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Guides · Publishing · 2026-09-01 · Updated 2026-09-05

How to Publish on Amazon KDP in 2026: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Self-publishing on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) gives you access to the world's largest digital and physical bookstore. However, outdated guides often recommend retired formats (like MOBI) or miss critical print bleed requirements that cause Amazon's automated file validator to reject manuscripts.

Updated September 2026. Use the linked official KDP specifications and your account's current settings for final production decisions.

This master guide takes you through the entire publishing workflow without skipping technical steps: from interior manuscript preparation and full-wrap print cover specifications to pricing formulas, ISBN ownership, and the international tax interview.

Stage 1: Preparing Your Manuscript Files

Amazon KDP publishes in three formats: Kindle eBook, Paperback (Softcover), and Hardcover (Case Laminate). Each has distinct technical file requirements.

1. eBook Interior Format

  • Supported Formats: .EPUB (recommended standard), .kpf (Kindle Create), or formatted .docx.
  • Retired Formats: Amazon officially discontinued support for .MOBI and .AZW uploads. Never upload MOBI files in 2026.
  • Reflowable vs Fixed Layout: Use reflowable EPUB for novels and standard nonfiction so readers can customize typography and font size. Reserve fixed-layout (Kindle Create print replica) for graphic novels, textbooks, or children's illustrated books.
  • Front & Back Matter: Include a copyright page, title page, and linked Table of Contents (TOC) using standard NCX/HTML anchor tags.

2. Paperback & Hardcover Interior (Print-Ready PDF)

  • File format: Single PDF file containing all pages in exact sequential order (including blank pages).
  • Trim Sizes: Choose a trim size supported by your selected binding, ink, paper and page count. Paperback and hardcover options are not interchangeable; confirm them in KDP before laying out the book.
  • Bleed vs No-Bleed:
    • No Bleed (Standard text): Page size in your PDF must match your chosen trim size exactly (e.g., 6.00" × 9.00").
    • Bleed (Images extending to the edge): Add 0.125" (3.2 mm) to the top, bottom, and outside edge. For a 6" × 9" book with bleed, your exported PDF page size must be 6.125" × 9.250".
  • Gutter Margins (Inside Spine Safety): As page count grows, paper thickness pulls text into the binding. Maintain minimum inside margins:
    • 24–150 pages: 0.375" (9.6 mm)
    • 151–300 pages: 0.500" (12.7 mm)
    • 301–500 pages: 0.625" (15.9 mm)
    • 501–700+ pages: 0.750" to 0.875" (22.3 mm)

Stage 2: Cover Design & Full-Wrap Spine Geometry

Your cover is the single most important marketing asset. The technical deliverable depends on whether you are releasing an eBook or a physical book.

1. Kindle eBook Cover

  • Format: RGB JPG or TIFF.
  • Ideal Dimensions: 1600 × 2560 pixels (1:1.6 aspect ratio). Minimum dimensions are 625 pixels wide × 1000 pixels high. See KDP's official cover image specifications.
  • Color Profile: sRGB standard.
  • What to upload: Front cover ONLY. Do not upload back cover, spine, or barcode for an eBook.

2. Paperback Cover (Full-Wrap PDF)

Unlike eBooks, print covers must be submitted as a single, flattened PDF wrap combining the back cover, spine, and front cover into one continuous sheet.

  • Bleed Allowance: 0.125" (3.2 mm) on all 4 outer edges.
  • Spine Width Formula: Calculated based on page count and interior paper stock (e.g., Black & White White Paper is Pages × 0.002252"; Cream Paper is Pages × 0.002500").
  • Spine Text Threshold: For a custom paperback PDF, KDP permits spine text from 79 pages; its Cover Creator requires at least 80 pages. Follow the template's safe area.
  • Barcode Safe Zone: Leave a 2.0" × 1.2" zone in the lower right corner of the back cover clear of critical graphics or text so Amazon's scanner does not obscure your copy.

