How to Publish a Book on Amazon KDP in 2025 (Complete Beginner's Guide)

Quick Answer (TL;DR)

To publish on Amazon KDP: Create a free KDP account → Format your manuscript (DOCX or EPUB) → Design a cover (1600x2560 pixels minimum) → Fill in book details → Set pricing and royalty (35% or 70%) → Click "Publish Your Book" → Wait 24-72 hours for approval. Amazon KDP is 100% free with no upfront costs. Read below for the complete step-by-step walkthrough.

---

You've written a book. Now what?

If you're like most first-time authors, the idea of publishing feels overwhelming. Traditional publishers take years and reject 98% of submissions. Hiring a publishing company costs thousands of dollars.

But there's a better way: Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

KDP lets you publish your book yourself—for free—and get it in front of millions of Amazon customers within 72 hours.

In this guide, I'll walk you through the entire KDP publishing process, step-by-step, so you can publish your first book without confusion or expensive mistakes.

---

What is Amazon KDP?

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is Amazon's free self-publishing platform where authors can upload and sell:

• Ebooks (Kindle format)
• Paperbacks (print-on-demand)
• Hardcovers (print-on-demand)

Why Authors Choose KDP:

✅ 100% free - No setup fees, no publishing costs ✅ Fast - Your book goes live in 24-72 hours ✅ Global reach - Sell in 170+ countries ✅ High royalties - Earn up to 70% per sale ✅ You keep rights - You own your book forever ✅ No minimums - Amazon prints one book at a time ✅ Easy updates - Change your book anytime for free

What You Can Publish on KDP:

• Fiction novels (romance, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy)
• Nonfiction books (business, self-help, how-to guides)
• Children's books
• Poetry collections
• Cookbooks
• Workbooks and planners
• Journals and notebooks
• Short story collections
• Memoirs and biographies

One restriction: Your book must follow Amazon's content guidelines (no illegal content, hate speech, or copyright violations).

---

What You Need Before Publishing on KDP

Before you start the upload process, gather these essentials:

1. Your Manuscript (Book Content)

• Format: DOCX, EPUB, or PDF
• Recommended: DOCX (easiest for Amazon to convert)
• Length: Minimum 24 pages for paperback
• Formatting: Proper chapter breaks, consistent fonts

2. Book Cover

• Ebook minimum: 1000 x 1600 pixels
• Recommended: 1600 x 2560 pixels (looks better)
• Format: JPG or PNG
• Quality: High-resolution, professional design

3. Book Details

• Book title and subtitle
• Author name
• Book description (sales copy)
• Categories (2 maximum)
• Keywords (7 maximum)
• Age range (if children's book)

4. Pricing Information

• Your desired price (minimum $0.99 for ebooks)
• Royalty choice (35% or 70%)
• Markets where you want to sell

5. Tax Information

• Social Security Number or Tax ID
• Address for tax purposes
• W-9 or W-8 form (filled out through KDP)

Don't worry if this feels like a lot. I'll guide you through each step below.

---

Step 1: Create Your Amazon KDP Account

How to Sign Up:

1. Go to KDP Website Visit kdp.amazon.com

2. Click "Sign Up" Use your existing Amazon account or create a new one

3. Enter Your Information

• Full legal name
• Email address
• Password

4. Verify Email Check your inbox for Amazon's verification email and click the link

5. Complete Author Profile

• Add author bio
• Upload author photo (optional but recommended)
• Link social media profiles

6. Enter Tax Information This is required before you can receive payments:

• U.S. authors: Fill out W-9 form
• Non-U.S. authors: Fill out W-8BEN form

7. Enter Payment Information

• Bank account for direct deposit (fastest)
• Or check payment (slower)

That's it! Your KDP account is now active and ready to publish.

---

Step 2: Format Your Manuscript

Amazon KDP accepts these formats:

• DOCX (Microsoft Word) - Recommended
• EPUB (ebook format)
• MOBI (old Kindle format)
• HTML
• PDF (not recommended for reflowable books)

Best Format Choice:

For most authors: Upload a DOCX file. Amazon automatically converts DOCX to Kindle format during upload. It's the easiest and most reliable method.

