Reference · Revised 2026-09-09

KDP print pricing: worked examples, royalty thresholds and a reproducible calculator check

Twelve US-paperback cases computed from Amazon KDP's published printing-cost and royalty tables as read on 2026-09-09. Each case lists the inputs, the source, the expected figures and what has and has not been verified. The test data is downloadable and contains no personal or customer information.

Download test data (CSV)Run your own numbers

Status of verification. “Expected” values are derived from the published tables and reproduced by 43 automated tests. The “Actual (Amazon calculator)” column is not yet filled: no case has been run through Amazon's own royalty calculator for this revision. Royalty is not profit: it excludes your production, marketing and tax costs and says nothing about sales.

The rules being tested

Printing cost (Amazon.com, paperback): black ink $2.30 flat for 24–109 pages, then $1.00 + $0.012/page to 828 pages; large trim (wider than 6.12 in or taller than 9 in) uses higher per-page rates; premium and standard color have their own tables. Source
Royalty: 60% × tax-exclusive list price − printing cost when the list price is at or above $9.99 on Amazon.com; 50% − printing cost below it. Expanded Distribution: 40% − printing cost (paperback only). Source
Minimum list price: printing cost ÷ royalty rate, using whichever of KDP's two scenarios is self-consistent. Source

Worked examples (Amazon.com, USD, paperback)

US-PB-01 · Black ink, 150 pages, 6×9, $9.99

Verified against tables: 2026-09-09

Baseline per-page band at the 60% threshold price.

Marketplace / currency: Amazon.com / USD · distribution: Amazon + Expanded Distribution
Binding · trim class · ink · pages: paperback · regular · bw · 150
Tax-exclusive list price: $9.99
Expected printing cost: $2.80 ($1.00 + (150 × 0.012 USD) = $2.80)
Expected royalty rate: 60%
Expected royalty per copy (Amazon): $3.19
Expected Expanded Distribution royalty: $1.20
Expected minimum list price: $5.60 (scenario 2 50pct)
Price status: ok
Actual (Amazon calculator): Not run for this revision
Difference: Pending
Evidence: Published tables (links above); automated test suite `lib/free-tools/__tests__/kdp-print-pricing.test.ts`
Limitations: Tables can change without notice; Amazon rounds and applies tax differently by marketplace; excludes production, advertising and taxes.

US-PB-02 · Black ink, 150 pages, 6×9, $9.98

Verified against tables: 2026-09-09

One cent below the threshold: rate must drop to 50%.

Marketplace / currency: Amazon.com / USD · distribution: Amazon + Expanded Distribution
Binding · trim class · ink · pages: paperback · regular · bw · 150
Tax-exclusive list price: $9.98
Expected printing cost: $2.80 ($1.00 + (150 × 0.012 USD) = $2.80)
Expected royalty rate: 50%
Expected royalty per copy (Amazon): $2.19
Expected Expanded Distribution royalty: $1.19
Expected minimum list price: $5.60 (scenario 2 50pct)
Price status: ok
Actual (Amazon calculator): Not run for this revision
Difference: Pending
Evidence: Published tables (links above); automated test suite `lib/free-tools/__tests__/kdp-print-pricing.test.ts`
Limitations: Tables can change without notice; Amazon rounds and applies tax differently by marketplace; excludes production, advertising and taxes.

US-PB-03 · Black ink, 300 pages, 6×9, $14.99

Verified against tables: 2026-09-09

KDP's own documented example ($1.00 + $0.012 × 300 = $4.60).

Marketplace / currency: Amazon.com / USD · distribution: Amazon + Expanded Distribution
Binding · trim class · ink · pages: paperback · regular · bw · 300
Tax-exclusive list price: $14.99
Expected printing cost: $4.60 ($1.00 + (300 × 0.012 USD) = $4.60)
Expected royalty rate: 60%
Expected royalty per copy (Amazon): $4.39
Expected Expanded Distribution royalty: $1.40
Expected minimum list price: $9.20 (scenario 2 50pct)
Price status: ok
Actual (Amazon calculator): Not run for this revision
Difference: Pending
Evidence: Published tables (links above); automated test suite `lib/free-tools/__tests__/kdp-print-pricing.test.ts`
Limitations: Tables can change without notice; Amazon rounds and applies tax differently by marketplace; excludes production, advertising and taxes.

US-PB-04 · Black ink, 333 pages, 6×9, $15.00

Verified against tables: 2026-09-09

Odd page count; checks rounding of the per-page product.

Marketplace / currency: Amazon.com / USD · distribution: Amazon + Expanded Distribution
Binding · trim class · ink · pages: paperback · regular · bw · 333
Tax-exclusive list price: $15.00
Expected printing cost: $5.00 ($1.00 + (333 × 0.012 USD) = $5.00)
Expected royalty rate: 60%
Expected royalty per copy (Amazon): $4.00
Expected Expanded Distribution royalty: $1.00
Expected minimum list price: $9.99 (threshold 60pct)
Price status: ok
Actual (Amazon calculator): Not run for this revision
Difference: Pending
Evidence: Published tables (links above); automated test suite `lib/free-tools/__tests__/kdp-print-pricing.test.ts`
Limitations: Tables can change without notice; Amazon rounds and applies tax differently by marketplace; excludes production, advertising and taxes.

