Find the price that keeps you in the 70% royalty band, and the minimum paperback price for your costs.
| Format | Price | Royalty |
|---|---|---|
| Ebook | $2.99 – $9.99 | 70% minus delivery fee (~$0.06/MB, cap $2) |
| Ebook | Below $2.99 or above $9.99 | 35%, no delivery fee |
| Paperback | Any (above minimum) | 60% minus printing cost on Amazon |
| Paperback | Expanded distribution | 40% minus printing cost |
Minimum paperback price = printing cost ÷ 0.60. KDP enforces this automatically. Max paperback price is $250 (US).
$2.99–$9.99 is the sweet spot. New authors usually start at $2.99–$4.99 to build reviews, then raise to $5.99–$9.99.
KDP Select countdown deals (99¢) and free days generate reviews and momentum. Price high, promote low, then return to full price.
Price below the minimum is rejected by KDP. Compute yours first — print cost calculator.
Royalty Calculator — exact per-copy profit at any price
Print Cost Calculator — your printing cost and minimum price
How to Publish on Amazon — the full 2026 guide