Amazon Kindle: How to Publish Your Book in 2026 (Step-by-Step Guide)

How to Publish on Kindle (Uploading Your Files): A Guide to eBook Distribution

Ready to share your book with Kindle readers worldwide? Publishing an eBook might sound daunting, but modern platforms make the process straightforward.

In this guide, we’ll walk through uploading your files to Amazon’s KDP for Kindle, plus consider other distribution options like Draft2Digital, IngramSpark, and direct sales from your own website. By the end, you’ll know how to reach a global audience without being locked into a single retailer.

I’m mostly a book cover designer, so I’ll start with this part: preparing all the design and formatting files you need to upload. When you start, you’ll choose KDP ebook, print paperback or hardback.

For ebooks, you can upload a word doc and it’ll convert it, or use something like Vellum or Atticus. KDP uses .epub format like everyone else now. You’ll also need a book cover design; you can make your own or hire a designer. The ebook cover is usually about 1800×2700, that’s 6×9 @300 dpi/inch.

For print, you’ll need a PDF for the interior formatting, and a PDF of the front, spine and back. You need to finished the formatting first, so you can calculate the spine width. Then you can download a template from bookow and put it all together – it’s tricky without Photoshop though (you can use the KDP cover creator, but it sucks).

Ideally, you’ll just “upload a cover you already have” and use the files your designer gave you – or use the tools at DIY book covers.

KDP publishing


1. Prepare Your Manuscript

Before publishing, your eBook should be:

  • Edited and Proofread – The fewer errors, the better initial reviews.
  • Formatted for e-readers – Convert to .epub or .mobi so text flows on different devices. Tools like Vellum, Atticus, or Calibre can help, or hire an eBook formatter.
  • Have a Polished Cover – At least 1600×2560 px, though 2000×3000 px is preferred for high resolution.

Professional presentation greatly increases your odds of success.

2. Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)

KDP is the easiest, most popular way to publish on Kindle and sell on Amazon. It’s free and takes only a few hours to go live. Some people say you should go wide, or publish everywhere, and you can do that – but it’s more hassle to maintain and you’ll do better focusing on one platform at the beginning.

a) Create a KDP Account

  • Visit kdp.amazon.com and sign in with your Amazon credentials or make a new account.
  • Fill out tax info, banking details, and contact info for royalty payments.

b) Start a New eBook

  1. Kindle eBook Details
    • Title, Subtitle, Series (if applicable).
    • Author name(s).
    • Description (blurb). Use HTML tags for bold/italic if desired.
    • Keywords and Categories. Choose carefully for better discoverability.
  2. Manuscript Upload
    • Acceptable formats: .epub, .doc(x), .mobi. KDP will convert them to Kindle format.
    • Check the online previewer for layout issues.
  3. Cover Upload
    • Either upload a finished .jpg/.png or use KDP’s Cover Creator.
    • Aim for an eye-catching design scaled to thumbnail.
  4. DRM Option
    • Digital Rights Management can prevent file-sharing. Some authors skip it to encourage easier sharing—up to you.
  5. Pricing & Royalties
    • Choose 35% or 70% royalties. 70% has restrictions (price $2.99–$9.99).
    • Set your list price in main marketplace (US) and KDP will auto-convert for other regions.

Hit Publish, and typically within 24–72 hours, your Kindle eBook is live on Amazon.

KDP Select Consideration

You can opt for KDP Select to enroll in Kindle Unlimited, but must go exclusive with Amazon for your eBook. In exchange, you get a share of the KENP (Kindle Edition Normalized Pages) read fund. Choose if you want that exclusive exposure or prefer “wide” distribution.

It’s usually better to just use it for 3 months, use your free days with adstacking to get some reviews, then run ads later.

How to upload a book to Kindle (file formats and requirements)

KDP upload

Cream paper looks better for most books.

Full color illustrations are expensive.

“Bleed” is if the ink goes off the page, for most books if you don’t have full-page images, “No Bleed.” If you have full page images that go off the page, then you need “bleed” and you’d have to add some patting around the edges, .125″ I believe – a book designer can do this for you.

Books have to be 75 pages, which is weird since hardcover children’s books that are fully illustrated are probably less; or a recent poetry client had trouble with a 47 page book we couldn’t make hardcover without adding a lot of extra padding.

