What You'll Achieve
By the end of this guide, you'll have a fully set-up Amazon KDP account and your book listed for sale on Amazon — available to readers in over 100 countries. No prior experience needed.
What Is Amazon KDP?
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is Amazon's self-publishing platform that allows authors to publish eBooks and paperback books directly to Amazon's marketplace — completely free of charge. Once published, your book becomes available to millions of Amazon shoppers worldwide within 24–72 hours.
KDP offers two main publishing formats:
Kindle eBook
Digital format readable on Kindle devices, the Kindle app, and tablets. Earn up to 70% royalties.
KDP Paperback
Print-on-demand physical book. No upfront printing costs — Amazon prints each copy when ordered.
The best part? You retain full rights to your book and can make changes, update pricing, or unpublish at any time. KDP is the most accessible and widely used self-publishing platform in the world.
Create Your Amazon KDP Account
If you already have an Amazon account (for shopping), you can use the same login for KDP. If not, you'll need to create one first.
Go to kdp.amazon.com
Open your browser and navigate to kdp.amazon.com. This is the official KDP portal.
Sign In or Create Account
Click "Sign in" if you have an Amazon account, or "Sign up" to create a new one. Use a professional email address you check regularly.
Complete Your Author Profile
Once logged in, you'll be prompted to complete your KDP account profile. Fill in your full legal name (or pen name), address, and contact details accurately — this is used for tax and payment purposes.
⚠️ Important Note
Use your real legal name for account registration, even if you plan to publish under a pen name. Your pen name is entered separately when you add your book. Amazon requires your legal name for tax and payment compliance.
Complete Tax & Payment Setup
Before you can publish and receive royalties, you must complete your tax information and set up a payment method. This is a required step — don't skip it.
Tax Information (W-9 or W-8BEN)
Go to your KDP account settings and click "Tax Information." US authors fill out a W-9 form. International authors (outside the US) fill out a W-8BEN form. This determines your tax withholding rate on royalties.
Bank Account / Payment Method
Navigate to "Payment Information" in your account settings. Enter your bank account details for direct deposit (EFT). KDP pays royalties monthly, approximately 60 days after the end of the month in which sales occurred.
Minimum Payment Threshold
KDP has a minimum payment threshold (typically $100 for bank transfer, $10 for check). You won't receive payment until your royalties reach this threshold.
Add Your New Book Title
From your KDP Bookshelf (the main dashboard), click the yellow "+ Kindle eBook" or "+ Paperback" button to start a new book project. You can publish both formats for the same book — we recommend doing both.
💡 Pro Tip
Start with the eBook version first. Once it's published, you can link your paperback to the same listing so both formats appear on the same Amazon product page.
Fill In Your Book Details
This is one of the most important steps for discoverability. Take your time here — these details directly affect how Amazon's algorithm finds and recommends your book.
Book Title & Subtitle
Enter your exact book title. If you have a subtitle, add it in the subtitle field. Your title should be clear, searchable, and reflect what readers will find inside.
Series (Optional)
If your book is part of a series, enter the series name and volume number. This helps Amazon group your books together and encourages readers to buy the full series.
Author Name
Enter your name as you want it to appear on the book. This is where you enter your pen name if you're using one. You can also add co-authors here.
Book Description
Write a compelling 150–400 word description that hooks readers and sells your book. Think of it as your back-cover blurb. Use HTML formatting (bold, italics, line breaks) to make it visually appealing on Amazon.
Publishing Rights
Select "I own the copyright and I hold the necessary publishing rights" if this is your original work. Never publish content you don't own the rights to.
Keywords (7 slots)
Enter up to 7 keyword phrases that readers might search to find your book. Use multi-word phrases (e.g., "self-help for entrepreneurs" not just "self-help"). Research what readers in your genre actually search for.
Categories (2 slots)
Choose 2 Amazon Browse Categories that best fit your book. Pick specific subcategories rather than broad ones — it's easier to rank in a niche category and become a bestseller.
Age & Grade Range
If your book is for children or young adults, specify the appropriate age range. For adult books, leave this blank.
Pre-Order (Optional)
You can set up a pre-order up to 90 days before your publish date. Pre-orders help build momentum and count toward your launch-day sales ranking.
Upload Your Manuscript File
KDP accepts several file formats for your manuscript. The most common and recommended formats are:
DOCX
Microsoft Word
RecommendedEPUB
ePub Format
PDF (Paperback)
Make sure your manuscript is properly formatted with consistent fonts, paragraph spacing, and chapter headings before uploading.
Remove any page numbers, headers, or footers from your Word document — KDP handles these automatically for eBooks.
