How to Publish a Book on Amazon (2026): Step-by-Step Guide & Real Costs

New to this? Start with our complete step-by-step guide to publishing a book in 2026 before you dive into Amazon specifics.

You can publish a book on Amazon for $0 upfront — Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) charges no fee to upload — and your real costs come from the professional services you choose: editing, cover design, and formatting. In this 2026 guide, we walk through the exact step-by-step process, the real cost math, and the mistakes first-time authors make.

How Much Does It Cost to Publish a Book on Amazon?

Uploading to KDP is completely free. The cost is in what you outsource: professional editing ($500–$2,000), cover design ($100–$800), and interior formatting ($200–$600). If you use a full-service publisher, a complete package with author copies runs $699–$2,499 all-in. When a book sells, Amazon deducts the print cost from the list price and pays you the rest as royalty — on KDP you keep up to 70% royalty on eBooks.

Step 1: Prepare Your Manuscript

• Write and revise: Finish the manuscript, then get it professionally edited. Self-published books with typos lose reader trust fast.
• Format the interior: Standard trim sizes are 5×8 and 6×9. Use a professional layout so chapters, headers, and page numbers are clean.
• Design a cover that sells: Your cover is your ad. A professional cover designer knows the genre conventions that make people click.

Step 2: Create Your Amazon KDP Account

Go to kdp.amazon.com, sign in with your Amazon account, and complete the tax interview and banking details. This takes about 10 minutes.

Step 3: Upload and Publish

1. Click Create → Paperback or eBook
2. Enter your title, subtitle, and description (use keywords that real readers search)
3. Upload your manuscript file (KDP accepts DOCX, PDF, EPUB)
4. Upload your cover (or use the free Cover Creator)
5. Set your price — KDP royalties: 35% or 70% for eBooks depending on price and territory
6. Click Publish

Your book typically goes live within 24–72 hours.

Step 4: Do You Need an ISBN?

KDP gives you a free Amazon ISBN for paperbacks — but it only works on Amazon. If you want your book in bookstores, libraries, and other retailers, you need your own ISBN (around $125 in the US). A full-service publishing package includes ISBN & barcode setup, so your book can sell everywhere, not just Amazon.

Step 5: Get Reviews and Visibility

• Send advance review copies (ARCs) to beta readers and reviewers before launch
• Use Amazon Advertising (PPC) once you have reviews
• Optimize your listing with a keyword-rich subtitle and A+ content

Amazon Publishing FAQ

Is it really free to publish on Amazon?

Yes — uploading to KDP is free. Amazon only takes a cut per sale (print cost + royalty split). Your real costs are editing, cover design, and formatting if you outsource them.

How much does Amazon pay per book?

For eBooks priced $2.99–$9.99 in the US, KDP pays 70% of the list price. Paperbacks pay a per-copy royalty after Amazon deducts the print cost.

How long does it take to publish on Amazon?

Upload to live takes 24–72 hours. The full process (writing → editing → design → publish) usually takes 4–8 weeks with professional help.

Do I keep my rights publishing on Amazon?

Yes — KDP is self-publishing: you keep 100% of your rights and can publish elsewhere too.

KDP vs full-service publishing: which is better?

KDP is best if you have time to do editing, design, and marketing yourself. A full-service package handles everything for a fixed price — useful if you'd rather write than wrestle with formatting software.

Publish With Harmony Publishing

We handle editing, cover design, formatting, ISBN, printing, and global distribution — including Amazon — for one transparent price with 100% royalties. Talk to our team about your book.

For more, frequently asked questions about publishing — everything you need in one place.

New here? Start with the big picture: how to publish, print and sell your book on Amazon Books — costs, royalties and the two realistic routes to a live listing.

Looking for a better deal? See our complete step-by-step Kindle Direct Publishing guide.