Formatting Requirements:

✅ Proper Structure:

• Title page
• Copyright page
• Table of contents (auto-generated from headings)
• Chapter headings using Heading 2 style
• Page breaks between chapters

✅ Consistent Typography:

• Standard fonts (Times New Roman, Georgia, Garamond)
• 12pt font size for body text
• 1.15 or 1.5 line spacing
• 0.3 inch first-line indent

✅ Clean Formatting:

• No manual line breaks (use paragraph settings)
• No extra spaces between words
• No tabs for indentation (use paragraph indent)
• No headers/footers (Kindle doesn't use them)

Need help formatting? Use CreatorFormat to automatically format your manuscript to KDP standards in minutes.

---

Step 3: Create Your Book Cover

Your cover is the #1 factor in whether readers click on your book. A professional cover is essential.

Cover Specifications:

Ebook Covers:

• Minimum size: 1000 x 1600 pixels
• Recommended: 1600 x 2560 pixels (looks sharp on all devices)
• Format: JPG or PNG
• Color mode: RGB (not CMYK)
• File size: Under 50MB

Paperback Covers:

• Includes front cover, spine, and back cover
• Use Amazon's Cover Calculator for exact dimensions
• Dimensions vary based on page count and trim size
• Requires bleed and safe zones

Cover Design Options:

Option 1: Hire a Designer (Recommended)

• Fiverr: $50-200
• 99designs: $299-499
• Reedsy: $500-2,000
• Professional quality guaranteed

Option 2: DIY with Templates

• Canva: Free templates + KDP dimensions
• Book Brush: Premade cover templates
• DIY Book Covers: Customizable designs

Option 3: KDP Cover Creator (Free)

• Built into KDP dashboard
• Basic templates available
• Good for testing, not ideal for competitive categories

Pro Tip: Your cover should clearly show the genre at thumbnail size. Test by shrinking your cover to 100x160 pixels—can you still read the title?

---

Step 4: Upload Your Book to KDP

Now for the actual publishing process!

Navigate to KDP Dashboard:

1. Log in to kdp.amazon.com
2. Click "Create" button
3. Choose "Kindle eBook" or "Paperback"

(Start with ebook first—it's simpler. You can add paperback later.)

---

Step 5: Fill in Book Details

This is where you enter all your book information.

Section 1: Book Settings

Language: Choose your book's primary language (usually English)

Book Title:

• Your main book title
• Keep it clear and keyword-friendly
• Maximum 200 characters

Subtitle (Optional):

• Helps explain what the book is about
• Improves discoverability
• Example: "A Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Publishing Success"

Series (Optional):

• If your book is part of a series, enter series name
• Enter book number (Book 1, Book 2, etc.)

Edition Number (Optional):

• Leave blank unless publishing updated version
• First edition = leave blank
• Second edition = enter "2"

Author:

• Enter your author name exactly as you want it displayed
• Use pen name if desired
• Add co-authors if applicable

Contributors (Optional):

• Editor, illustrator, translator
• Helps with discoverability

---

Section 2: Book Description

This is your sales copy—where you convince readers to buy.

Character limit: 4,000 characters

What to include:

• Hook in first sentence (grab attention)
• What the book is about
• Who it's for
• What readers will learn/experience
• Call to action ("Start reading today!")

Formatting tips:

• Use short paragraphs (2-3 sentences max)
• Add bullet points for easy scanning
• Bold important phrases
• Include keywords naturally

Example structure:

[Hook - one compelling sentence]

[2-3 sentences about the book]

In this book, you'll discover:
• Benefit 1
• Benefit 2
• Benefit 3

[Who this book is for]

[Call to action]

---

Section 3: Publishing Rights

Do you own the copyright?

• ✅ Yes, I own the copyright (most authors select this)
• ❌ This is a public domain work

Important: Only publish books you have legal rights to publish. Uploading copyrighted work without permission can get your account banned.

---

Section 4: Keywords

You get 7 keyword slots. Use them wisely.

What are keywords? Words or phrases readers type when searching Amazon. If your book matches their search, it appears in results.

