For many years, getting a book published meant knocking on doors — agents, publishers, bookstores — and hoping someone would say yes. Even then, most authors earned a modest share of sales and had limited control over pricing, rights, or how their work reached readers.
Amazon changed this in 2007 when it launched Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), giving authors the ability to publish their books directly to millions of readers without needing a traditional publisher.
Since then, KDP has grown into the largest self-publishing platform in the world. If you’re an author — or thinking about writing your first book — this guide explains exactly what Amazon KDP is, how it works, what you gain from using it, what makes it stand out, what costs are involved, and how you can get started.
What is Amazon KDP?
Amazon KDP, which stands for Kindle Direct Publishing, is Amazon’s self-publishing service for independent authors and publishers. It allows anyone to publish ebooks and paperbacks and sell them directly on Amazon’s global marketplaces.
Through KDP, authors can:
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Publish Kindle ebooks that readers can download instantly.
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Publish paperback books with print-on-demand technology.
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Set their own prices and royalty rates.
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Retain full rights to their work.
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Update or edit their books at any time.
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Reach readers in dozens of countries worldwide.
KDP is designed to remove barriers. No upfront costs for printing large runs, no inventory to manage, and no distribution deals needed — Amazon handles the hosting, delivery, payment processing, and customer service.
Where is KDP Based?
Amazon KDP is operated by Amazon.com, Inc., which is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, USA. The KDP service itself is entirely online — there are no physical offices that authors visit for publishing.
KDP books are sold on all of Amazon’s major marketplaces, including:
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Amazon.com (US)
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Amazon.co.uk (UK)
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Amazon.ca (Canada)
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Amazon.de (Germany)
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Amazon.in (India)
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Amazon.co.jp (Japan)
…and many others. This means your book can be purchased by readers in nearly every country where Amazon operates.
Who is Amazon KDP For?
Amazon KDP is designed for anyone who wants to publish a book. This includes:
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First-time authors publishing independently.
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Professional authors looking to self-publish new works alongside traditionally published books.
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Small publishers using KDP as a cost-effective distribution channel.
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Entrepreneurs and experts who publish how-to guides, business books, or branded content.
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Teachers and academics who publish study guides or educational material.
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Fiction and non-fiction writers, poets, children’s book authors, and more.
There is no requirement to have an agent, publisher, or minimum sales history. Anyone can open a KDP account and start publishing — you only need a finished manuscript, a cover design, and the rights to the content.
What Does Amazon KDP Offer?
KDP provides authors with a suite of tools and services to get their books into the hands of readers:
1. Ebook Publishing
The core of KDP is Kindle ebook publishing. Authors upload their manuscript (usually in DOCX or EPUB format), design a cover, set a price, and choose where to sell. Once published, the ebook is listed in the Kindle Store and is compatible with Kindle devices and free Kindle apps for phones, tablets, and computers.
2. Paperback Publishing
In addition to ebooks, KDP supports paperback publishing through print-on-demand. This means books are only printed when a customer orders them. Authors do not need to pay upfront for large print runs or manage inventory. KDP prints and ships each copy automatically.
3. Expanded Distribution
Authors can choose to make their paperbacks available through Amazon’s expanded distribution channels. This allows books to reach libraries and academic institutions, as well as other online retailers.
4. Kindle Unlimited (KU) and KDP Select
Authors can enroll ebooks in KDP Select, which makes them available through Kindle Unlimited — Amazon’s subscription reading service. This can increase visibility and provide additional royalties based on pages read.
5. Author Dashboard and Sales Reports
KDP includes a straightforward dashboard where authors can track book sales, royalties earned, page reads (for KU), and see performance across regions.
6. Free ISBN for Paperbacks
KDP provides a free ISBN for print books if the author does not have one. This removes the barrier of needing to purchase or register ISBNs separately.
7. Rights and Pricing Control
Authors maintain full rights to their books and can adjust pricing, update manuscripts, change covers, or unpublish at any time.
How Does Publishing Work?
Publishing through KDP involves a clear, step-by-step process:
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Sign Up: Create a KDP account using your Amazon credentials.
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Upload Manuscript: Prepare your manuscript file in an accepted format (typically DOCX for ebooks, PDF for paperbacks).
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Design a Cover: Upload your own professionally designed cover or use Amazon’s built-in Cover Creator tool.
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Set Details: Add your book title, subtitle, author name, description, keywords, and categories.
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Choose Rights: Confirm you own the rights to the book and choose the territories where it will be sold.
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Set Pricing: Set your list price and select your royalty option.