US-PB-05 · Black ink, 24 pages, 8.5×8.5, $9.99

Verified against tables: 2026-09-09

Shortest allowed paperback; flat-fee band, large trim.

Marketplace / currency: Amazon.com / USD · distribution: Amazon + Expanded Distribution
Binding · trim class · ink · pages: paperback · large · bw · 24
Tax-exclusive list price: $9.99
Expected printing cost: $2.84 ($2.84 flat (24–109 pages, per-page cost: none))
Expected royalty rate: 60%
Expected royalty per copy (Amazon): $3.15
Expected Expanded Distribution royalty: $1.16
Expected minimum list price: $5.68 (scenario 2 50pct)
Price status: ok
Actual (Amazon calculator): Not run for this revision
Difference: Pending
Evidence: Published tables (links above); automated test suite `lib/free-tools/__tests__/kdp-print-pricing.test.ts`
Limitations: Tables can change without notice; Amazon rounds and applies tax differently by marketplace; excludes production, advertising and taxes.

US-PB-06 · Black ink, 109 pages, 6×9, $6.99

Verified against tables: 2026-09-09

Last page of the flat-fee band, priced in the 50% band.

Marketplace / currency: Amazon.com / USD · distribution: Amazon + Expanded Distribution
Binding · trim class · ink · pages: paperback · regular · bw · 109
Tax-exclusive list price: $6.99
Expected printing cost: $2.30 ($2.30 flat (24–109 pages, per-page cost: none))
Expected royalty rate: 50%
Expected royalty per copy (Amazon): $1.20
Expected Expanded Distribution royalty: $0.50
Expected minimum list price: $4.60 (scenario 2 50pct)
Price status: ok
Actual (Amazon calculator): Not run for this revision
Difference: Pending
Evidence: Published tables (links above); automated test suite `lib/free-tools/__tests__/kdp-print-pricing.test.ts`
Limitations: Tables can change without notice; Amazon rounds and applies tax differently by marketplace; excludes production, advertising and taxes.

US-PB-07 · Black ink, 110 pages, 6×9, $6.99

Verified against tables: 2026-09-09

First page of the per-page band (compare with US-PB-06).

Marketplace / currency: Amazon.com / USD · distribution: Amazon + Expanded Distribution
Binding · trim class · ink · pages: paperback · regular · bw · 110
Tax-exclusive list price: $6.99
Expected printing cost: $2.32 ($1.00 + (110 × 0.012 USD) = $2.32)
Expected royalty rate: 50%
Expected royalty per copy (Amazon): $1.18
Expected Expanded Distribution royalty: $0.48
Expected minimum list price: $4.64 (scenario 2 50pct)
Price status: ok
Actual (Amazon calculator): Not run for this revision
Difference: Pending
Evidence: Published tables (links above); automated test suite `lib/free-tools/__tests__/kdp-print-pricing.test.ts`
Limitations: Tables can change without notice; Amazon rounds and applies tax differently by marketplace; excludes production, advertising and taxes.

KDP's black-ink table lists 110 pages in both the flat-fee range (24–110) and the per-page range (110–828). This tool applies the per-page formula at 110 pages; the flat fee would be $2.30. Confirm in the official calculator.

US-PB-08 · Standard color, 150 pages, 6×9, $14.99

Verified against tables: 2026-09-09

Standard color per-page rate.

Marketplace / currency: Amazon.com / USD · distribution: Amazon + Expanded Distribution
Binding · trim class · ink · pages: paperback · regular · standard color · 150
Tax-exclusive list price: $14.99
Expected printing cost: $4.82 ($1.00 + (150 × 0.0255 USD) = $4.82)
Expected royalty rate: 60%
Expected royalty per copy (Amazon): $4.17
Expected Expanded Distribution royalty: $1.18
Expected minimum list price: $9.64 (scenario 2 50pct)
Price status: ok
Actual (Amazon calculator): Not run for this revision
Difference: Pending
Evidence: Published tables (links above); automated test suite `lib/free-tools/__tests__/kdp-print-pricing.test.ts`
Limitations: Tables can change without notice; Amazon rounds and applies tax differently by marketplace; excludes production, advertising and taxes.

US-PB-09 · Premium color, 50 pages, 8.5×11, $19.99

Verified against tables: 2026-09-09

Premium color, large trim, short children's-book length.