For paperbacks, use KDP's free manuscript templates (available on their website) to ensure correct margins and trim size.
After uploading, use KDP's built-in Previewer tool to review how your book will look on different Kindle devices before publishing.
Upload Your Book Cover
Your book cover is the single most important marketing asset you have. Readers judge books by their covers — especially on Amazon where your cover is a small thumbnail competing against thousands of others.
KDP Cover Specifications
Options for creating your cover:
KDP Cover Creator (Free)
KDP has a built-in cover creator tool with templates. It's free but limited — best for authors on a very tight budget.
Hire a Professional Designer
The best investment you can make. A professional cover that matches your genre's visual conventions can dramatically increase click-through rates and sales.
Canva or Adobe Express
Affordable design tools with book cover templates. Better than KDP's built-in tool, but still requires design knowledge to look professional.
Set Your Pricing & Royalties
KDP offers two royalty options for eBooks. Understanding the difference is crucial to maximizing your income.
35%
35% Royalty Option
Available for all price points. Required for books priced below $2.99 or above $9.99.
Price range: $0.99 – $2.98 or $10.00+
70%
70% Royalty Option
The most profitable option for most authors. Available for books priced between $2.99 and $9.99 in most markets. Highly recommended.
Price range: $2.99 – $9.99
✓ Recommended for most authorsPaperback Royalty
For paperbacks, KDP uses a fixed royalty rate of 60% of the list price, minus the printing cost. The printing cost varies by page count, trim size, and whether the interior is black & white or color.
KDP's Pricing Calculator (available in the pricing section) will show you exactly how much you'll earn per sale at any price point.
Review & Publish Your Book
Before clicking publish, review everything one final time. Once live, changes take 24–72 hours to appear on Amazon.
Pre-Publish Checklist
Book title and subtitle are correct and spelled properly
Author name appears exactly as you want it on the cover
Book description is compelling and free of typos
Keywords are relevant and research-backed
Categories are specific and appropriate for your genre
Manuscript has been previewed on multiple device sizes
Cover looks professional and genre-appropriate
Pricing is set correctly with the right royalty option
Tax and payment information is complete
When you're ready, click "Publish Your Kindle eBook" (or "Publish Your Paperback"). KDP will review your submission and notify you by email when it's live — typically within 24–72 hours.
After You Publish: What Happens Next?
Publishing your book is just the beginning. Here's what to focus on immediately after your book goes live:
Gather Early Reviews
Reviews are the lifeblood of Amazon sales. Reach out to friends, family, beta readers, and ARC readers to leave honest reviews as soon as your book is live. Aim for at least 10 reviews in the first 30 days.
Monitor Your KDP Dashboard
KDP provides real-time sales data, royalty reports, and KENP (Kindle Unlimited page reads) in your dashboard. Check it regularly to understand what's working.
Claim Your Author Central Page
Go to author.amazon.com and claim your Author Central page. Add your biography, photo, blog feed, and link all your books. This creates a professional author presence on Amazon.
Start Marketing
Publishing is just step one. Now you need to drive traffic to your Amazon listing through social media, email marketing, podcast appearances, and advertising. The book won't sell itself.
Enroll in KDP Select (Optional)
KDP Select enrolls your eBook exclusively on Amazon for 90 days in exchange for access to Kindle Unlimited readers and promotional tools like Kindle Countdown Deals and Free Book Promotions.
Pro Tips for New Authors on KDP
✓ Research your genre before writing
Look at the top 100 bestsellers in your category. Study their covers, titles, descriptions, and pricing before you finalize your own.
✓ Use all 7 keyword slots
Many new authors leave keyword slots empty. Every slot is a chance to be discovered. Research long-tail keywords specific to your genre and topic.
✓ Price strategically at launch
Consider launching at $0.99 or free for the first few days to generate downloads, reviews, and ranking momentum before raising to your regular price.
✓ Publish both eBook and paperback
Having both formats on the same Amazon listing increases perceived credibility and gives readers the choice they prefer. Paperbacks also make great gifts.
✓ Update your book description regularly
Your description can be updated at any time. Test different versions and see which one drives more sales. Treat it like a marketing asset, not a permanent fixture.
✓ Build your email list from day one
Include a link to a reader magnet or newsletter signup in the front and back matter of your book. Your email list is your most valuable long-term asset as an author.
Ready to Publish But Need Expert Help?
Publishing on KDP is just the first step. Our team at LegacyQuill Agency helps new authors optimize their KDP listings, design professional covers, and build marketing strategies that actually drive sales.
Talk to Our Publishing Team