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How to publish a book on Amazon, step by step
Everything between “finished manuscript” and “live on Amazon” — in order, with the real costs, the royalty math, and the mistakes that cost first-time publishers their launch week. No gatekeeping, no course to buy at the end.
1Create your KDP account (free, ~20 minutes)
Sign up at kdp.amazon.com with a regular Amazon account. Complete the three setup blocks before anything else: author/publisher information, the tax interview (W-9 for US persons, W-8BEN otherwise — it's a form, not an audit), and how you'll get paid (direct deposit). Publishing costs nothing; Amazon earns from each sale instead.
2Finish the manuscript — actually finish it
Edit and proofread before formatting, because layout work redone is money burned twice. Uploading to KDP later changes your page count, spine, and cover if the text changes. Front matter you'll want ready: title page, copyright page, dedication (optional), and an about-the-author for the back.
3Choose your trim size and format the interior
Pick the physical book size first — 6×9″ is the safe default (see our trim sizes chart for the full menu and cost classes). Then format: mirrored margins with the correct gutter for your page count, embedded fonts, chapters starting on new pages. For the ebook you need a valid EPUB — or a clean .docx that KDP converts. This is the step with the most silent failure modes.
4Make the covers — plural
The ebook needs a front cover (JPG, 1600×2560 recommended). The paperback needs a full wrap — back cover, spine, front cover — at dimensions that depend on your exact page count and paper. Use our cover size calculator for the numbers and the template generator for a design-ready 300 DPI guide file. Finalize covers only after the interior is locked.
5Decide the ISBN question in 30 seconds
Ebook: needs nothing. Print: take KDP's free ISBN unless you want your own imprint name as publisher or plan to print beyond Amazon — then buy from Bowker ($125). Full reasoning in our ISBN guide. You cannot change it after publishing.
6Write the listing: title, description, keywords, categories
Your book detail page is a sales page. Description: lead with the hook, use short paragraphs (our description generator outputs KDP's supported HTML). Keywords: fill all 7 slots with phrases readers actually type. Categories: you get 3 — pick the most specific niches that fit, not the biggest. These are editable after launch, so improve them as you learn.
7Price for the royalty cliffs
Ebooks: 70% royalty only between $2.99–$9.99 — $4.99 is a solid first-book default. Print: royalty jumps from 50% to 60% at $9.99 list, and printing cost comes out of every sale ($4.60 for a 300-page black-ink paperback). Run your numbers in the royalty calculator before committing; a $1 price difference can swing your per-copy earnings dramatically.
8Upload, preview, and fix what the previewer flags
Upload interior and cover, then actually use the Print Previewer / Online Previewer rather than clicking through. Red errors block publishing; yellow warnings (usually image resolution) deserve attention on covers. Common failures and their fixes are in our upload errors guide. Order a printed proof if this is your first book — $5 of printing cost beats discovering a margin problem in your launch week.
9Publish and wait out the review
Hit publish; Amazon reviews within 72 hours (usually faster). The ebook typically goes live first, print a bit later. Once live, link the editions on one product page (KDP usually does this automatically; contact support if not). Your book now has the Amazon page whose link you'll share everywhere.
10Launch: the unglamorous basics that work
Tell your actual network with the direct link. Post your announcement graphics. Ask early readers for honest reviews (never buy them — Amazon detects and punishes it). Consider KDP Select/Kindle Unlimited if you write in binge-read genres (see our KU calculator for the math). Then keep improving keywords and description — the listing is never finished, and neither is the backlist strategy: the best marketing for book one is book two.
Steps 3–6 are the grind. We do them in minutes.
publish.ai turns your manuscript into the complete KDP package — formatted interior, validated EPUB, designed cover wrap at exact dimensions, listing copy with keywords, and launch graphics — so you go straight from step 2 to step 7. From $29.99.
Common questions
How much does it cost to publish a book on Amazon?＋
Zero to upload and publish — KDP is free and takes its cut from each sale. Real-world spending is optional: editing, cover design, and formatting can each run $0 (DIY) to $1,000+ (pros). A complete done-for-you file package like publish.ai runs $29.99–$49.99.
How long does it take to publish on Amazon?＋
The KDP review itself: up to 72 hours, usually less. The honest total from finished manuscript to live book: a weekend if your files are ready, since formatting and covers are the real time sink — or minutes with a generated package.
How much money do authors make per book on Amazon?＋
A $4.99 ebook on the 70% plan pays about $3.19 per sale; a $14.99, 300-page paperback pays about $4.39 after printing costs. Kindle Unlimited pages read pay separately (~$1.20–$1.50 for a full read of a 300-page book). What you earn total depends entirely on how many readers you reach.
Do I keep the rights to my book?＋
Yes — KDP is non-exclusive distribution, not a rights grab. You license Amazon to sell the book; you keep copyright and can leave anytime. The only exclusivity is optional: KDP Select requires your ebook be Amazon-only for 90-day terms in exchange for Kindle Unlimited.
Can I publish on Amazon for free and still make money?＋
Yes — that's the standard model. You pay nothing upfront; Amazon deducts printing costs (print) or delivery fees (70% ebooks) from each sale and pays your royalty monthly, about 60 days after the month of sale.
Should I publish an ebook, paperback, or both?＋
Both, almost always — the paperback costs nothing extra to list, makes your ebook look cheap by comparison on the same page, and some genres (gift books, workbooks, religious titles) sell predominantly in print. Hardcover is worth adding for nonfiction and gifting titles.
The toolkit for each step: trim sizes · cover templates · ISBN guide · keywords · royalty calculator · upload errors.