How to Publish a Book on Amazon KDP in 2026 (Step by Step)

Updated August 4, 2026 · by the AI Books Writer typesetting team

Step 1 — Pick a niche with buyers

Browse Amazon's sub-category bestseller lists. You want categories where the top 20 books have reviews in the hundreds (real demand) rather than tens of thousands (saturated). Non-fiction how-to, niche self-help, and specialty puzzle books are where new publishers most often get traction.

Step 2 — Produce the manuscript

Write it, or generate it: Amazon KDP explicitly permits AI-generated books (declared to Amazon during setup — see our AI policy guide). Either way, the market punishes thin content — 10,000+ coherent, structured words is a real book; 3,000 padded words is a refund.

Step 3 — Typeset the interior

KDP wants a print-ready PDF at your exact trim size (6×9″ is the standard), with fonts embedded, correct margins, and a gutter that meets the minimum for your page count. This is the step that rejects most first-time books.

Step 4 — Build the cover to the right spine width

The cover is one wraparound PDF: back + spine + front. Spine width = pages × 0.002252″ on white paper (full chart). If the page count changes, the cover must change.

Step 5 — Set up the title on KDP

Create a free account at kdp.amazon.com, then enter title, description, keywords (7 slots), and categories (3). Declare AI-generated content if applicable. Upload interior and cover, and check them in Amazon's previewer.

Step 6 — Price with the royalty math open

Paperback royalty = 60% of list minus printing ($0.85 + $0.012/page). A 150-page book at $9.99 nets $3.34 a copy (full tables). Check competitors' prices in your category before deciding.

Step 7 — Publish and iterate

Review takes up to 72 hours. After launch, the levers that matter are the cover thumbnail (what buyers see first), the first pages (what Look Inside shows), and reviews. Most successful KDP publishers run a catalog of books, not a single title — the skills and the audience compound.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to publish a book on Amazon?

Nothing upfront. KDP is free; Amazon deducts printing costs from each sale. Your costs are producing the manuscript, interior PDF, and cover.

How long does Amazon take to approve a book?

Up to 72 hours for new titles, usually faster. Formatting problems (wrong trim, bad spine width, missing bleed) are the most common rejection reasons.

Can I publish a book written with AI?

Yes. Amazon KDP allows AI-generated books — you declare AI use to Amazon during setup (readers see no label). Quality standards are identical to any other book.

How many words should a KDP book be?

Genre novels typically run 40,000+ words, novellas 17,000–40,000, and non-fiction how-to books commonly 10,000–30,000 words. Thin, padded books attract refunds and takedowns.