How to Publish a Book on Amazon: Step-by-Step KDP Guide for Indie Authors
You can publish a book on Amazon today. Not "eventually" — today. KDP's self-publishing pipeline lets any author upload a manuscript and have a live listing within 48 hours. Here's exactly how to do it, step by step.
Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform is the single biggest shift in book distribution in human history. Before it existed, publishing required gatekeepers — agents, publishers, distributors. Now you need a Word document and a cover image.
This guide walks you through every step of the KDP publishing process. No jargon, no fluff — just what to click, what to type, and when.
Step 1: Set Up Your KDP Account
Go to kdp.amazon.com and create a free account. You'll need:
- A valid email address
- Your legal name or business name (used on your book listing as the publisher)
- Tax information (KDP requires this for US tax reporting, even for non-US authors)
- Bank account details for royalty payments
Important: KDP will ask for your tax ID (SSN, EIN, or equivalent). This is required — Amazon is legally required to collect it. The information goes to Amazon, not the public.
KDP supports two book formats: eBook (read on Kindle) and Paperback (printed and shipped on demand). You can publish both from the same account, with the same content.
Step 2: Prepare Your Manuscript
KDP accepts Word (.doc/.docx), EPUB, and plain text formats for eBooks. For paperbacks, use a Word document with a specific template matching your page size and interior type.
eBook Manuscript Requirements
- File type: .doc, .docx, .epub, or .rtf
- No embedded fonts — Kindle handles font rendering
- Use standard Word formatting (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) — KDP converts these to Kindle structural elements
- Images: embed them in the document; use .jpg or .png at 300dpi minimum
Tip: Run a spell-check, then read the manuscript out loud. You'll catch awkward sentences that spell-check misses. Then have one other person read it — a fresh pair of eyes catches what familiarity hides.
Paperback Interior Requirements
Paperbacks require a properly formatted Word document matching your trim size (page dimensions). KDP provides free Word templates for standard sizes:
- 6" x 9" — most popular for non-fiction and novels
- 5.5" x 8.5" — compact option
- 8.5" x 11" — workbook / large format
Download the correct template for your trim size from the KDP manuscript upload page. It includes pre-set margins, header/footer placement, and chapter page-break formatting. Don't eyeball the formatting — use the template.
Step 3: Design Your Book Cover
Covers are the highest-leverage marketing asset you have. A great cover gets clicks. A mediocre cover loses them even when the content is excellent.
Cover Specs for eBooks
eBooks don't technically require a cover image file (KDP generates one from your manuscript), but you should upload a custom cover for better display quality. Recommended: 2,560 x 1,600 pixels minimum, saved as a JPG or PNG.
Cover Specs for Paperbacks
Paperback covers require a specific template with front, spine, and back assembled into one image. KDP's cover template generator calculates exact dimensions based on:
- Page count (determines spine width)
- Trim size (determines overall dimensions)
- Paper type (standard 60gsm or premium 80gsm — heavier paper = thicker spine)
Download the template from KDP for your exact book specs and work within it. Designing a cover from scratch without the template risks a spine that's too narrow or wide — which renders the entire print file useless.
Where to Get a Cover
- DIY: Canva has book cover templates sized correctly for KDP. Free, fast, functional. Risk: amateur visual signal.
- Pre-made: $50–$200 via Reedsy Marketplace or BookCoverCreations. Browse genre-specific designs, designer customizes the text. Best value for most authors.
- Custom: $200–$1,500 via Reedsy or 99designs. Full custom, briefed specifically for your book. Best for authors with marketing budgets or strong genre conventions.
Whatever route you choose, make sure the cover reads at thumbnail size. Most readers discover books digitally — a cover that doesn't convert at 100px wide will hurt you in search results and category rankings.
Step 4: Enter Your Book Details (KDP Metadata)
KDP calls this the "book content setup" — everything that appears in the Amazon listing. This matters for discoverability, so fill it out carefully.
Book Title and Author Name
Your title and author name appear on the Amazon search results page. Make sure both are exactly as you want them — you can update them later, but early Amazon category placement gets locked based on your initial selection.
