Pricing, Royalties, and Distribution [paperback and hardback]

This section allows you to set the listing prices for your paperback or hardback edition. 

Before setting a price, consider researching bestsellers in your chosen categories on Amazon to get a sense of the typical price range. 

A screenshot from the KDP publishing process for paperbacks. The heading is 'Pricing, royalties, and distribution'. There is a blank table listing the various marketplaces as well as List Price, List Price + VAT, Printing, and then the Rate and Royalty for Amazon and for Expanded Distribution. There is a box for the primary marketplace in which to input the listing price. This has been highlighted in green. The selection box for Expanded Distribution has been highlighted in purple.

When you enter a price in the top line (which is based on your Primary Marketplace), Amazon will automatically populate prices for other marketplaces. 

If you are publishing a paperback, you will see an option for Expanded Distribution. This option is not available for hardbacks. Expanded Distribution makes your book available to distributors so bookshops and libraries can find and order your book. You will receive a lower royalty rate from sales made through Expanded Distribution.

Once you have entered a listing price and Amazon has auto-populated the other prices, you will also see the following information for each marketplace: 

  • listing price + VAT (where applicable)
  • printing cost 
  • royalties
A screenshot from the KDP publishing process for paperbacks. The heading is 'Pricing, royalties, and distribution'. There is a table listing the various marketplaces as well as List Price, List Price + VAT (highlighted in orange), Printing (highlighted in blue), and then the Rate and Royalty for Amazon (highlighted in yellow) and for Expanded Distribution.

Royalties are calculated using this formula: 

(list price x royalty rate) – printing cost = royalty

Find out more about Expanded Distribution here: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GQTT4W3T5AYK7L45

Find out more about Royalties here: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G202181110

Continue to the next lesson to learn about KDP’s Terms and Conditions.

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