a cover image. Paperbacks need a print-ready interior with correct margins and a cover sized to the book's page count. KDP offers a free cover tool, but on Amazon your cover appears as a small thumbnail among thousands, so a professional one earns its fee. We cover the real costs in what it really costs to self-publish a novel on Amazon.
Step 4: Set your price and royalties
For ebooks, KDP offers a 35% or 70% royalty option. The 70% option applies to sales in eligible territories after delivery costs, and your list price has to sit within a set range to qualify. KDP's pricing help lists the current limits. A free ebook is not an option on KDP.
For paperbacks, KDP's royalty page explains that your royalty is a percentage of the list price minus the printing cost. Books are printed on demand, so no stock sits in your garage.
Step 5: Publish, then wait for review
Press publish and Amazon reviews the title. KDP's Timelines page gives up to 72 hours for print reviews, and the Book Status page says a title can take up to three business days to go live. You cannot hurry a review, so don't schedule a launch announcement for the same afternoon.
What does it take to publish well?
| Publishing on KDP | Publishing well | |
|---|---|---|
| Account and upload | Free | Free |
| Editing | Not included | Developmental, line edit and proofread |
| Cover | Free cover tool | A designer who knows your genre |
| Interior layout | Your own file | Typeset for ebook and print |
| Readers' contact details | Amazon keeps them | Your own website and mailing list |
The last row catches many authors out. Amazon does not hand you your buyers' details, so a book with no website and no mailing list has no way to tell readers about the next one. Our article on whether self-published authors need a website if they sell on Amazon explains why.
Should you do it yourself?
If you enjoy the details, doing it yourself is entirely possible. The steps above are all you need to get a file live. Where authors tend to want help is everything around the upload: the edit, the cover, the author website and a plan for the first weeks of sales.
That is what our Become an Author packages cover. Packages start at $10,000 for the book and a website, and the full range is on the pricing page. We quote after a first conversation, once we know your book.
Common questions
How do you publish a book on Amazon for free?
Kindle Direct Publishing charges nothing to upload an ebook or paperback. Printing costs on paperbacks are taken out of your royalties when a copy sells, so you pay nothing up front. Editing, a cover and layout are separate costs if you hire help.
How long does it take to publish a book on Amazon?
KDP lists review times for new titles. Paperbacks and hardcovers are reviewed for up to 72 hours, and its Book Status page says a title can take up to three business days to appear. Check the current figures in your own dashboard.
Do you need an ISBN to publish on Amazon?
Not for an ebook. KDP does not require one for Kindle ebooks. For print books, check KDP's ISBN help page before you upload, because the options differ by format.
