How to Self-Publish a Book on Amazon KDP: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing, known as KDP, is the starting point for most self-published authors. It's the world's largest ebook retailer, a major print-on-demand paperback platform, and the only way to reach Kindle readers. The publishing process is free, Amazon pays royalties on sales, and there's no minimum print run or inventory to manage.

This guide walks through every step from a finished manuscript to a live book on Amazon, including account setup, file preparation, metadata strategy, pricing, and what to do after you publish.

What you need before you start

Preparing in advance saves time during the upload process. Have the following ready before you begin:

• A formatted manuscript file: EPUB (for ebooks) or a print-ready PDF (for paperbacks). KDP now accepts EPUB directly for most ebooks, which works well with any standard EPUB generator. For print, a PDF formatted to your chosen trim size with correct margins is required.
• A book cover: KDP provides a cover creator tool, but a professionally designed cover (or one you've designed to KDP's specifications) consistently performs better. For ebooks, a 2560 x 1600 pixel JPEG is standard. For print, the cover must include a spine and back cover, sized according to a formula that accounts for your page count and paper type.
• An author account: You'll need a KDP account, linked to a tax identity (for royalty payments) and a bank account for deposits.
• Book metadata: your title, subtitle (if any), series name and number (if applicable), a book description of up to 4,000 characters, up to seven keywords, and two Amazon book categories.
• Pricing decision: whether to enroll in KDP Select (exclusivity to Amazon in exchange for promotional tools and Kindle Unlimited inclusion) or publish wide, and what retail price to set.

Step 1: Create your KDP account

Go to kdp.amazon.com and sign in with an Amazon account, or create one. During setup, you'll be asked to complete a tax interview, providing your name and tax identification number (Social Security Number for US authors, or an equivalent for international authors). This determines your withholding rate for royalties.

You'll also add bank account information for direct deposit. KDP pays approximately 60 days after the end of the month in which sales occurred, once your balance exceeds the minimum threshold.

Step 2: Format your manuscript

Formatting is the step that most directly affects how your book looks to readers. Amazon KDP accepts:

• EPUB for Kindle ebooks: the current standard, accepted by KDP for most books. Using a formatting tool that exports a standard EPUB (rather than KDP-specific formats) means the same file can go to other retailers if you choose.
• PDF for paperback print books: must match your chosen trim size (the physical dimensions of the finished book), with correct inner and outer margins, correct gutter (the inner margin that accounts for binding), and front matter, body text, and back matter structured correctly.

For formatting, dedicated book-formatting tools handle the EPUB and PDF generation more reliably than Word or Google Docs alone. See our KDP formatting checklist for the full set of technical requirements you need to meet before uploading.

Using a tool like LiberScript, you can import your manuscript, run a critique pass to catch issues before publishing, apply a design theme, and export a KDP-ready EPUB and print PDF from the same project, which simplifies the process compared to managing separate files in separate tools.

Step 3: Write your book description

The book description is your primary sales tool within Amazon. It appears on your book's product page, appears in search snippets, and influences whether a browser becomes a buyer. KDP gives you up to 4,000 characters.

Your description appears on the book's product page, in search results, and in recommendation emails. It's worth treating this as a writing task in its own right, not a summary you dash off before uploading your files.

Effective descriptions typically:

• Open with a compelling hook relevant to the book's core promise or premise.
• Describe what the reader will get (for nonfiction) or set up the story without giving away the ending (for fiction).
• Use short paragraphs rather than a single large block of text; Amazon's product pages don't display walls of text well on mobile.
• Match the tone of the book; a thriller description should feel tense, a humorous memoir's description should have personality.
• End with a clear call to action: "Available now in Kindle and paperback."

KDP supports a limited subset of HTML in descriptions for bold text and line breaks, which helps structure longer descriptions.

Step 4: Choose categories and keywords

Amazon uses two category paths and up to seven keywords to determine where your book appears in browse categories and search results. These are among the most underestimated parts of the publishing setup.