How to choose keywords:

Good keywords:

• "self publishing guide"
• "amazon kdp tutorial"
• "how to write a novel"
• "kindle formatting tips"

Bad keywords:

• Single words like "book" or "writing" (too competitive)
• Your book title (Amazon already indexes that)
• Irrelevant keywords (will hurt your ranking)

Where to find keywords:

• Amazon search bar (autocomplete suggestions)
• Publisher Rocket (paid tool, highly recommended)
• Your book's niche + "book" or "guide"

Pro tip: Use 2-3 word phrases, not single words. Think about what your ideal reader would type into Amazon's search bar.

---

Section 5: Categories

Choose 2 categories where your book fits best.

What are categories? Think of them like bookstore sections. Categories help readers browse for books in their favorite genre.

How to choose:

• Pick categories that match your book's content
• Aim for specific subcategories, not broad ones
• Check bestseller ranks in those categories
• Avoid categories with 100,000+ books (too competitive)

Example: Instead of: "Fiction" Choose: "Fiction > Science Fiction > Space Opera"

Finding hidden categories: Some categories only appear after contacting Amazon KDP support. Research your genre's bestsellers to find these categories, then email KDP to request placement.

---

Section 6: Age and Grade Range

Only for children's books.

If your book is for kids, select:

• Age range (0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, 13-18)
• Grade range (Preschool, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

Leave blank for adult books.

---

Step 6: Upload Your Manuscript and Cover

Upload Manuscript:

1. Click "Upload eBook manuscript"

2. Choose your file

• Upload your DOCX, EPUB, or other formatted file
• Wait for conversion (usually 1-2 minutes)

3. Preview your book

• Click "Preview" button
• Check formatting on different devices (phone, tablet, Kindle)
• Look for these issues:
  • ❌ Weird page breaks
  • ❌ Missing chapter headings
  • ❌ Incorrect spacing
  • ❌ Broken table of contents

4. Fix any errors If you spot issues, go back to your original file, fix it, and re-upload.

Upload Cover:

1. Click "Upload a cover you already have"

2. Choose your cover file

• JPG or PNG format
• At least 1600x2560 pixels

3. Preview the cover Make sure it looks crisp and professional at thumbnail size.

---

Step 7: Set Your Book's Price and Royalty

Choose Your Royalty Plan:

Amazon offers two royalty options:

35% Royalty Plan:

• ✅ Available for all prices ($0.99 - $200)
• ✅ Sell in all countries
• ✅ No delivery costs deducted
• ❌ Lower earnings per sale

70% Royalty Plan:

• ✅ Higher earnings per sale
• ❌ Only available for $2.99 - $9.99 price range
• ❌ Not available in all countries
• ❌ Amazon deducts delivery costs (~$0.15/sale)

Which should you choose?

Choose 35% if:

• Your book is under $2.99
• Your book is over $9.99
• You want to sell in all countries

Choose 70% if:

• Your book is priced $2.99 - $9.99
• You want maximum earnings per sale

---

Set Your Price:

Minimum price: $0.99 Maximum price: $200 (but most ebooks are $0.99 - $9.99)

Pricing strategies:

$0.99 - $2.99: Great for new authors building audience $2.99 - $4.99: Standard pricing for most fiction $4.99 - $9.99: Nonfiction, longer books $9.99+: Professional books, textbooks, specialized content

Pro tip: You can change your price anytime, so start with a lower price to gain reviews, then increase it later.

---

KDP Select (Optional)

What is KDP Select? An optional program where you give Amazon exclusive rights to sell your ebook for 90 days.

Benefits:

• ✅ Earn from Kindle Unlimited page reads
• ✅ Run free promotions (5 days every 90 days)
• ✅ Run Countdown Deals (limited-time discounts)
• ✅ Access to additional promotional tools

Drawbacks:

• ❌ Can't sell your ebook anywhere else (Apple Books, Kobo, etc.)
• ❌ 90-day commitment (auto-renews unless canceled)

Should you enroll?

• Yes if you're a new author focused on Amazon
• No if you want to sell on multiple platforms (wide distribution)

You can opt out after 90 days and distribute elsewhere.

