The paperback royalty formula explained
Amazon KDP pays paperback authors 60% of the list price minus a printing cost that is recalculated for every order. The printing cost is the sum of a small fixed per-book charge (around $1.00 in the US) plus a per-page charge that depends on whether your interior is black-and-white, standard color or premium color. A 200-page black-and-white novel costs roughly $3.40 to print, leaving about $4.40 royalty on a $12.99 list price.
Choosing the right interior
Black-and-white interior is by far the cheapest at about 1.2¢ per page — perfect for novels, memoirs and most non-fiction. Standard color (matte) sits in the middle at roughly 1.7¢ per page and works well for low-graphic non-fiction. Premium color jumps to 6.5¢ per page and is intended for photography, children's picture books and art books where color fidelity matters. Mixing chapters with heavy graphics into otherwise text-only books almost always justifies splitting them into two products.
Picking a profitable price
A safe rule of thumb is to set your list price so the royalty is at least $2.00 per book. For a 250-page black-and-white novel that means pricing around $9.99–$12.99 in the US store. For premium color picture books with 40 pages you may need $19.99 or more to stay profitable. Always check the minimum list price Amazon enforces — it shows up in the pricing tab and equals printing cost ÷ 0.6.
Expanded distribution vs Amazon-only
Opting into expanded distribution exposes your paperback to bookstores and libraries but cuts royalty to 40%. Run both scenarios in this calculator by manually changing the royalty rate, and weigh the reach against per-unit profit. Most indie authors stay Amazon-only and use ads to drive traffic rather than relying on third-party retailers.
Frequently asked questions
How much does KDP charge to print a 300-page paperback?
Roughly $4.60 for black-and-white, $6.10 for standard color and $20.50 for premium color in the US store.
Why is my royalty so low?
Either your price is too close to printing cost or you are using premium color. Try black-and-white interior or raise the list price.
Can I sell paperbacks below $5?
Only if printing cost is under $3 — that means very short books (≤150 pages) in black-and-white interior.
Do I pay shipping costs?
No. Amazon charges the buyer for shipping; the printing cost shown here is the only deduction from your royalty.