Start with the rejection message. Save it alongside the exact manuscript and cover you uploaded. Fix the named problem, preview the revised files, then resubmit. Buying an ISBN or paying for formatting is not automatically necessary.
Would you rather someone else did it? Our book formatting services UK start at £69, VAT included, with files back in 24 hours.
Table of Contents
- Introduction: What Does “KDP Quality Check Failed” Mean?
- KDP quality checks: what to know first
- Step-by-Step Guide to Resolving KDP Quality Check Failures
- Common Terminology and Definitions
- KDP quality checks in the UK
- KDP quality checks: mistakes to avoid
- KDP quality checks: tools and resources
- KDP quality checks: what it costs
- Comparison with Alternative Publishing Platforms
- Final Checks Before Resubmitting
- Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction: What Does “KDP Quality Check Failed” Mean?
A failed file check and a content-policy rejection need different responses. KDP’s formatting troubleshooting guide explains its automated preview and later manual checks. Use the specific issue in your notification rather than treating every rejection as a margin problem.
If the message concerns AI disclosure, start with our AI-content disclosure guide. A formatting service cannot settle a rights or content-policy decision.
KDP quality checks: what to know first
Work from an editable source file and keep an untouched backup. Record the selected format, trim size, paper, ink, page count and bleed setting. Changing one can affect the others.
Not sure where to start? Our free KDP Readiness Score can help investigate PDF-file problems. For hands-on help, compare formatting packages: print interior PDF from £69, or print + Kindle from £119, including UK VAT and two revision rounds. The fix-free guarantee covers formatting issues we handled, not content-policy or rights decisions.
Step-by-Step Guide to Resolving KDP Quality Check Failures
1. Review the Error Message Carefully
Copy the reported page numbers and error text into a checklist. Open those pages in the submitted file, not an older draft. If the message gives no usable detail, ask KDP support which file or issue needs attention.
2. Verify Your Manuscript File Format
For paperback interiors with bleed, upload a PDF. For no-bleed interiors, KDP accepts PDF, DOC, DOCX, RTF, HTML and TXT, converting non-PDF uploads for printing. DOC is not automatically rejected. See Amazon’s paperback submission guidelines.
For an existing PDF, check the export rather than repeatedly converting it between formats. For Kindle, use the separate eBook file-format guidance; print and reflowable eBook layouts need separate checks.
3. Check Trim Size and Page Count
A4 is supported for KDP paperback: 8.27 × 11.69 inches (21 × 29.7 cm). Availability and page limits depend on ink and paper; for example, black ink on white paper supports 24–780 pages, while standard colour is unavailable at that size. Check the current trim-size table.
The problem is a mismatch between your file and selected options, not that A4 is British. Recheck pagination after resizing.
4. Inspect Margins and Bleed Settings
For a paperback interior with bleed, add 0.125 inches to the page width and 0.25 inches to the height. A 6 × 9-inch trim therefore needs a 6.125 × 9.25-inch file. Do not crop that extra area away before upload.
Outside margins are at least 0.25 inches without bleed or 0.375 inches with bleed. The inside gutter grows with page count; use the margin table, not a single all-purpose setting.
5. Confirm Fonts Are Embedded
Inspect the exported PDF’s font information and revisit the source application’s export settings if fonts are missing. Amazon requires embedded fonts. Choose a font whose licence permits the intended use; changing to a familiar name does not itself solve embedding.
6. Validate Image Resolution and Colour Mode
Amazon specifies at least 300 DPI for print images. Check resolution at the actual printed size: enlarging a small image reduces its effective resolution. Review the image troubleshooting steps and the cover colour requirements for your file. Inspect a physical proof for colour and legibility rather than judging print solely from a bright screen.
7. Verify ISBN and Barcode
For eligible print books, a free KDP ISBN is an option; it is restricted to KDP and uses the imprint “Independently published”. An ISBN you own lets you use your registered imprint and publish that edition elsewhere. Kindle eBooks do not require an ISBN. Low-content books have different ISBN options.
Match your title, author and imprint to the registration. See Amazon’s ISBN options. If you omit a barcode from a print cover, KDP can add one; leave the required area clear.
8. Check Cover File Specifications
A submitted paperback cover is one PDF containing back, spine and front. Generate a template with KDP’s cover calculator using the final page count and chosen print options. Follow its safe areas and bleed boundaries.
Our cover-size calculator can help plan the layout; use Amazon’s current template for the final upload. Recalculate after changes to the interior rather than stretching an old cover.
9. Upload Files Separately and Preview
Check that each upload field receives the correct file. Use the available preview for that book format and inspect the whole book, including blank pages, chapter openings, tables and the end matter. Keep a note of warnings you resolved and inspect a print proof before committing to a launch.