Categories: Amazon has thousands of book categories. You choose two during the upload process, but you can request additional categories through KDP support after publishing. Strategic category selection, picking categories where your book can rank well rather than only the most competitive obvious category, is one of the most effective visibility levers an indie author controls.

Keywords: Each of the seven keyword fields accepts up to 50 characters. These aren't tags for your book's themes in the abstract; they're search phrases your readers would use. Think about specific tropes ("enemies to lovers romance"), comparative phrases ("books like [popular comparable title]"), and reader-behavior searches ("books to read on a plane"). Avoid using your title or author name in keyword fields, since those are indexed separately.

Step 5: Set your pricing and royalty plan

KDP offers two royalty options for ebooks:

Plan	Royalty rate	Price range requirement
35% royalty	35% of list price	$0.99 - $200.00
70% royalty	70% of list price, minus delivery cost	$2.99 - $9.99 (in most markets)

For most ebooks, the 70% plan is the better choice if your price falls within the qualifying range. The delivery cost deduction (based on file size) is small for text-only books.

For paperbacks, KDP uses a fixed royalty structure: a percentage of the list price minus printing costs, which vary by page count, trim size, paper type (black and white or color), and the marketplace where the book sells. KDP's royalties calculator in the pricing section of your book's setup gives you an exact per-sale royalty before you confirm.

KDP Select: enrolling in KDP Select gives you access to Kindle Unlimited (your book can be borrowed by KU subscribers, paid per page read), Kindle Countdown Deals, and free promotion days. The tradeoff is exclusivity: your ebook cannot be sold on any other platform while enrolled. Select enrollment renews automatically in 90-day periods unless you opt out.

Wide publishing: if you're not enrolled in KDP Select, you can upload your ebook to Kobo, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble Press, Draft2Digital, and other platforms at the same time as Amazon, potentially reaching significantly more readers overall. The decision between Select and wide depends on your genre, your audience's reading habits, and how much value you place on Kindle Unlimited access vs. retail presence across multiple platforms. This tradeoff is covered in more depth in our guide on wide vs. KDP Select publishing.

Step 6: Upload your files and set up print options

For ebooks, upload your EPUB (or DOCX, if you're using a Word-based approach) and your cover image. KDP provides an inline previewer to check how the book will look on various Kindle devices before publishing.

For paperbacks, you'll also choose:

• Trim size: common sizes include 5 x 8 inches (popular for fiction), 6 x 9 inches (common for nonfiction), and others. Your formatted PDF must match this exactly.
• Paper type: cream paper (warm tone, typical for fiction) or white paper (standard for nonfiction and reference).
• Ink: black and white for text-only books, color for illustrated books (significantly higher printing cost).
• Distribution: KDP Print is included; expanded distribution to bookstores and libraries through KDP's network is available at a reduced royalty rate.

Upload your interior PDF and cover PDF, then use KDP's print previewer to check for margin issues, cover spine accuracy, and overall layout before approving.

Step 7: Preview and publish

Before submitting, use KDP's online previewer for ebooks and the print previewer for paperbacks. Look for:

• Missing or misformatted chapters
• Cover image quality (should not appear pixelated)
• Front matter and back matter displaying correctly
• Page numbers and running headers present in print
• Table of contents working correctly in the ebook file

Publishing typically takes 24 to 72 hours for both ebook and paperback. KDP sends an email when the book is live.

Step 8: After publishing

Publishing is the beginning, not the end. A few things to plan for afterward:

• Author Central: set up an Amazon Author Central page, which lets you add a biography, author photo, and editorial reviews to your book's product page.
• Reviews: early reviews significantly affect visibility. Plan to reach out to beta readers, ARC readers, or a launch team for honest reviews during the launch window.
• Price promotions: KDP Select members can run free days and Countdown Deals; non-Select authors can adjust price manually at any time.
• Updating your book: you can update your manuscript or cover after publishing. KDP gives existing purchasers the option to download the updated version, though not automatically. Typo fixes and minor updates are easy; substantial revisions may affect reviews if readers' expectations change.

