Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is Amazon's free self-publishing platform. It lets you publish a Kindle ebook, a paperback and a hardcover and sell them on Amazon stores around the world, without a traditional publisher and without giving up your rights. The platform is free to use, but getting a professional result takes preparation. This guide walks through the whole process step by step, from preparing your files to pressing "Publish" and planning your launch.
KDP's rules, royalty terms and file requirements change from time to time. Always check the current requirements in KDP's own help pages before you publish.
Before you start: what you need
- A finished, edited manuscript. Readers notice errors, and early reviews can make or break a new book. Budget for professional editing and a final proofread.
- A professional cover for each format you plan to publish.
- Correctly formatted interior files for ebook and print.
- Your book details: title, subtitle, description, author name, keywords and categories.
- Your tax and payment information, so Amazon can pay your royalties.
Step 1: Create your KDP account
Go to kdp.amazon.com and sign in with an Amazon account, or create one. Many authors set up a separate account for their publishing business. Before you can publish, KDP asks you to complete your author or publisher information, your bank details for royalty payments and a tax interview. The tax interview collects the information Amazon needs for tax reporting and withholding, which depends on your country. Finish all of this first so it does not hold up your launch.
Step 2: Prepare your manuscript
Ebook
Kindle ebooks are usually reflowable: the text adjusts to the reader's screen size and font settings. KDP accepts common formats such as Word (DOCX) and EPUB. Amazon also offers a free tool, Kindle Create, for basic formatting. Whichever route you choose, use proper heading styles so a clickable table of contents can be built, avoid manual spacing tricks, and preview the file in KDP's online previewer or the Kindle Previewer app on several device types.
Paperback and hardcover
Print books need a fixed-layout PDF set to your chosen trim size (for example 6" × 9", a common size for nonfiction). You will also choose ink and paper type, and decide whether the interior needs bleed (images that run to the edge of the page). Margins depend on page count, so a 300-page book needs larger inside margins than a 100-page one. Typography, headers, page numbers and chapter openings all affect how professional the book feels. This is where professional book formatting pays for itself.
Step 3: Design your cover
Your cover is your most important marketing asset. On Amazon it is often seen as a thumbnail, so the title must be readable at a small size and the design must signal the genre at a glance.
- Ebook cover: a single front-cover image. KDP's help pages list the current recommended dimensions and file types.
- Print cover: one PDF containing the back cover, spine and front cover, with bleed. The spine width depends on your final page count and paper type, so the cover is usually finished after the interior. KDP provides a cover template calculator for this.
KDP includes a free Cover Creator, but a custom, genre-appropriate design usually performs far better. See our book cover design service.
Step 4: Enter your book details (metadata)
In your KDP Bookshelf, create a new Kindle eBook, paperback or hardcover title and fill in the details page. Metadata is how readers and Amazon's search find your book, so treat it as marketing, not admin.
- Title and subtitle: must match what is on your cover. A clear subtitle can explain the book's benefit, but do not stuff it with keywords. Amazon's guidelines prohibit that.
- Author name and contributors: the name readers will search for.
- Description: your sales copy. Open with a hook, explain who the book is for and what they will get, and keep it easy to scan. KDP allows basic formatting such as bold text and bullet points.
- Keywords: KDP gives you up to seven keyword boxes. Use phrases real readers would type, and do not repeat words that are already in your title.
- Categories: choose the categories where your ideal reader browses. Specific, relevant categories usually serve a book better than broad, crowded ones.
- AI disclosure: KDP asks whether AI-generated content was used in the text, images or translation. Answer accurately.
Step 5: ISBNs
A Kindle ebook does not need an ISBN. Amazon assigns its own identifier (an ASIN). For paperbacks and hardcovers you can use a free ISBN from KDP or your own ISBN. In the US, ISBNs are bought from Bowker; other countries have their own national ISBN agencies, and some issue them free. The main difference: with a free KDP ISBN, the imprint is listed as "Independently published". With your own ISBN, you can list your own imprint name, and you can use that ISBN with other distributors. Each format needs its own ISBN.
Step 6: Upload your files and preview
On the content page, upload your manuscript and cover files. Then use the previewer and check every page: chapter breaks, images, the table of contents, front and back matter and, for print, that nothing crosses into the margins or the trim area. For print books, ordering a proof copy before you publish is strongly recommended, because problems that do not show on screen often appear on paper.
Step 7: Choose pricing, royalties and territories
Ebook royalties
KDP offers two ebook royalty options: 35% and 70%. The 70% option is only available if your list price falls inside Amazon's required price band and other conditions are met. Under the 70% option, a delivery fee based on file size is also deducted. Check the current price bands and conditions in KDP's help pages for each marketplace.
Print royalties
For paperbacks and hardcovers sold on Amazon, your royalty is a percentage of the list price minus the printing cost, which depends on page count, ink type and trim size. KDP shows your estimated royalty as you set your price. That makes it easy to see whether your price covers printing and leaves you a fair margin.
KDP Select (optional)
If you enroll your ebook in KDP Select, it becomes available in Kindle Unlimited, and you earn from pages read as well as from sales. You also get promotional tools. The trade-off is exclusivity: while enrolled (in 90-day terms that renew automatically unless you opt out), the digital version cannot be sold or distributed anywhere else, including your own website. Print editions are not affected. Whether Select makes sense depends on your genre and your wider distribution plans.
Choosing a price
Look at comparable books in your category. Think about your goal, whether that is maximum readers, royalty income or credibility for your business, and remember that you can change your price later.
Step 8: Publish
When everything is complete, click "Publish". Amazon reviews each title before it goes live, which usually takes up to a few days. You will get an email when the book is live or if any changes are needed. Your paperback, hardcover and ebook can be linked on one product page, so reviews and formats appear together.
Step 9: Set up your author presence
Claim your book in Amazon's Author Central, add an author photo and bio, and make sure all formats are linked. Beyond Amazon, a simple author website and consistent professional profiles help readers, journalists and event organizers take you seriously. See author branding.
Step 10: Plan your launch and ongoing marketing
Publishing a book does not bring readers by itself. A good launch plan usually includes:
- Building an early reader or advance review team, following Amazon's review policies. Never pay for or trade reviews.
- Announcing the book to your email list, clients and social networks
- Amazon Ads campaigns aimed at relevant keywords and comparable books
- Podcast interviews, guest articles and speaking appearances
- Tracking results in your KDP reports and adjusting as you go
Our book marketing team can plan and run this for you.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Publishing before the manuscript has been professionally edited
- Using a cover that does not fit the genre or cannot be read as a thumbnail
- Stuffing keywords into the title or subtitle
- Skipping the print proof copy
- Enrolling in KDP Select while the ebook is also listed on another store
- Launching with no plan to reach readers
Should you do it yourself or get help?
Still working on the manuscript itself? Our ghostwriters help with books like a memoir or a book for coaches and consultants, and can hand the finished manuscript straight into publishing.
Many authors publish on KDP successfully by themselves. The platform is designed for it. If your time is limited, or the book supports your business or reputation, professional help with formatting, cover design, metadata and launch can save weeks of trial and error and give you a more polished result. With Amazon KDP publishing services from The Authors Prime, you keep 100% of your rights and royalties. If you do not have a manuscript yet, start with our guide on how much a ghostwriter costs.
Ready to publish?
Tell us where your book is today, whether that is an idea, a draft or a finished manuscript, and we will map out the fastest route to a professional launch on Amazon. Book your free consultation. There is no obligation, and your idea stays confidential.