Also hardcovers have a weird template with a lot more space, because it wraps around more.

You’ll need an ISBN barcode too – you can get a free ISBN with Kindle and it’s fine; if you leave space on your print cover, they’ll slap on a barcode or you can use an ISBN barcode generator but then you’ll have to add it with Photoshop or something.

Formatting Templates
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) accepts several file formats for your manuscript. The recommended option in 2026 is a .docx file (Microsoft Word), which KDP converts cleanly to ebook format.

You can also upload .epub directly for more control over formatting, or .pdf for print-on-demand paperbacks. File size limit is 650MB for ebooks. Keep your title page, table of contents, and chapter formatting simple — KDP’s converter works best with clean structure. If your book includes images, use JPEG files at 300 DPI and under 127KB each to keep total file size manageable.

3. Draft2Digital

If you want to go beyond Amazon without manually uploading to each retailer, Draft2Digital is a one-stop aggregator.

Key Points

  • Distributes to Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Tolino, and more.
  • Has a free formatting tool—upload a .doc(x), choose templates, and you can download clean .epub or even PDF.
  • Non-exclusive: You can still publish on KDP separately, or run wide distribution.
  • They take a small royalty cut (~10%) from each sale.

Workflow

  1. Create an account on Draft2Digital.com.
  2. Upload your manuscript (.docx).
  3. Choose distribution channels—skip Amazon if you plan to upload to KDP separately.
  4. Set your retail price.
  5. Draft2Digital sends your book to multiple stores, with consolidated monthly royalty payments to you.

    * There was some controversy when they started charging, but it’s a low annual rate.

4. IngramSpark for Print + eBook Distribution

IngramSpark is known for global print-on-demand (POD) distribution, but you can also publish eBooks.

  • Pros: Access to bookstores and libraries through Ingram’s massive network. Good for paperbacks/hardcovers.
  • Cons: Setup fees (often $49 per format), plus you handle each revision fee.
  • eBook: IngramSpark can distribute eBooks to Apple, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, etc. Not mandatory if you already use Draft2Digital or KDP.

Many authors use IngramSpark for print only while they handle eBooks via KDP and Draft2Digital. Personally I hate it. I believe Draft2Digital gets you into one of the main library/bookstore distribution funnels now, Ingram is a pain to work with and I believe still charges a fee. There’s no benefit here.

5. Selling Direct from Your Website

Why Sell Direct?

  • Higher royalties (no platform cuts).
  • Control your pricing and sales data.
  • Build a closer relationship with your fans.

Challenges:

  • You handle distribution and file delivery.
  • No “brand trust” from Amazon or major stores.
  • Need a payment processor (PayPal, Stripe) and a method to securely deliver eBook files.

Tools:

  • Payhip or Gumroad – Simple storefront solutions. Upload your eBook, set a price, they handle secure downloads and payment.
  • WooCommerce (WordPress) – Self-host a store on your site, but requires plugin setup and some technical know-how.

Selling direct can be a great side channel for special editions, signed copies, or discount bundles, though you’ll likely still rely on major retailers for most volume sales.

6. Balancing “Exclusivity” vs. “Wide”

KDP Select demands your eBook be exclusive on Amazon. In return, you get Kindle Unlimited exposure and promotional tools like free book days or countdown deals.

Wide Distribution:

  • Your eBook is on Kobo, Apple Books, B&N, etc. Possibly more discoverability outside Amazon.
  • You skip Kindle Unlimited, but you can still sell on Amazon normally (just not in Select).

Decision: If you’re new or primarily writing a genre that does well in Kindle Unlimited (romance, fantasy, mystery), KDP Select can boost initial readership. If you want global or multi-platform presence, go wide. Some authors start exclusive, then go wide after 90 days.

7. Pricing Strategy

  • EBooks: Many indies price between $2.99–$4.99 for fiction, hitting the 70% royalty sweet spot.
  • Short Fiction or Novellas: $0.99–$2.99.
  • Nonfiction: Higher prices ($4.99–$9.99+) are more common if you provide substantial value or unique info.