Hardcover publishing on KDP

KDP added hardcover publishing to its print options, giving authors a way to publish hardcovers through the same print-on-demand pipeline as paperbacks without a separate print distributor account. The specifications are similar to paperback, but with different printing cost structures, generally higher per-unit costs. Hardcovers can be a strong addition to an established series or a premium gift-edition release, where a higher retail price is sustainable.

The same formatted PDF used for your paperback can often be used for the hardcover version as well, since the interior specifications are similar, though you'll design a separate cover to KDP's hardcover cover specifications.

Building momentum in the first 30 days

Amazon's ranking algorithm gives new releases a brief window of increased visibility. The weeks immediately after publication are when review momentum and initial sales velocity matter most for discoverability.

A few things that help in this window:

• Launch team or ARC readers: readers who've received advance copies can leave honest reviews on or shortly after launch day. Reviews in the first week meaningfully improve conversion for browsers coming to your page.
• Price introductory period: some authors launch at a lower price to build initial sales velocity before raising to their long-term price.
• Author Central: completing your Author Central page (biography, author photo) before launch so readers can find your other books if they enjoy this one.
• Series read-through: if this is the first book in a series, having the next book well underway (or better, published close together) is one of the most effective ways to maximize revenue from a launch.

Updating your listing after you publish

KDP listings can be updated after publication, which is useful for fixing typos, refreshing your description based on reviews, or uploading a revised edition. The most commonly updated elements:

• Book description: you can update it any time from your bookshelf dashboard. Changes take effect within a few hours.
• Categories: categories can be changed through KDP support by request, though the two you select during setup can also be updated directly in your book's details.
• Keywords: keywords are editable at any time and take effect quickly.
• Interior file: uploading a revised interior replaces the file for new purchases. Existing purchasers can request the update from Amazon, but it isn't pushed automatically.
• Price: can be changed at any time, with changes typically live within a few hours in most marketplaces.

If you're making substantial revisions, consider updating the book description and interior file together so the product page reflects the current version of the book.

Common mistakes first-time KDP authors make

• Uploading a DOCX without formatting it properly: Word documents often convert to EPUB with inconsistent heading styles, formatting artifacts, and missing table of contents. A dedicated formatting tool prevents most of these issues.
• Choosing categories by browsing rather than researching: picking the most obvious category, "Fiction & Literature > Historical Fiction," can put you in competition with thousands of established books. Smaller categories where your book genuinely fits can be more effective for early visibility.
• Setting price before checking royalty math: the 70% royalty tier has a file-delivery deduction, and print royalties vary by page count. Check the royalties calculator before confirming your price.
• Skipping the preview step: the online previewer catches formatting issues before readers see them.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an ISBN to publish on Amazon KDP?

No. Amazon assigns its own ASINs (Amazon Standard Identification Numbers) to KDP books. ISBNs are optional; if you provide one, it appears in your book's metadata. If you're also distributing through IngramSpark or other distributors that require ISBNs, you'll need one for those channels. Our guide on ISBNs for indie authors covers this in more detail.

How long does it take to start selling?

Most books go live within 24 to 72 hours of submission. Print books take longer than ebooks, sometimes a few additional hours, because KDP verifies print specifications.

Can I publish on Amazon and other platforms at the same time?

Yes, unless you're enrolled in KDP Select, which requires ebook exclusivity with Amazon. If you're not in Select, you can upload your ebook to Kobo, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers simultaneously.

How do I know if my formatting is KDP-ready before I upload?

Our KDP formatting checklist covers the complete set of technical requirements. Using a tool like LiberScript that shows a live preview at your chosen trim size before exporting lets you catch most issues before the file leaves your hands.

The bottom line

Publishing on KDP is a learnable, repeatable process. The steps that trip up first-time authors most often, formatting the manuscript and interior to spec, choosing categories and keywords strategically, and writing a compelling description, are all doable with the right preparation. Our KDP formatting checklist is a good next read for the technical file requirements.

If your manuscript isn't quite ready to format yet, get started in LiberScript to run a critique pass first, then move to formatting once you're satisfied with the manuscript.