Calculate your exact royalty per sale on Amazon KDP. Switch between paperback and eBook calculations using the tabs below.
Royalty at Different Price Points
Paperback royalty curve for a 250-page B&W book on Amazon.co.uk:
Hover over bars to see exact royalty amounts. Prices in GBP.
KDP Printing Cost Reference
Amazon's printing costs vary by marketplace and ink type. Here are the rates for the most common marketplaces:
Amazon.com (USD)
| Ink Type | Fixed Cost | Per Page Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Black & white | $0.85 | $0.012 |
| Standard colour | $0.85 | $0.07 |
| Premium colour | $3.45 | $0.07 |
Amazon.co.uk (GBP)
| Ink Type | Fixed Cost | Per Page Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Black & white | £0.70 | £0.01 |
| Standard colour | £0.70 | £0.055 |
| Premium colour | £2.90 | £0.055 |
Amazon.de / .fr / .es / .it (EUR)
| Ink Type | Fixed Cost | Per Page Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Black & white | €0.60 | €0.012 |
| Standard colour | €0.60 | €0.065 |
| Premium colour | €3.05 | €0.065 |
Paperback Royalty Formula
Your Royalty = (List Price × 60%) − Printing Cost
The printing cost is calculated as:
Printing Cost = Fixed Cost + (Page Count × Per-Page Cost)
For example, a 250-page B&W book priced at £12.99 on Amazon.co.uk:
- Amazon's share: £12.99 × 40% = £5.20
- Printing cost: £0.70 + (250 × £0.01) = £3.20
- Your royalty: £12.99 × 60% − £3.20 = £4.59
You might also need
- Margin Calculator
- Spine Width Calculator
- KDP Trim Size Guide
- White vs Cream Paper
- Kindle Unlimited Guide
Frequently asked questions
What royalty does a 250-page paperback priced at £12.99 earn on Amazon.co.uk?
On a 250-page black-and-white book at £12.99, Amazon takes 40% (£5.20) and printing costs £3.20 (£0.70 fixed + 250 × £0.01 per page), leaving you a royalty of £4.59 per copy.
What is the per-page printing cost for a black-and-white KDP book on Amazon.co.uk?
KDP charges £0.01 per page plus a £0.70 fixed cost for a black-and-white paperback on Amazon.co.uk. Standard colour is £0.055 per page; premium colour adds a £2.90 fixed cost.
When does the 70% Kindle royalty rate apply?
The 70% royalty rate is available when your eBook is priced between $2.99 and $9.99 (or the equivalent in other currencies). Outside that range, only the 35% rate is available, and the 70% option also deducts a delivery cost based on file size.
How does ink type change my KDP printing cost?
Switching from black-and-white to standard colour roughly multiplies your per-page cost by 5–6x (e.g., £0.01 to £0.055 on Amazon.co.uk). Premium colour keeps the same per-page rate as standard colour but adds a much higher fixed fee.
Maximise your royalty with professional formatting
Properly formatted books have fewer pages and lower printing costs — from £69.
Format my book →Further reading from official sources
- KDP — Royalties — Amazon's official royalty calculation rules.
- HMRC — Self-employed records — UK tax obligations on royalty income.
