About the Kindle Royalty Calculator
Kindle eBooks offer two royalty options. The 70% option pays more per sale but only inside a set price band for each marketplace, and Amazon deducts a delivery cost based on your file size. The 35% option works at any allowed price and has no delivery cost. Which one pays more depends on your price and how large your file is.
This calculator applies those rules for every Amazon marketplace. Enter your list price, file size and expected sales, and it shows royalty per sale, total royalty, the delivery cost Amazon deducts and your price excluding VAT. A side-by-side table compares 35% and 70% at your price and marks which pays more, or explains when 70% is not available.
The price band for the selected marketplace is shown above the inputs, so you can see at once whether your price qualifies for 70%. It is especially useful for image-heavy books such as cookbooks, comics and children's books, where delivery costs can make 70% pay less than you expect.
How It Works
If the marketplace's list prices include VAT, the VAT you enter is removed first. Amazon.com prices exclude sales tax, so use 0 there.
For 70%, the delivery cost (file size in MB × the marketplace's per-MB rate) is subtracted from the price excluding VAT, and you receive 70% of the remainder. For 35%, you receive 35% of the price excluding VAT with no delivery cost.
If you choose 70% but your price is outside the 70% band, the calculator applies 35% and tells you why. Totals multiply royalty per sale by units sold.
Formula
- Price ex VAT
- Price ex VAT = List price ÷ (1 + VAT %)
- 70% option
- Royalty = 70% × (Price ex VAT − File size × Delivery rate)
- 35% option
- Royalty = 35% × Price ex VAT
Example
A $4.99 eBook with a 2 MB file on Amazon.com
- $4.99 is inside the $2.99 to $12.99 band, so 70% is available.
- Delivery cost: 2 MB × $0.15 = $0.30.
- 70% royalty: 0.70 × ($4.99 − $0.30) = $3.28 per sale. 35% royalty: 0.35 × $4.99 = $1.75.
- For 100 sales: $328.00 on 70% versus $175.00 on 35%.
The 70% option pays $3.28 per sale, $1.53 more than 35%, or $328 for 100 copies.
Important Notes
- Delivery cost per MB is a configurable assumption. Amazon reports the actual delivery cost for each sale in your KDP reports.
- 70% royalties are only paid on sales to eligible territories. Some sales at a 70% list price may still pay 35%.
- VAT rates differ by country and change over time. Enter the rate that applies to the marketplace you are checking.
- Kindle Unlimited page reads are paid from a separate fund and are not included.
- Price bands and rates come from the central KDP configuration. Check your KDP pricing page for the final figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does 35% pay more than 70%?
When your price is outside the 70% band, or when your file is so large that the delivery cost eats up the difference. A heavily illustrated book at a low price is the usual case. The comparison table shows this instantly.
How do I find my eBook file size?
KDP shows the file size on the pricing page after your manuscript is converted. It is often smaller than your upload because KDP compresses images.
Why do I need to enter VAT?
In the UK and EU, list prices include VAT and royalties are calculated on the price after VAT is removed. Leaving VAT at 0 for those marketplaces would overstate your royalty.
Can I price at $0.99 and still get 70%?
No. On Amazon.com the 70% option starts at $2.99. Below that, the calculator applies 35% and the 70% row reads 'Not available at this price'.
Does the 70% option have other requirements?
Yes. Your eBook must meet KDP's list price rules, including pricing your eBook below its print edition, and some territories only pay 35%. This calculator covers the price band and delivery cost.
How does this differ from the KDP Royalty Calculator?
The [KDP Royalty Calculator](/tools/kdp-royalty-calculator) covers all formats. This tool focuses on eBooks and adds a side-by-side 35% versus 70% comparison with the marketplace's price band.
Related KDP Tools
- KDP Royalty CalculatorEstimate your royalty and profit from Kindle, paperback and hardcover sales.
- KDP Profit CalculatorTurn royalties, ad spend and other costs into net profit, profit per book and margin.
- KDP Pricing CalculatorWork backwards from the profit you want to the list price you need.
- BSR Sales EstimatorTurn an Amazon Best Sellers Rank into an approximate daily and monthly sales range.
- Paperback Pricing CalculatorGet minimum, break-even and recommended paperback prices from page count, trim and ink.
- KDP Break-Even CalculatorFind how many books you must sell to recover editing, cover and launch costs.
Related Guides
- How KDP Royalties WorkA clear guide to KDP royalties: the 35% and 70% eBook options, delivery costs and VAT, the 50% and 60% print tiers, expanded distribution and printing costs.
- How to Price a KDP Book: Paperback and eBook Pricing ExplainedLearn how to price a KDP paperback or eBook: minimum list price, the 50% and 60% royalty tiers, the 70% eBook band, charm pricing, and a worked example.