Description (Book Description / Editorial Review)
Write 150–300 words that sell the book, not summarize it. Think of your description as a pitch — the first paragraph is your hook. Answer: What does the reader get? Who is this for? What's the outcome?
Format: Use HTML tags for line breaks, bold, and italics. Amazon renders basic HTML in the description field. Don't leave it as a wall of text.
Keywords and Categories
KDP lets you enter seven keywords (search terms) of up to 100 characters each. Choose terms your ideal reader would actually type into Amazon — not generic descriptors, but specific phrases.
- Weak:
fantasy book - Strong:
epic fantasy series for adults with magic systems
Categories: KDP allows two categories. These matter more than keywords for discoverability — books get ranked within categories, and being in the right category determines your competition set. Choose carefully.
Age and Grade Range
Required for certain categories (children's books especially). Set this accurately — Amazon penalizes misleading age settings.
Step 5: Set Your Pricing
For eBooks, KDP's royalty options are:
- 35% royalty: Applies to books priced below $2.99 or above $9.99, and to certain territories
- 70% royalty: Applies to books priced between $2.99 and $9.99, with specific territory restrictions
For paperbacks, royalty is calculated as: list price − printing cost − delivery cost. Printing cost varies by page count and paper type. KDP shows you the exact calculation in the pricing calculator.
The 70% royalty sweet spot: Most self-published non-fiction and fiction eBooks sit at $4.99–$9.99, which qualifies for the 70% royalty tier. For a $9.99 eBook, that's $6.99 per sale — compare that to the same book at Author's Loft at full price with no royalty cut.
Use KDP's pricing calculator to compare your expected royalty per format. The calculator is accessible from the pricing page and shows net per-unit after Amazon's costs.
Step 6: Review and Publish
Before hitting publish, KDP shows you a preview of how your book listing will appear — including the cover, description, and metadata. Use the eBook previewer to see exactly how the manuscript renders on a Kindle screen.
For paperbacks, KDP shows a 3D preview and a "look inside" preview based on your uploaded interior file.
If everything looks right, hit Publish. Your book enters Amazon's review queue — usually 24–72 hours for the first review, faster for subsequent titles from the same account.
After You Publish: Don't Just Walk Away
Going live on KDP is the beginning, not the end. Your book needs:
- Reviews: Ask readers to review. Email your list. Reach out to book bloggers. Even 3–5 reviews significantly improve conversion over zero.
- Keyword optimization: After 30 days, look at your search terms report in KDP. Which keywords are driving discovery? Double down on what works.
- Category ranking: Amazon ranks new books in categories. The more early sales, the better your category placement — which compounds into organic discovery.
- Book description updates: A/B test your description based on what converts.
The Amazon Exclusivity Question: KDP Select vs. Going Wide
When you publish on KDP, Amazon offers KDP Select — an optional program that gives you access to Kindle Unlimited (a subscription reading program) and promotional tools (Countdown Deals, Free Book Promotions). In exchange, your eBook must be exclusive to Amazon for 90 days at a time.
This is a real trade-off. KDP Select gets your book in front of KU readers (who consume a lot of indie content) and can boost early visibility. But it prevents you from selling on Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play, your own website, or anywhere else at the same time.
Going wide (publishing everywhere, not just Amazon) preserves your distribution freedom. You can sell on Amazon without exclusivity — just at the 35% royalty rate instead of 70%.
Many experienced indie authors publish non-exclusively on KDP (35% tier) and simultaneously on IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, Apple Books, Kobo, and their own store. This maximizes total reach without surrendering exclusivity.
What Amazon Doesn't Tell You About Publishing
Amazon is a discoverability platform, not a sales platform for unknown books. If no one knows your book exists, Amazon's algorithm won't surface it. Early reviews and early sales are the signal Amazon uses to decide whether to show your book to more readers.
The authors who succeed on Amazon build an audience before publishing, drive early sales through external channels (email list, social media, podcast appearances), and let Amazon's algorithm take over once the book has initial momentum.
If you want to keep more of what you earn from your own audience — and you want to own those reader relationships directly — publish via KDP but also set up a direct store on Author's Loft. Your Amazon listing handles discovery. Your Author's Loft store handles revenue from readers who already know you.