Hardcover is different: case-wrap covers require their own hinge, wrap and board allowances. Do not apply the paperback geometry above to a hardcover. Download the correct binding-specific template from the official KDP cover calculator after finalizing your interior. Our Cover Template & Spine Calculator helps with supported configurations; confirm the final file against the printer's template. Our Barcode Generator creates barcode artwork.

Stage 3: Setting Up Your KDP Account & Tax Interview

  1. Navigate to kdp.amazon.com and sign in with your Amazon credentials.
  2. Author Information & Banking: Enter your legal name (or company name) and direct-deposit bank details for royalty payouts.
  3. Tax Information Interview:
    • Complete KDP's tax interview using your actual individual or business status.
    • Non-US publishers may face US withholding on certain payments. Treaty eligibility and the resulting rate depend on your circumstances, country and tax information; a foreign tax ID alone does not guarantee a reduced rate. Follow KDP's tax withholding guidance and seek qualified tax advice where needed.

Stage 4: Uploading Your Book Step-by-Step

Tab 1: Kindle eBook Details

  • Language & Title: Ensure the title matches your cover typography exactly. Amazon will reject uploads if the cover title differs from metadata.
  • Series Information: Add series title and volume number to create an automated series page on Amazon.
  • Author & Contributors: Add your author name, pen name, and illustrator/editor credits.
  • Book Description (HTML Supported): You have 4,000 characters. Use basic formatting (<h2>, <b>, <i>, <ul>, <li>) to create an eye-catching sales page.
  • Keywords (7 Boxes): Avoid repeating words from your title or subtitle. Use high-intent search phrases that real readers type (e.g., “psychological thriller with strong female lead”).
  • Categories (Up to 3): Select categories that accurately describe the book and its intended readers. Do not choose an unrelated category to pursue a bestseller badge.

Tab 2: eBook Content & Print Setup

  • Digital Rights Management (DRM): Review KDP's current DRM options and their effect on reader access before choosing; this is a rights and distribution decision.
  • Upload Manuscript: Select your .EPUB or .docx file. Wait for Amazon's conversion engine to process.
  • Upload Cover: Select “Upload a cover you already have” and upload your high-resolution JPG.
  • Launch Previewer: Inspect every chapter break, table, image alignment, and font scaling across phone, tablet, and Kindle E-reader views before approving.
  • ISBN: eBooks do not require an ISBN on Amazon KDP (Amazon assigns an ASIN automatically).

Tab 3: Pricing, Royalties & KDP Select

  • KDP Select (Kindle Unlimited): Gives 90-day exclusivity to Amazon in exchange for Kindle Unlimited page-read payouts (KENP) and promotional tools (Free Days, Countdown Deals). If you want to sell on Apple Books, Kobo, and Google Play, leave this unchecked.
  • Royalty Plan:
    • 70% Royalty: Eligibility depends on price, territory and KDP's other conditions. Delivery charges and applicable taxes affect the amount received; do not apply a single marketplace's rate worldwide.
    • 35% Royalty: An alternative option with different conditions. Read KDP's eBook royalty rules and check the amount shown for each market before publishing.
  • Paperback & Hardcover Pricing: Use our Royalty Calculator to estimate printing costs and royalties for supported configurations; confirm the final figures in KDP before entering your retail list price.

Stage 5: Proofing & Final Launch Checklist

  1. Order a Printed Proof: For paperbacks and hardcovers, always click “Request printed proof” before clicking publish. A physical copy in your hands reveals font legibility, spine alignment, and paper opacity flaws that screens hide.
  2. Hit Publish: Submit only after previewing the files and checking metadata. Review and availability times vary; follow the status and current timelines in your KDP account rather than promising a fixed launch hour.
  3. Claim Author Central: Go to author.amazon.com to set up your official Amazon Author Biography, link your social channels, and connect all formats under one unified product page.

Need Professional Publishing Support?

If you want help preparing your cover and interior files, we offer design and formatting services. Amazon makes the final acceptance decision; no designer can guarantee first-upload approval:

READY TO MAKE IT REAL? That's the day job.

See the complete book service →