10. Seek Professional Help If Needed
A clear brief is more useful than choosing a formatter on price alone. Supply the rejection message, editable manuscript, chosen print options and the file that failed. Check whether the quote covers interior formatting, cover adjustments, proofreading or only one of those tasks.
See what our formatting packages include. Do not buy formatting as a substitute for resolving a rights or content-policy issue with KDP.
Common Terminology and Definitions
| Term | What to check |
|---|---|
| Trim size | The finished page dimensions selected for the book |
| Bleed | Extra printed area beyond the trim edge |
| Gutter | Space at the binding edge, adjusted for page count |
| Embedded font | Font information included in the exported file |
| Metadata | Book details such as title, author and imprint |
| PDF versus EPUB | A fixed page layout versus an eBook container; inspect each output separately |
KDP quality checks in the UK
Paper Type and Print Options
Check Amazon’s current print options for your format. Black-ink paperback options include white, cream and groundwood; colour interiors use white paper. Paper choice affects the cover calculation. Keep the selected option in your production notes.
UK Publishing Plans
Decide whether this edition is intended for Amazon alone or wider distribution before commissioning files. For a bookstore or library enquiry, ask the intended supplier about its requirements. An industry market-size statistic does not tell you whether an individual title will sell.
The UK basics, in one place: ISBNs, VAT on books, tax on book income and legal deposit. Those guides are kept up to date, so this page doesn’t repeat them.
KDP quality checks: mistakes to avoid
1. Choosing a Formatter Without Checking Scope
Ask for the deliverables, revision allowance and remedy for a formatting rejection in writing. Avoid assuming that an interior-formatting quote includes editing or cover design.
2. Ignoring UK ISBN Requirements
Compare the book’s registered details with the metadata you entered. Do not purchase a replacement ISBN simply because an unrelated file check failed.
3. Incorrect Bleed and Margin Settings
Use the dimensions and linked margin table above, then inspect the exported file. A source document with correct settings can still be exported incorrectly.
4. Uploading Wrong File Types
Check the requirements for the specific format and bleed choice. A valid print PDF does not establish that a Kindle edition will display correctly.
5. Overlooking Font Embedding
Recheck the final PDF after every export. A previous successful export does not prove the latest file contains the same fonts.
6. Confusing ISBNs and Barcodes
An ISBN identifies the edition; the barcode makes it machine-readable. Use KDP’s barcode guidance before adding your own, and avoid placing important cover content in the reserved area.
KDP quality checks: tools and resources
- Amazon’s print troubleshooting guide: follow the section matching your rejection.
- EPUBCheck: check an EPUB’s structure; this is not a guarantee of Kindle acceptance.
- KDP cover calculator: generate a template for the final specification.
- Free KDP Readiness Score: an additional PDF check before upload, not Amazon approval.
KDP quality checks: what it costs
Publishing on KDP is free; what costs money is the help you buy. Every part, with dated sources and a calculator for your own book, is in how much it costs to self-publish a book in the UK.
Comparison with Alternative Publishing Platforms
Moving a defective file to another platform is not a reliable fix. Check the destination’s requirements before reusing it. Our KDP and IngramSpark comparison and Draft2Digital comparison explain different distribution routes. Choose distribution for your book’s needs, then prepare the right files for it.
Final Checks Before Resubmitting
- Keep the original and corrected files with clear version names.
- Match the final files to the selected KDP options.
- Inspect the pages named in the rejection, then the rest of the book.
- Keep the message and your correction notes together.
- Separate formatting, editorial and policy questions when asking for help.
Related: Updating a book or creating a new edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common mistake UK authors make with KDP quality check failed?
We do not have a reliable ranking of rejection causes. Start with the actual message rather than assuming the cause from another author’s experience.
How much does KDP quality check failed cost in the UK?
There is no fixed troubleshooting bill. You may be able to correct the file yourself. The table above shows our current starting prices if you want formatting help.
What tools do UK authors recommend for KDP quality check failed?
Use KDP’s own preview and the relevant official guide first. A PDF inspection tool or EPUBCheck can help with specific file questions; no tool guarantees approval.
How long does the KDP quality check failed process typically take?
Correction time depends on the problem. Amazon’s book-status guidance says publication can take up to three business days after submission; some book types take longer. Our service turnaround is separate from Amazon’s review.
Can I handle KDP quality check failed myself or should I hire a professional?
Try the relevant check above first. If you cannot identify or repair a layout problem, compare our formatting options and include the rejection message in your brief.
What are the UK-specific requirements for KDP quality check failed?
There is no blanket rule to replace A4, buy an ISBN or choose cream paper simply because you are in the UK. Match the files to your selected format and use the current specification for that edition.
