Amazon KDP Royalty Calculator — The Complete Guide for Self-Published Authors (2026)
If you're publishing on Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), knowing your exact royalty and profit before you hit publish is the difference between pricing smartly and leaving money on the table. This free Amazon KDP Royalty Calculator uses Amazon's official, up-to-date formulas — including the July 2026 eBook price band update, the 2025 print royalty tier change, Expanded Distribution, Kindle Unlimited (KENP), and real per-country data across 11 marketplaces — to instantly show your eBook, Paperback, and Hardcover earnings. No spreadsheets, no guesswork.
📢 July 2026: The 70% eBook royalty price band expanded from $9.99 up to $12.99 on Amazon.com (with equivalent increases in every other marketplace).
📢 Since June 2025: Paperback & Hardcover royalty is no longer a flat 60% — it's now 50% below $9.99, and 60% at $9.99 or above (US; other marketplaces have their own threshold). This calculator applies both changes automatically — many older calculators online still show the outdated flat-60% / $9.99-cap numbers.
How Does the KDP Royalty Calculator Work?
Every KDP format has a different royalty formula, and every formula changes depending on your Marketplace, Trim Size, and list price. Our KDP calculator automatically applies the correct one based on what you select:
- eBook (70% Royalty Plan): Royalty = (70% × List Price) − Delivery Fee (based on file size in MB). Available only within each marketplace's price band — e.g. $2.99–$12.99 on Amazon.com. In Brazil, Japan, Mexico & India, 70% additionally requires KDP Select enrollment.
- eBook (35% Royalty Plan): Royalty = 35% × List Price. No delivery fee, works at almost any price.
- Paperback / Hardcover: Royalty = (50% or 60% × List Price) − Printing Cost. The rate is 60% at or above your marketplace's threshold (e.g. $9.99 in the US) and 50% below it. Printing Cost depends on page count, ink type, trim size, and marketplace.
- Expanded Distribution: An optional add-on for Paperback/Hardcover that reaches bookstores & libraries. Royalty rate becomes a flat 40% instead of the 50%/60% tier.
The 50% vs 60% Print Royalty Tier
Since June 2025, Amazon splits paperback and hardcover royalty into two tiers based on list price. On Amazon.com, a $9.99 paperback earns 60%, while a $9.98 paperback (one cent less) earns only 50% — a real difference in royalty. Thresholds by marketplace:
- US: $9.99 | UK: £7.99 | EU: €9.99
- Canada & Australia: 13.99 (local currency) | Japan: ¥1,000
- Poland: 40 zł | Sweden: 110 kr
eBook Delivery Fee & VAT Explained
On the 70% royalty plan, Amazon deducts a small delivery fee based on your eBook's converted file size (MB): $0.15/MB (US), £0.10/MB (UK), €0.12/MB (EU). In VAT-inclusive marketplaces (UK, EU), Amazon also deducts the applicable VAT from your list price before calculating royalty — the UK is VAT zero-rated (0%) for eBooks, while EU rates vary by country (Germany 7%, France 5.5%, Italy & Spain 4%, Netherlands 9%). Our calculator includes an editable VAT field for these marketplaces.
Kindle Unlimited (KENP) Earnings
If your eBook is enrolled in KDP Select, you also earn money every time a Kindle Unlimited subscriber reads a page of your book — separate from regular sales royalty. The rate comes from Amazon's monthly KDP Global Fund divided by total pages read across all enrolled books, and typically runs $0.004–$0.005 per page. Use the KENP Earnings Estimator below the main calculator to estimate your monthly Kindle Unlimited income.
11 Marketplaces, One Calculator
Amazon prints (and charges) differently in every marketplace. This calculator supports:
- Full eBook + Paperback + Hardcover: US, UK, EU, Poland, Sweden
- eBook + Paperback (no Hardcover): Canada, Australia, Japan
- eBook only (Amazon does not support print distribution here): India, Brazil, Mexico
Choose a Large Trim Size (wider than 6.12in or taller than 9in — like 8.5×11in workbooks) and the per-page printing cost rises further. Our calculator detects this automatically, including a Custom size option.
Why Use This Amazon KDP Profit Calculator?
- Instant, live calculations as you type — no "submit" needed.
- 11 marketplaces with real local-currency printing costs, tiered royalty thresholds, and eBook price bands.
- Compare eBook vs. Paperback vs. Hardcover side-by-side at your chosen price.
- Kindle Unlimited (KENP) earnings estimator alongside your regular royalty.
- Minimum list price shown automatically so you never price below break-even.
- Download your result as an image to save or share.
- Clear warnings for unprofitable prices, out-of-band eBook pricing, and missing KDP Select enrollment where required.
Tips to Maximize Your KDP Royalty
- Keep your eBook price within your marketplace's 70% band (e.g. $2.99–$12.99 on Amazon.com) to earn double the royalty rate.
- For print books, price at or above your marketplace's 60% threshold (e.g. $9.99 in the US) whenever your content supports it — crossing the line by even a cent adds 10 full royalty points.
- Reduce image file sizes (MB) in your eBook to lower the delivery fee, especially for illustrated books.
- For paperbacks, Black & White interior with a Regular trim size is far cheaper to print than color or large trim.
- Only enable Expanded Distribution if the wider reach is worth dropping to a flat 40% royalty and a higher minimum price.
- If targeting Brazil, Japan, Mexico or India, remember KDP Select enrollment is required for the 70% eBook royalty there.
- Test different list prices, trim sizes, and marketplaces using this calculator before publishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage royalty does Amazon KDP pay?
Amazon KDP pays 70% or 35% on eBooks (depending on list price and marketplace), and 50% or 60% of list price minus printing cost on Paperback and Hardcover books (60% at or above a price threshold, 50% below it). Expanded Distribution pays a flat 40%.
Is paperback royalty still a flat 60%?
No — since June 2025, Amazon pays 60% only at or above a price threshold (e.g. $9.99 in the US) and 50% below it. Many older guides still show the outdated flat-60% figure.
What is the eBook price range for the 70% royalty in 2026?
As of July 2026, the 70% royalty band is $2.99–$12.99 on Amazon.com (previously capped at $9.99), with equivalent ranges elsewhere.
Do India, Brazil, Mexico and Japan work the same as other markets?
India, Brazil and Mexico are eBook-only KDP marketplaces (no Paperback/Hardcover). In these three plus Japan, the 70% eBook royalty additionally requires KDP Select enrollment — otherwise sales pay 35% regardless of price.
What is Expanded Distribution?
An optional program that makes your Paperback/Hardcover available through bookstores, online retailers and libraries beyond Amazon. It pays a flat 40% royalty instead of the usual 50%/60% tier, so your minimum viable price is higher.
How does Kindle Unlimited (KENP) pay authors?
Books enrolled in KDP Select earn a small amount per page read by Kindle Unlimited subscribers, from Amazon's monthly Global Fund — typically $0.004–$0.005 per page. This is separate from sales royalty.
Is this KDP royalty calculator free?
Yes — this Amazon KDP Royalty Calculator is 100% free to use, with no signup required.