Amazon KDP Paperback Profit Calculator
KDP picture book profit calculator
Self-publishing a picture book on Amazon? See what you'll really earn per paperback copy on KDP, and how many copies you need to sell to earn back what you spent.
Uses Amazon KDP's published U.S. rates for 8.5 x 8.5 in. premium color paperbacks, checked September 2026. Amazon can change them at any time.
Start from an example
Pick the budget closest to yours, then adjust anything below.
Your book
What you'll spend up front
One-time costs to make the book. Leave any you're doing yourself at 0.
here's your math
Copies to sell to break even
Copies you need to sell before the book has paid back what you spent.
KDP picture book royalties at a glance
Short answer: a 32-page, 8.5 x 8.5 in. premium color paperback costs $4.20 to print on Amazon KDP. At a $12.99 list price you earn $3.59 per copy (60% of the list price, minus printing). Figures below are for the U.S. Amazon store, checked September 2026.
| Pages | Printing cost | You earn |
|---|---|---|
| 24 pages | $4.20 | $3.59 |
| 32 pages | $4.20 | $3.59 |
| 40 pages | $4.20 | $3.59 |
| 44 pages | $4.52 | $3.27 |
| 48 pages | $4.84 | $2.95 |
| List price | Royalty rate | You earn |
|---|---|---|
| $9.99 | 60% | $1.79 |
| $11.99 | 60% | $2.99 |
| $12.99 | 60% | $3.59 |
| $13.99 | 60% | $4.19 |
| $14.99 | 60% | $4.79 |
| $15.99 | 60% | $5.39 |
| $17.99 | 60% | $6.59 |
The formula: list price x 60% − printing cost (50% if the list price is under $9.99). Source: Amazon KDP's printing cost and paperback royalty help pages.
Common questions
How much does Amazon KDP pay per picture book?
For an 8.5 x 8.5 in. premium color paperback of 24 to 40 pages, KDP pays 60% of the list price minus a $4.20 printing cost. At $12.99 that is $3.59 per copy. At $9.99 it drops to $1.79.
How much does it cost to print a picture book on KDP?
Amazon charges a flat $4.20 per copy for a 24 to 40 page premium color paperback in a large trim size like 8.5 x 8.5 in. From 42 pages up it is $1.00 plus $0.08 per page, so 48 pages costs $4.84. There is no upfront fee; the cost comes out of each sale.
What list price should I set for a paperback picture book?
Most paperback picture books sell for $9.99 to $14.99. Below $9.99 KDP's royalty rate drops from 60% to 50%, which leaves very little per copy after printing.
Can I publish a hardcover picture book on Amazon KDP?
Usually not. KDP hardcovers need at least 75 pages and are not offered in the square 8.5 x 8.5 in. size, so a typical 32-page picture book has to be a paperback on KDP. Authors who want a hardcover usually print with IngramSpark or an offset printer.
How many copies does a picture book need to sell to break even?
It depends on what you spent. With about $1,850 in costs and an $11.99 list price, a book breaks even at roughly 620 copies. With $4,500 in costs and a $12.99 price it takes about 1,250 copies.
Why is my page count a multiple of 4?
Picture books are printed and bound in multiples of 4 pages, so 24, 28, 32 and so on. On KDP the last page is reserved for Amazon's barcode, which leaves 31 pages for your story in a 32-page book.
How many copies do picture books sell?
- Median lifetime sales: 250-500 copies for most self-published titles
- Top 20% performers: 1,000+ copies with effective marketing
- Breakout successes: 5,000+ copies (less than 5% of books)
What does it cost to self-publish a children's book?
Most first-time authors spend between $2,000 and $7,500 to produce a 32-page picture book for Amazon KDP. The illustrator is usually the largest cost, followed by editing and interior formatting. Amazon charges no upfront fee; it deducts a printing cost per copy and pays a royalty of about 60% of the list price minus printing, so a $12.99 premium color paperback earns about $3.60 per sale (less for books over 40 pages).
At those numbers a typical picture book breaks even somewhere between about 620 and 1,800 copies once you add a launch ads budget. That matters because the median self-published children's book sells 250 to 500 copies in its lifetime, and the top 20% sell more than 1,000 with steady marketing. Use the calculator above to see where your own budget and price land, and the book launch timeline calculator to plan how long each step takes.
Lychee Press founder Katrina Liu has self-published 25+ picture books since 2018, with more than 120,000 copies sold across Amazon, bookstores, schools and wholesale. She coaches first-time children's book authors one-on-one over video chat: a single session is $300, and a five-session package is $1,200. Sessions cover budgeting, working with illustrators, KDP and IngramSpark setup, pricing and launch planning.
from someone who's done it 25+ times
Need 1-on-1 guidance on self-publishing?
Kat has self-published 25+ picture books and sold more than 120,000 copies. In a 1-on-1 video session she'll help with your cover, Amazon keywords, A+ Content and launch plan.
or 5 sessions for $1,200
Made by Lychee Press. Also try the book launch timeline calculator.