Marketplace / currency: Amazon.com / USD · distribution: Amazon + Expanded Distribution
Binding · trim class · ink · pages: paperback · large · premium color · 50
Tax-exclusive list price: $19.99
Expected printing cost: $5.00 ($1.00 + (50 × 0.08 USD) = $5.00)
Expected royalty rate: 60%
Expected royalty per copy (Amazon): $6.99
Expected Expanded Distribution royalty: $3.00
Expected minimum list price: $9.99 (threshold 60pct)
Price status: ok
Actual (Amazon calculator): Not run for this revision
Difference: Pending
Evidence: Published tables (links above); automated test suite `lib/free-tools/__tests__/kdp-print-pricing.test.ts`
Limitations: Tables can change without notice; Amazon rounds and applies tax differently by marketplace; excludes production, advertising and taxes.

US-PB-10 · Black ink, 300 pages, 6×9, $5.00

Verified against tables: 2026-09-09

Price below the minimum list price: tool must flag the price as below minimum (KDP would not accept it).

Marketplace / currency: Amazon.com / USD · distribution: Amazon + Expanded Distribution
Binding · trim class · ink · pages: paperback · regular · bw · 300
Tax-exclusive list price: $5.00
Expected printing cost: $4.60 ($1.00 + (300 × 0.012 USD) = $4.60)
Expected royalty rate: 50%
Expected royalty per copy (Amazon): $-2.10
Expected Expanded Distribution royalty: $-2.60
Expected minimum list price: $9.20 (scenario 2 50pct)
Price status: below minimum
Actual (Amazon calculator): Not run for this revision
Difference: Pending
Evidence: Published tables (links above); automated test suite `lib/free-tools/__tests__/kdp-print-pricing.test.ts`
Limitations: Tables can change without notice; Amazon rounds and applies tax differently by marketplace; excludes production, advertising and taxes.

At this list price the Expanded Distribution royalty (40% × list − printing cost) is negative. KDP's published pages do not state the minimum list price it enforces for Expanded Distribution, so this tool cannot tell you whether KDP would accept this price for that channel.

US-PB-11 · Black ink, 828 pages, 6×9, $29.99

Verified against tables: 2026-09-09

Maximum black-ink page count.

Marketplace / currency: Amazon.com / USD · distribution: Amazon + Expanded Distribution
Binding · trim class · ink · pages: paperback · regular · bw · 828
Tax-exclusive list price: $29.99
Expected printing cost: $10.94 ($1.00 + (828 × 0.012 USD) = $10.94)
Expected royalty rate: 60%
Expected royalty per copy (Amazon): $7.05
Expected Expanded Distribution royalty: $1.06
Expected minimum list price: $18.24 (scenario 1 60pct)
Price status: ok
Actual (Amazon calculator): Not run for this revision
Difference: Pending
Evidence: Published tables (links above); automated test suite `lib/free-tools/__tests__/kdp-print-pricing.test.ts`
Limitations: Tables can change without notice; Amazon rounds and applies tax differently by marketplace; excludes production, advertising and taxes.

US-PB-12 · Black ink, 829 pages, 6×9, $29.99

Verified against tables: 2026-09-09

One page over the maximum: must be rejected as unsupported.

Marketplace / currency: Amazon.com / USD · distribution: Amazon + Expanded Distribution
Binding · trim class · ink · pages: paperback · regular · bw · 829
Tax-exclusive list price: $29.99
Expected printing cost: Rejected — Black ink · cream or white paper paperbacks on Amazon.com are only priced for 24–828 pages. 829 pages is outside the official table.
Expected result: Rejected — Black ink · cream or white paper paperbacks on Amazon.com are only priced for 24–828 pages. 829 pages is outside the official table.
Actual (Amazon calculator): Not run for this revision
Difference: Pending
Evidence: Published tables (links above); automated test suite `lib/free-tools/__tests__/kdp-print-pricing.test.ts`
Limitations: Tables can change without notice; Amazon rounds and applies tax differently by marketplace; excludes production, advertising and taxes.

Correction history

2026-09-09 — Calculator previously applied a flat 60% royalty at every price and computed minimum list price as printing cost ÷ 0.60 only. Replaced with the published two-band rule (50% below the marketplace threshold, 60% at or above) and KDP's two-scenario minimum-price method. 43 automated tests added.
2026-09-09 — Expanded Distribution (40% of list − printing cost) added for paperbacks; hardcover marked as not eligible.
2026-09-09 — This resource page created. Every figure is computed from the same code the public calculator uses; no result on this page has yet been compared against a live run of Amazon's own royalty calculator (see Limitations).

Limitations

US paperback only on this page; other marketplaces and hardcover are in the calculator but have no worked examples here yet.
No case has been compared against a live run of Amazon's calculator for this revision; when that comparison is done, the “Actual” and “Difference” fields will be filled and dated.
Amazon may update its tables at any time; the verification date above is the date the published pages were read.
KDPBuilder is not affiliated with or endorsed by Amazon. Figures are not earnings estimates.

Next step

Check a specific book (any of 8 marketplaces, paperback or hardcover) with the free calculator that implements these rules. No signup.

Open the KDP print cost calculator