Calculate your Amazon KDP paperback printing costs instantly. Estimate costs based on page count, trim size, and ink type with accurate 2025 rates.
KDP accepts 24-828 pages for paperbacks
Fixed cost: $1.00
Per page (Black & White): $0.0120 × 250 = $3.00
To earn any royalty (printing cost ÷ 0.60)
Print royalty formula: (List Price × 60%) - Print Cost
Note: eBook Royalties are Different
eBooks have no print cost. You can choose 35% or 70% royalty rates. The 70% rate is only available for eBooks priced $2.99-$9.99.
About KDP Printing Costs (2025 Rates)
Everything you need to know about KDP printing costs
KDP printing costs depend on your book's page count, ink type, and trim size. For black & white paperbacks, the cost is $1.00 fixed plus $0.012 per page. For example, a 200-page black & white book costs $3.40 to print. Color printing costs more, ranging from $0.0255 to $0.065 per page depending on ink quality.
The minimum KDP printing cost for a black & white paperback is $2.30 for books with 24-108 pages (US marketplace). For books over 108 pages, the cost is calculated as $1.00 fixed cost plus $0.012 per page. The minimum varies by marketplace and ink type.
KDP uses a simple formula: Fixed Cost + (Page Count × Per-Page Cost) = Printing Cost. For black & white books over 108 pages, the fixed cost is $1.00 and per-page cost is $0.012. For standard color, it's $1.00 fixed plus $0.0255 per page. For premium color, it's $1.00 fixed plus $0.065 per page.
Black & white printing is most economical at $0.012 per page and is ideal for text-only books like novels. Standard color ($0.0255/page) works for books with some graphics. Premium color ($0.065/page) offers the highest quality for photo books and art books with vivid images.
Page count directly affects your printing cost since you pay per page after the fixed cost. Trim size also matters - larger trim sizes may have slightly higher costs. The most cost-effective sizes are 5x8, 5.5x8.5, and 6x9 inches, which are standard paperback dimensions.
To minimize printing costs: 1) Use black & white ink for text-only books, 2) Choose efficient formatting to reduce page count, 3) Select standard trim sizes like 6x9, 4) Consider cream paper which costs the same as white, and 5) Price your book strategically to maintain healthy royalty margins.
Yes, printing costs vary by Amazon marketplace. UK rates are approximately £0.85 fixed + £0.010 per page for black & white. EU rates are around €0.75 fixed + €0.024 per page for standard color. This calculator uses US marketplace rates by default.
KDP deducts printing costs from your royalty. Your paperback royalty is calculated as: (List Price × Royalty Rate) - Printing Cost. Most paperbacks earn 60% royalty. For example, a $14.99 book with $3.40 printing cost earns: ($14.99 × 0.60) - $3.40 = $5.59 royalty per sale.
The most popular and cost-effective trim sizes are 5x8 inches (pocket paperback), 5.5x8.5 inches (digest size), and 6x9 inches (trade paperback). These standard sizes have the lowest per-page costs and work well for most genres. Larger sizes like 8.5x11 may have slightly higher costs.
No, KDP is a print-on-demand service. You don't pay printing costs upfront. Instead, Amazon prints each book when a customer orders it and deducts the printing cost from your royalty payment. You only pay for author copies you order for yourself.
Still have questions about printing costs?
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