---

Step 8: Publish Your Book

After filling in all the information:

1. Review everything carefully

• Book title and subtitle
• Author name
• Description
• Keywords and categories
• Price and royalty
• Manuscript and cover preview

2. Click "Publish Your Kindle eBook"

3. Wait for approval

• Amazon reviews your book within 24-72 hours
• You'll receive an email when it's live
• Most books are approved within 24 hours

4. Your book goes live! Once approved, your book is available on Amazon worldwide.

---

What Happens After Publishing?

Your book is now on Amazon!

Here's what to expect:

Within 24-72 hours:

• ✅ Book appears on Amazon.com
• ✅ Available in Kindle Store
• ✅ Searchable by title, author, keywords

Within 5-7 days:

• ✅ Book appears in international Amazon stores
• ✅ Shows up in category rankings
• ✅ Eligible for Amazon's recommendation engine

Tracking Your Sales:

Log in to your KDP dashboard to see:

• Daily sales (updated every 12-24 hours)
• Kindle Unlimited page reads
• Royalty earnings
• Books sold by country

When you get paid:

• Amazon pays 60 days after the end of each month
• Example: January sales = paid at end of March
• Minimum threshold: $10 (direct deposit) or $100 (check)

---

Common KDP Publishing Mistakes to Avoid

Here are the biggest errors new authors make:

1. ❌ Poor Cover Design

Problem: Unprofessional cover = no sales Solution: Hire a professional designer or use quality templates

2. ❌ Bad Book Description

Problem: Boring description doesn't sell the book Solution: Write compelling sales copy with benefits, not features

3. ❌ Wrong Categories

Problem: Choosing broad categories makes it harder to rank Solution: Pick specific subcategories where you can rank in top 100

4. ❌ Weak Keywords

Problem: Generic keywords don't bring targeted traffic Solution: Research niche-specific 2-3 word phrases

5. ❌ Pricing Too Low or Too High

Problem: $0.99 seems desperate, $14.99 is too expensive for unknown authors Solution: Start at $2.99-4.99 for fiction, $4.99-9.99 for nonfiction

6. ❌ Not Proofreading

Problem: Typos and errors = bad reviews Solution: Hire an editor or at least use Grammarly + beta readers

7. ❌ Publishing Without Reviews

Problem: Zero reviews = readers don't trust your book Solution: Send advance copies to beta readers, friends, family

8. ❌ Ignoring Book Interior Formatting

Problem: Messy formatting looks unprofessional Solution: Use proper styles, page breaks, and consistent spacing

9. ❌ Not Marketing the Book

Problem: Publishing alone doesn't guarantee sales Solution: Build email list, use social media, run Amazon ads

10. ❌ Giving Up After First Book

Problem: Most authors don't earn much from their first book Solution: Keep writing and publishing—success comes from multiple books

---

How Long Does It Take to Publish on KDP?

If you have everything ready:

• Account setup: 15-30 minutes
• Upload book: 10-15 minutes
• Fill in details: 20-30 minutes
• Review and publish: 5-10 minutes

Total time: 1-2 hours for your first book

Amazon's approval time: 24-72 hours

So you can go from manuscript to published book in 3 days or less.

---

How Much Money Can You Make on Amazon KDP?

This depends on many factors:

Royalty Calculations:

Example 1: Fiction ebook at $2.99 (70% royalty)

• Sale price: $2.99
• Royalty: 70% = $2.09
• Delivery cost: ~$0.15
• You earn: $1.94 per sale

Example 2: Nonfiction ebook at $9.99 (70% royalty)

• Sale price: $9.99
• Royalty: 70% = $6.99
• Delivery cost: ~$0.20
• You earn: $6.79 per sale

Example 3: Paperback book at $12.99

• Sale price: $12.99
• Amazon's printing cost: ~$4.50 (varies by page count)
• Royalty: 60% of (price - printing cost)
• You earn: ~$5.09 per sale

Realistic Earnings:

New authors (first book):

• Month 1: $0-50
• Month 6: $50-200
• Year 1: $500-2,000

Established authors (5+ books):

• Month 1: $500-2,000
• Month 6: $2,000-5,000
• Year 1: $20,000-50,000

Top KDP authors:

• Earn $100,000+ per year
• Publish 6-12 books per year
• Build loyal reader base

Key to success: Write more books. Multi-book authors earn 10x more than single-book authors.

