About the Paperback Pricing Calculator
Paperback pricing on KDP has more moving parts than most authors expect. The printing cost depends on page count, ink and whether your trim is a large size. The royalty rate changes at a price threshold in each marketplace. And KDP will not let you list below a minimum price that covers printing.
This calculator brings those rules together. It calculates the printing cost for your book and shows the working, then gives you KDP's minimum list price, a break-even price that also covers any ad or other cost per copy, and the price needed to earn the royalty you want. It turns that into a recommended .99 price range and a table of price points with the royalty rate, royalty and profit at each one.
Use it when you set the price for a new paperback, when you change page count or trim size, or when you price the same book in several marketplaces. Each marketplace uses its own currency and printing cost table, so you can compare Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and others side by side.
How It Works
Printing cost is a fixed charge plus a per-page charge, taken from the configured cost table for your marketplace, ink and trim class. Very short books use a flat fee. Odd page counts are costed as the next even number.
The minimum list price is the lowest price where royalty is not negative. The break-even price adds your ad or other cost per copy, and the target price also adds your target royalty. Each price accounts for the lower royalty rate at or below the marketplace threshold.
The recommended range starts at the target price rounded up to .99 (never below the minimum) and runs a few currency units higher. The price point table starts at the break-even price and steps up in whole units.
Formula
- Printing cost
- Printing cost = Fixed cost + (Page count × Per-page cost)
- Royalty
- Royalty = (Royalty rate × List price) − Printing cost
- Target price
- Price = (Printing cost + Target royalty + Cost per copy) ÷ Royalty rate
Example
A 300-page 6" × 9" black-ink paperback on Amazon.com
- Printing cost: $1.00 fixed + (300 × $0.012) = $4.60. Minimum list price: $4.60 ÷ 0.50 = $9.20.
- Break-even: $4.60 printing + $1.00 ad cost = $5.60 per copy. At 50% that needs $11.20, which is above the $9.98 threshold, so the first price that works is $9.99 on the 60% rate.
- Target royalty of $4.00 plus $1.00 ad cost: ($4.60 + $5.00) ÷ 0.60 = $16.00.
- Recommended range: $16.99 to $19.99. At $16.99 the royalty is $5.59 and profit after the $1.00 ad cost is $4.59.
Price between $16.99 and $19.99 to clear your $4.00 target after ad costs. KDP would accept anything from $9.20 up.
Important Notes
- Printing costs come from the central KDP configuration for each marketplace and may lag behind changes Amazon makes. Your KDP pricing page shows the exact figure.
- Expanded Distribution sales earn a lower rate and are not modelled here. Use the KDP Royalty Calculator for those.
- Large trim sizes (wider than 6.12" or taller than 9") cost more per page, which raises every price shown.
- The recommended range covers costs and your target only. It does not know what readers in your genre expect to pay.
- Taxes, currency conversion and Kindle Unlimited income are not included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the break-even price higher than the minimum price?
The minimum price only covers printing. Break-even also covers your ad or other cost per copy, and it accounts for the lower royalty rate below the threshold, which can push the price past the threshold. With no extra cost entered, the two are the same.
Why does a small price change make a big royalty difference?
KDP pays the lower royalty rate at or below a threshold price in each marketplace (for example US$9.98) and the higher rate above it. Crossing that line raises the royalty on the whole price, not just the extra cents. The price point table shows the rate at each step.
What is a large trim size?
Any trim wider than 6.12 inches or taller than 9 inches. KDP charges more per page to print these, so a 7" × 10" workbook costs noticeably more than the same page count at 6" × 9".
Should I price differently in each marketplace?
Usually yes. Printing costs and thresholds differ by marketplace, so a price that works on Amazon.com may fall below the higher-rate threshold elsewhere. Run the calculator for each marketplace you sell in and round to local price points.
How do I get my exact page count?
Use the page count KDP reports after you upload your interior. Before then, the [KDP Page Count Calculator](/tools/kdp-page-count-calculator) estimates it from your word count and trim size.
Does colour ink change the price a lot?
Yes. Standard and premium colour have much higher per-page costs than black ink, so a colour book often needs a far higher list price. Switch the ink option to compare.
Related KDP Tools
- Hardcover Pricing CalculatorEstimate hardcover printing cost, minimum list price and a sensible price range.
- KDP Royalty CalculatorEstimate your royalty and profit from Kindle, paperback and hardcover sales.
- KDP Pricing CalculatorWork backwards from the profit you want to the list price you need.
- KDP Cover Size CalculatorGet full-wrap cover dimensions with a live back, spine and front diagram.
- KDP Page Count CalculatorConvert word count to estimated pages, or pages to words, by trim and font size.
- KDP Profit CalculatorTurn royalties, ad spend and other costs into net profit, profit per book and margin.
Related Guides
- 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.
- KDP Trim Sizes ExplainedEvery standard KDP trim size in inches and mm, the regular vs large trim rule and how it affects print cost, common sizes by genre, and how custom sizes work.