KDP printing costs $0.85 fixed + $0.012 per page for black-and-white interiors on cream or white paper. A 300-page novel costs $4.45 to print. Color interiors cost $0.85 fixed + $0.07 per page — a 300-page color book costs $21.85. These costs are deducted from your list price before calculating royalty. Understanding the formula lets you price your book before uploading.
KDP printing cost formula
Black and white (cream or white paper)
Cost = $0.85 + ($0.012 × page count)
Premium color
Cost = $0.85 + ($0.07 × page count)
Standard color (lower quality, rare)
Cost = $0.85 + ($0.04 × page count)
Cost by page count (B&W)
| Pages | Print Cost | Min List Price | Price at $4 Royalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | $2.05 | $4.56 | $10.08 |
| 150 | $2.65 | $5.89 | $11.08 |
| 200 | $3.25 | $7.22 | $12.08 |
| 250 | $3.85 | $8.56 | $13.08 |
| 300 | $4.45 | $9.89 | $14.08 |
| 350 | $5.05 | $11.22 | $15.08 |
| 400 | $5.65 | $12.56 | $16.08 |
| 450 | $6.25 | $13.89 | $17.08 |
| 500 | $6.85 | $15.22 | $18.08 |
| 600 | $8.05 | $17.89 | $20.08 |
Minimum list price = printing cost ÷ 0.45 (to ensure non-negative royalty on Amazon.com with 60% royalty rate).
Royalty calculation
KDP paperback royalty = (List Price × 0.60) − Print Cost
| List Price | Print Cost (300pp) | Royalty |
|---|---|---|
| $12.99 | $4.45 | $3.34 |
| $13.99 | $4.45 | $3.94 |
| $14.99 | $4.45 | $4.54 |
| $15.99 | $4.45 | $5.14 |
| $16.99 | $4.45 | $5.74 |
For expanded distribution (bookstores ordering through Amazon), royalty = (List Price × 0.40) − Print Cost. At $14.99 and 300 pages: ($14.99 × 0.40) − $4.45 = $1.55.
Cost by trim size
Page count depends on trim size. For an 80,000-word novel:
| Trim | Pages | Print Cost | Best Price | Royalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5” × 8” | ~340 | $4.93 | $14.99 | $4.06 |
| 5.25” × 8” | ~310 | $4.57 | $14.99 | $4.42 |
| 5.5” × 8.5” | ~280 | $4.21 | $14.99 | $4.78 |
| 6” × 9” | ~235 | $3.67 | $13.99 | $4.72 |
Larger trims produce fewer pages, lowering print costs. But price expectations also vary by trim — 6×9 books price higher.
Cambric calculates printing cost, royalty, and page count as you format. Adjust trim size, font, or spacing and watch the numbers update.
Get Cambric — $199
Color printing economics
Color interiors are expensive. Think carefully:
| Pages | B&W Cost | Color Cost | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 (picture book) | $1.23 | $3.09 | +$1.86 |
| 100 (cookbook) | $2.05 | $7.85 | +$5.80 |
| 200 (art book) | $3.25 | $14.85 | +$11.60 |
| 300 (nonfiction) | $4.45 | $21.85 | +$17.40 |
A 200-page nonfiction book with color charts: $14.85 print cost. To earn $4 royalty, you’d need to price at $31.42 minimum. Most authors keep interiors B&W and use charts in grayscale.
How formatting choices affect cost
| Decision | Cost Impact |
|---|---|
| Font: Garamond vs Palatino | ~20 pages, ~$0.24/copy |
| Font size: 11pt vs 12pt | ~50 pages, ~$0.60/copy |
| Line spacing: 1.3× vs 1.5× | ~45 pages, ~$0.54/copy |
| Trim: 5×8 vs 5.5×8.5 | ~60 pages, ~$0.72/copy |
| Chapter starts: recto vs next page | ~15 pages, ~$0.18/copy |
Over a 10-book series selling 5,000 copies each, the difference between efficient formatting (Garamond 11pt, 1.35×, 5.5×8.5) and inefficient formatting (Palatino 12pt, 1.5×, 5×8) is roughly $75,000 in printing costs.
Run the numbers with the KDP Book Calculator.
Expanded distribution costs
If you enable KDP’s expanded distribution (which puts your book in some wholesaler catalogs):
- Royalty rate drops from 60% to 40%
- Same print cost applies
- Significantly lower per-copy earnings
| List Price | Pages | Print Cost | Amazon Royalty (60%) | Expanded Royalty (40%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $14.99 | 300 | $4.45 | $4.54 | $1.55 |
| $16.99 | 300 | $4.45 | $5.74 | $2.35 |
For serious bookstore distribution, IngramSpark is more effective than KDP expanded distribution.
Related guides
- IngramSpark printing costs — IS cost comparison
- KDP Book Calculator — interactive calculator
- How much does formatting cost? — full cost guide
- Format a book for KDP — complete KDP guide