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Publish: Submit your book for review. Once approved, it usually goes live within 72 hours.
What Does Amazon KDP Cost?
Publishing through Amazon KDP is free. There are no upfront fees for uploading or listing a book. Instead, Amazon earns its share through the royalty structure.
Ebook Royalties:
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Authors choose either 35% or 70% royalty options for ebooks.
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The 70% royalty is available for ebooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99 (USD) in eligible countries.
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The 35% royalty applies to ebooks priced below $2.99 or above $9.99 or sold in certain countries.
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Paperback Royalties:
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For paperbacks, authors earn 60% of the list price minus printing costs.
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Printing costs depend on factors like page count, ink type (black & white or color), and whether the book is printed in the US or other regions.
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For example, if you price a paperback at $14.99 and the printing cost is $4.50, you earn 60% of $14.99 ($8.99) minus the $4.50 printing cost, resulting in about $4.49 per sale.
There are no hidden fees — authors only pay by sharing a portion of each sale.
Advantages of Amazon KDP
Self-publishing through Amazon KDP has reshaped the book industry because it solves multiple challenges for writers:
1. Immediate Global Reach
Amazon has millions of customers worldwide. Your book is listed alongside bestsellers in the Kindle Store and in Amazon’s print catalog. This exposure would be difficult and costly to achieve through traditional distribution.
2. Total Control
Unlike traditional publishing, where rights and pricing are often controlled by the publisher, KDP allows authors to maintain full ownership. You decide pricing, distribution, and updates.
3. Fast Publishing
There is no long wait for print runs or bookstore negotiations. An ebook can be live within 24 to 72 hours of submission.
4. Passive Income
Books can continue to generate royalties for years with no extra effort — especially ebooks, which require no printing or shipping.
5. Print-on-Demand
No need to store boxes of unsold books. Each copy is printed only when ordered, removing the risk of overproduction.
6. Optional Exclusivity
Authors can choose to enroll in KDP Select for 90 days at a time, which provides access to Kindle Unlimited’s large subscriber base in exchange for ebook exclusivity during that period.
7. Low Financial Risk
Because there are no upfront publishing costs, there is minimal financial risk. The main investments are time, editing, design, and promotion.
What KDP is Not
While KDP makes publishing accessible, it does not handle everything for the author. You are responsible for:
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Editing your manuscript to professional standards.
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Designing or commissioning a quality cover.
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Marketing your book to drive traffic to your Amazon page.
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Building your author brand outside Amazon.
KDP does not provide large promotional budgets or in-house publicists — you handle your own marketing or hire professionals.
Ease of Use
KDP’s online dashboard is one of the easiest to use in the self-publishing world. It includes guided steps, help articles, a cover creator tool, previewers to check your book’s appearance on Kindle devices, and calculators for print book costs.
No advanced technical skills are needed, but new authors should invest time in learning basics like:
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Formatting an ebook manuscript correctly.
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Creating a compelling product page with keywords and categories.
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Understanding Amazon’s rules for metadata and content.
What Do Authors Gain That Makes a Difference?
Many successful indie authors have built full-time incomes using KDP alone. The main difference KDP makes is access — your book goes directly in front of Amazon’s massive customer base. Combined with low barriers to entry and high royalty rates, authors can earn more per sale than many traditional publishing contracts allow.
Who Should Use KDP?
KDP is ideal for:
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Writers ready to publish on their own schedule.
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Authors wanting to test new ideas or niche books.
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Coaches, entrepreneurs, and speakers publishing authority-building books.
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Small publishers looking for cost-effective distribution.
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Authors experimenting with multiple pen names, genres, or series.
How to Get Started with Amazon KDP
Publishing your first book is straightforward. Here is what you need:
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A polished manuscript.
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A high-quality book cover.
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A book description, categories, and keywords.
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An Amazon KDP account (free to set up).
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A tax and payment setup — so Amazon can pay your royalties.
Once you have those ready, visit https://kdp.amazon.com/, sign in, and follow the guided steps.
Final Thoughts
Amazon KDP has removed traditional publishing gatekeepers, giving millions of authors the chance to reach readers directly. It has changed countless careers and built a thriving indie publishing ecosystem.
For many, it is the best first step — you control your book, you keep the rights, and you have access to the world’s biggest book-buying audience.
If you have a book idea — or even a draft waiting on your hard drive — publishing through KDP might be the simplest way to get it out into the world.
If you are serious about publishing, start by claiming your free KDP account today. Prepare your manuscript, create a cover, and take the first step toward becoming a published author on your own terms.
Visit https://kdp.amazon.com/ and start publishing today.
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