How Amazon KDP Pays You: A Simple Breakdown

Amazon KDP is like any traditional marketplace: you put your product (your book) in their store (the Amazon platform) and they handle the sales process for you. Amazon collects the payments and they take a cut for the hosting, printing, packaging and shipping of your book, the remainder (your royalties) is deposited into your bank account.

Setting Your Book’s Price: What You Earn

When listing your book and establishing the price of your book, you will be able to see how much royalties you will earn. Here are the percentages:

eBooks:

• 35% royalty: Applicable to all price points.
• 70% royalty: Available for eBooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99, as long as certain conditions are met.

Print Books:

• You earn 60% of the list price, minus printing costs. The printing costs vary based on factors like page count, trim size, and ink type.

When Do You Get Paid?

Amazon pays you once per month, but there’s a delay. You receive your royalty payments two months after the month your book was sold. For instance, if you sell a number of books in January, you’ll receive those royalties in March. Payments are deposited directly into your bank account or via check, depending on the method you choose when setting up your account.

Final Thoughts

Amazon KDP gives you an easy way to publish your work and earn money. While the process is simple, your earnings depend on how well your book is made, how much it sells, and how you price it. It’s a great way to learn about the business side of being an author, earn some money and all the while doing something you love—writing!