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Amazon Store & Detail Page
Browse Categories
Browse Categories
Browse categories are the sections of the Amazon site where customers can find your book. Think of browse categories like the sections of a physical bookstore (fiction, history, and so on). During title setup, you'll choose two Browse Categories from a list. This list is based on the BISAC (Book Industry Standards and Communications) code. We use the two categories you choose, along with your selected keywords, to place your book into Amazon Categories. We reserve the right to change the browse categories of a book at any time to ensure a positive customer experience. Learn more about categories and how to choose, view, and update them below.
Video: Categories and Keywords
Contents
- Choosing categories
- Add or update categories
- View Amazon categories
- Restricted categories
- Children's or teen and young adult categories
- Series categories
Need help choosing categories and keywords?
Watch this video to learn how to make your book more discoverable on Amazon.Video: Categories and Keywords
- Categories (0:09)
- BISAC (0:35)
- Amazon browse categories (1:06)
- Keywords (4:00)
Choosing categories
To make your book appear in the right Amazon categories, choose the two BISAC categories and keywords that best describe your book. While choosing categories, keep the below guidelines in mind.
- Be accurate. Choose the most accurate categories based on your book's central topic or storyline. Do not choose one category that's explicitly fiction and another that's explicitly nonfiction, or mix categories such as Fiction, Nonfiction, and Comics. We do not tolerate inaccurate or unexpected categorization that misleads or manipulates our customers. Note: do not use the Comics category for an illustrated book unless it is a fixed layout comic format book.
- Be specific. Choose specific categories instead of general ones. Customers looking for specific topics will find your book more easily. We'll display your book in the general categories as well. For example, a book in the "FICTION > Fantasy > Historical" category will also show up in searches for general fiction and general fantasy. Choose a "General" category only if your book is a general book about a broad topic.
- Don't be redundant. Choosing a single category will display your book in a variety of searches, so don't list your book in a category and its sub-categories. For example, don't choose "FICTION > Fantasy > Historical" and "FICTION > Fantasy." One specific, accurate category is more effective than a redundant second one.
Add or update categories
- Go to your Bookshelf and click the ellipsis button ("…") under the KINDLE EBOOK ACTIONS, PAPERBACK ACTIONS, or HARDCOVER ACTIONS menu next to your book.
- Choose Edit eBook Details, Edit Paperback Details, or Edit Hardcover Details.
- Under the "Categories" section, make your changes.
- Go to the bottom of the page and click Save and Continue.
- On the book Pricing tab, click the publish button at the bottom of the page.
Categories you added from bookshelf won't match the website exactly. In KDP, you select BISAC categories while Amazon uses unique browse categories on the website. Learn more about BISAC subject codes
You can select two BISAC categories; we will then add your book to relevant Amazon categories once it is published.
Note: Companion books, also referred to as summaries, study guides, or analysis books, can't be added to additional browse categories on Amazon.
View Amazon categories
To see the existing Amazon categories, search for categories on the Amazon store. You'll find them in the menu on the left side of the page under Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks (in the Kindle Store) or Books (in the Books store)
Note: Categories can vary between marketplaces. The following table, titled Amazon categories, provides links to the paperback and eBook stores by marketplace where you can view the available categories.
Amazon Categories
Marketplace | For eBooks | For paperback and hardcover |
Amazon.com | US Kindle Store | US Books Store |
Amazon.co.uk | UK Kindle Store | UK Books Store |
Amazon.ca | CA Kindle Store | CA Books Store |
Amazon.com.au | AU Kindle Store | AU Books Store |
Amazon.de | DE Kindle Store | DE Books Store |
Amazon.nl | NL Kindle Store | NL Books Store |
Amazon.fr | FR Kindle Store | FR Books Store |
Amazon.it | IT Kindle Store | IT Books Store |
Amazon.es | ES Kindle Store | ES Books Store |
Amazon.com.br | BR Kindle Store | BR Books Store |
Amazon.in | IN Kindle Store | IN Books Store |
Amazon.co.jp | JP Kindle Store | JP Books Store |
From the store's menu, click on a category to expand the list and see applicable subcategories. Keep clicking on the subcategories until no more options appear underneath. In the example below, you can see the browse category is Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Arts & Photography > Architecture > Architects, A-Z. In this example, Architects A-Z is the most specific subcategory.
Note: Not all categories have same number of subcategories.Some Kindle Store categories are restricted. Publishers can't enable them.
Want to list your book in the Children's or Teen & Young Adult categories on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.de? If so, you must choose at least one Juvenile Category (BISAC Subject Code). Children's categories are for books intended for children to read. For Children's categories, you'll need to set the minimum recommended reading age to 0 – 11 years old.
For Teen & Young Adult categories on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, set the minimum recommended reading age to 13 – 17 years old. For Amazon.de, set the minimum recommended reading age to 12 – 15 years. On Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, titles with a Juvenile Category and a minimum recommended age of 12 may be categorized in Children’s or Teens. This depends on other information about the book. Keep in mind that an independent category will show for Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.es, and Amazon.it.
Note: Teen & Young Adult categories and Children categories cannot be added together to the same book
Learn more about entering age and grade ranges.
Children's or teen and young adult categories
Want to list your book in the Children's or Teen & Young Adult categories on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.de? If so, you must choose at least one Juvenile Category (BISAC Subject Code). Children's categories are for books intended for children to read. For Children's categories, you'll need to set the minimum recommended reading age to 0 – 11 years old.
For Teen & Young Adult categories on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, set the minimum recommended reading age to 13 – 17 years old. For Amazon.de, set the minimum recommended reading age to 12 – 15 years. On Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, titles with a Juvenile Category and a minimum recommended age of 12 may be categorized in Children’s or Teens. This depends on other information about the book. Keep in mind that an independent category will show for Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.es, and Amazon.it.
Note: Teen & Young Adult categories and Children categories cannot be added together to the same book
Learn more about entering age and grade ranges.