How much does KDP charge to print my book?
Amazon KDP prints each book when it is ordered, and the printing cost is taken from your royalty. It depends on the format (paperback or hardcover), ink (black, standard colour or premium colour), page count, trim size (regular up to 6.12 × 9 in, or large) and the marketplace. This calculator uses KDP’s published printing cost tables.
How KDP printing costs work
- Black ink paperbacks: a flat fee up to 110 pages, then a fixed charge plus a cost per page (Amazon.com regular trim: $2.30 up to 110 pages, then $1.00 + $0.012 per page).
- Colour: standard colour costs much less than premium colour, but needs at least 72 pages.
- Large trims (wider than 6.12 in or taller than 9 in) cost more per page.
- Hardcovers need 75–550 pages and cost about $5–7 more than paperbacks.
Minimum list price
KDP won’t let you price below the printing cost divided by your royalty rate. The calculator shows the minimum list price for each marketplace, so you know the lowest price you can set.
Author copies
When you order copies of your own book, you pay the printing cost plus shipping and tax — no royalty. Enter the number of copies to see the printing total.
Lower your printing cost
- Choose a regular trim (like 6 × 9 in) instead of a large one.
- Use standard colour instead of premium if your images allow it.
- Check margins and font size — fewer pages cost less (try the page count estimator).
See what you’ll earn with the KDP royalty calculator.
KDP printing cost formula
For black-and-white paperbacks on Amazon.com with 110 pages or more: $1.00 fixed + $0.012 per page (regular trim sizes). Large trim sizes and colour interiors cost more per page; very short books pay a flat fixed cost.
| Book | Printing cost |
|---|---|
| 200-page B&W paperback, 6 × 9 | $1.00 + 200 × $0.012 = $3.40 |
| 300-page B&W paperback, 6 × 9 | $1.00 + 300 × $0.012 = $4.60 |
| 300-page B&W hardcover | $5.65 + 300 × $0.012 = $9.25 |
Why it matters
Printing is taken out of your royalty on every copy, and it also sets the minimum list price KDP allows. Every extra page costs money — 50 pages more is $0.60 less royalty per copy.
Ways to lower printing cost
- Choose a slightly larger trim size so the book has fewer pages — see the page count estimator.
- Use black-and-white instead of colour unless colour really matters.
- Avoid many blank pages from starting every chapter on a right-hand page.
- Check the effect on royalty with the KDP royalty calculator.
Author copies are charged at the printing cost plus shipping and any taxes.