Experiment. You can revise prices easily on KDP or aggregator dashboards. Watch how it affects your sales and rankings. I have a whole bunch of books about this marketing stuff, by the way, if you haven’t found those yet:
– Book Marketing is Dead
– Guerrilla Publishing
– 21 Day Author Platform

8. Post-Publication: Managing Your EBook

  1. Check Your Product Page: Ensure your cover, description, and “Look Inside” sample are accurate.
  2. Update Metadata: If you want to revise keywords, categories, or your blurb, do so in your KDP or aggregator dashboard.
  3. Promotions: Offer occasional discounts, giveaways, or coordinate with BookBub ads if your budget allows.
  4. Respond to Reviews: Resist replying to negative reviews with arguments. Professionalism is key.

Tracking sales across multiple platforms can be simplified by aggregator dashboards (Draft2Digital) or just logging into each retailer. Keep an eye on the bigger trends over daily fluctuations.

Final Thoughts

Publishing on Kindle is the simplest route to a massive potential readership—and it’s free to upload. But you’re not limited to Amazon. Platforms like Draft2Digital and IngramSpark open up broad distribution, while direct sales give you full control (and profit). The strategy you choose depends on your goals: do you want maximum Amazon traction via Kindle Unlimited, or do you crave a multi-channel presence for diverse revenue streams? In any case, with a polished manuscript, a decent cover, and a purposeful launch, your eBook can stand out on Kindle and beyond.

How to publish a book on Kindle (full walkthrough)

  1. Create a free KDP account at kdp.amazon.com (you can use your regular Amazon login).
  2. Click “Create a new title” and choose ebook or paperback (you can do both).
  3. Fill in book details: title, subtitle, series info, edition number, author name, contributors, description (this is your back cover blurb — make it click-worthy), keywords (7 allowed, use them), and categories.
  4. Upload your manuscript (DOCX, EPUB, or PDF) and your cover (JPG, 1600×2560 pixels minimum).
  5. Preview the book in the Kindle Previewer — check every chapter break, image placement, and table of contents link.
  6. Set pricing and royalty (see below).
  7. Click Publish. Amazon usually approves within 24-72 hours.

KDP Select vs standard Kindle publishing: which to pick in 2026

KDP Select requires 90-day Amazon exclusivity but unlocks Kindle Unlimited borrowing royalties, Countdown Deals, and free promotion days. For most indie authors launching a first book, KDP Select is the better choice — you get discoverability you can’t build yourself. If you already have an audience from another platform (Apple Books, Kobo, direct sales), standard publishing lets you sell everywhere simultaneously.

How much does it cost to publish on Kindle?

Nothing upfront. KDP is free to use. Amazon takes a cut on each sale: you earn 70% royalty on books priced $2.99-$9.99 (meeting certain file size/territory rules), or 35% royalty on everything else. Paperback royalties are 60% minus print costs. There’s no charge to upload, edit, or republish your book.

Common Kindle publishing mistakes (and how to fix them)

  • Skipping the preview — always check Kindle Previewer on every device type before hitting Publish.
  • Weak keywords — use all 7 keyword slots, target long-tail phrases real readers search for.
  • Bad description formatting — use HTML for bold/italic/line breaks in your book description. Plain text is flat.
  • Uploading one-at-a-time when you have a series — set up the series page BEFORE publishing Book 1, so each book links to the next automatically.
  • Missing A+ Content — free upgrade Amazon offers after publishing. Most authors skip it. A+ visually sells the book.

FAQ: Amazon Kindle publishing

Is it free to publish a book on Kindle? Yes, Amazon KDP is completely free to upload and publish. You only “pay” via Amazon’s royalty cut on each sale.

How long does Kindle publishing take? Approval typically takes 24-72 hours after you submit. Same-day approval happens sometimes for straightforward books.

What royalty does Amazon take? You earn 70% on books priced $2.99-$9.99 that meet KDP’s rules, or 35% on everything outside that range. Paperbacks earn 60% minus print costs.

Can I publish the same book on Kindle and elsewhere? Yes, unless you enroll in KDP Select (which requires 90-day Amazon exclusivity in exchange for Kindle Unlimited royalties).

What happened to CreateSpace? Amazon merged CreateSpace into KDP in 2018. All paperback publishing now happens through KDP — the process we describe above.


Also read

Before you publish, make sure your back cover blurb actually sells. And if you want your book to stand out, consider entering one of the top writing competitions and book awards – an “award-winning author” tag on the cover changes everything.