---

---

Pro Tips for KDP Publishing Success

Before Publishing:

1. ✅ Get beta readers - Have 5-10 people read and review your book before launch
2. ✅ Build an email list - Start collecting emails 3-6 months before launch
3. ✅ Research your competition - Check bestsellers in your category for pricing/cover ideas
4. ✅ Invest in editing - Even one typo can ruin a review
5. ✅ Format properly - Use CreatorFormat or hire a professional formatter

After Publishing:

1. ✅ Request honest reviews - Email your list asking for reviews
2. ✅ Run a launch promotion - Discount to $0.99 for first week to gain visibility
3. ✅ Use Amazon Ads - Start with $5/day budget testing different keywords
4. ✅ Leverage social media - Share your book on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
5. ✅ Start writing book 2 - Series authors earn 10x more than single-book authors

Long-Term Strategy:

1. ✅ Publish consistently - Aim for 2-4 books per year
2. ✅ Build your author brand - Create author website and social presence
3. ✅ Engage with readers - Respond to emails, build community
4. ✅ Analyze your data - Track which books sell best and write more in that genre
5. ✅ Never stop learning - Read KDP forums, take courses, network with authors

---

Tools to Make KDP Publishing Easier

Formatting Tools:

• CreatorFormat - Auto-format manuscripts for KDP (recommended)
• Atticus - All-in-one formatting and design tool
• Vellum - Mac-only formatter (beautiful templates)

Cover Design:

• Canva - DIY cover design with templates
• GetCovers - Professional designers starting at $99
• SelfPubBookCovers - Premade covers $50-150

Keyword Research:

• Publisher Rocket - Best keyword research tool ($97 one-time)
• KDP Spy - Free Chrome extension
• Amazon search bar - Use autocomplete for keyword ideas

Editing:

• Grammarly - Grammar and spell checking
• ProWritingAid - Advanced editing software
• Reedsy - Hire professional editors

Marketing:

• BookBrush - Create book promo graphics
• BookFunnel - Deliver free books to readers
• Amazon Ads - Advertise your book on Amazon

---

Alternative to KDP: Other Self-Publishing Platforms

While KDP is the biggest, consider these platforms too:

Apple Books

• Good royalties (70%)
• Less competitive than Amazon
• Great for reaching Apple users

Google Play Books

• 52% royalty
• Huge international reach
• Less saturated market

Kobo

• 70% royalty
• Popular in Canada and Europe
• Writing Life program for authors

Draft2Digital

• Distributes to multiple platforms at once
• User-friendly dashboard
• No exclusivity required

Pro tip: You can publish on all of these (except if you choose KDP Select exclusivity). This is called "going wide" and many authors earn more by not relying only on Amazon.

---

Final Thoughts

Publishing your first book on Amazon KDP is exciting—and much easier than you think.

The entire process from start to finish takes just a few hours, and your book can be live and selling within 3 days.

Remember:

• ✅ Formatting matters (use proper tools)
• ✅ Your cover sells the book (invest in quality)
• ✅ Keywords and categories determine discoverability
• ✅ Reviews build trust (get them early)
• ✅ Marketing doesn't stop after launch
• ✅ Multiple books = multiple income streams

The hardest part is clicking "Publish." Once you do, you're officially a published author.

Start uploading your book today and join thousands of authors earning passive income through Amazon KDP!

---

Ready to format your book for KDP?

Use CreatorFormat to automatically format your manuscript, create a table of contents, fix spacing issues, and export a perfect KDP-ready file in minutes.

No technical skills needed. Just upload your manuscript and download your formatted book.

---

Related Guides:

• How to Format a Book for Kindle in 2025
• Best Free PDF to EPUB Converters
• How to Convert EPUB to MOBI for Kindle

---

About the Author

Written by the CreatorFormat Team with 5+ years helping authors publish on Amazon KDP. We've formatted over 50,000 books and helped thousands of first-time authors successfully launch on Amazon. Our publishing success rate is 99.8%, with authors reaching #1 bestseller status in their categories.

---