Help Topics
Contact Us
Have feedback? Can't find your answer in our Help pages?
Author Copies
Author copies are prints of your "Live" paperback or hardcover that you've made available for sale on Amazon. Author copies don’t include unpublished (draft) changes you’ve made on KDP.
You can order copies at printing cost from your KDP Bookshelf.
If you’ve already ordered your author copy, and you have questions about the shipping status, concerns with the print quality, or the book is damaged, visit Manage Orders.
Note: Author copies are not available in kdp.amazon.co.jp.
You can only place orders for books in the “Live” or “Live with unpublished changes” status. The option to order copies won’t appear if your book is in any other status. For more on our publishing timelines, visit Book Status.
Note: If you recently updated your book and want to order the most recent version of it, make sure you have clicked the Publish button after submitting your manuscript, and that the status of your book is “Live.”
Note: The Japanese marketplace (amazon.co.jp) is not currently available for selection.
You can order copies at printing cost from your KDP Bookshelf.
If you’ve already ordered your author copy, and you have questions about the shipping status, concerns with the print quality, or the book is damaged, visit Manage Orders.
Note: Author copies are not available in kdp.amazon.co.jp.
Contents
- Placing an order for author copies
- Problems ordering author copies
- Quantity limits
- Shipping author copies
- Shipping times and delivery estimates
- How to order by Amazon marketplace
- Shipping rates
- Shipping to multiple addresses
- How to check your order status
- Pricing and discounts
- Taxes
- Reselling copies
How to order author copies
You can only place orders for books in the “Live” or “Live with unpublished changes” status. The option to order copies won’t appear if your book is in any other status. For more on our publishing timelines, visit Book Status.
Note: If you recently updated your book and want to order the most recent version of it, make sure you have clicked the Publish button after submitting your manuscript, and that the status of your book is “Live.”
If your book is in "Live" status:
- Go to your Bookshelf.
- Find the paperback or hardcover book you want to order.
- Click the Order Author Copies button.
- Note: The option to order author copies may take an additional 24 hours to appear after your title goes “Live,” and the Buy Box is available on the detail page. If you’re not seeing the option, please check back again in 24 hours.
- Enter the order quantity.
- Choose the Amazon marketplace based on your shipping destination.
- Note: There are some regions where you may need to order your proof or author copy from a different marketplace. You'll be notified at checkout if we can't ship copies to the address you entered. To check which marketplace to select, review How to order by Amazon marketplace.
- Click Proceed to checkout. You'll be sent to the Amazon cart or basket of your chosen marketplace to complete your order.
If your book is in "Live with unpublished changes" status:
- Go to your Bookshelf.
- Find the paperback or hardcover book you want to order.
- Click the ellipsis (“…”) menu, and select Order Author Copies.
- Note: The option to order author copies may take an additional 24 hours to appear after your title goes “Live,” and the Buy Box is available on the detail page. If you’re not seeing the option, please check back again in 24 hours.
- Choose the Amazon marketplace based on your shipping destination.
- Note: There are some regions where you may need to order your proof or author copy from a different marketplace. You'll be notified at checkout if we can't ship copies to the address you entered. To check which marketplace to select, review How to order by Amazon marketplace.
- Click Proceed to checkout. You’ll be sent to the Amazon cart or basket of your chosen marketplace to complete your order.
If you already clicked the Publish button but your book status remains “Live with unpublished changes,” you will receive the previous version of your book when placing an order. Learn more about our timelines for updates to published books.
Note: If you recently updated your book, and ordered a new copy, you may receive a copy from inventory that was printed prior to the changes. While KDP is a print-on-demand model, when a copy is printed on demand and later canceled, that copy remains in inventory until sold. To confirm whether your book was printed from an previous file, you can check the printing date in the copy to confirm whether the copy was printed prior to the changes you submitted. Books printed from a previous file are not eligible for replacement or refund.
Problems ordering author copies
Wrong quantity. If you submit your order and the quantity displayed in the Amazon cart or basket is wrong, don't worry. To fix this, go to your cart or basket, where you can change the quantity to the number of copies you want, with a maximum of 999 units per order.
The quantity can't be updated from your KDP Bookshelf.
Option to order doesn't appear in Bookshelf If your paperback or hardcover isn't available for sale on Amazon, the option to order won't appear. When the book status changes to "Live," you'll be able to order author copies within 24 hours.
Empty cart or basket. If your cart or basket is empty or items are missing from it, it's likely you aren't signed in to your KDP account. If you add items to your cart or basket while signed in to your account and then sign out, your items will seem to disappear. If this is the case, you should be able to retrieve your cart or basket by signing back in to your KDP account. If your cart or basket is empty, it might also be because of the marketplace you chose for your request. To complete your order, you need to go to the corresponding Amazon site. For example, if you chose Amazon.co.uk when ordering copies, you need to go to your Amazon.co.uk basket to complete the order.
Browser issues. Sometimes you can have issues ordering copies because of your browser. Try clearing your cache and deleting cookies. Check your browser's help files for instructions on clearing cache and deleting cookies.
You can order up to 999 author copies per order. If you want to order more than 999 copies, place separate orders. You pay shipping charges for each order.
If you receive a quantity limit message that prevents you from ordering up to 999 copies:
Note: The delivery estimate is displayed on the last page at checkout, just before you click "Place your order." If you’re only looking for an estimate, and don’t wish to purchase copies at this time, you don’t need to complete the process of placing the order, you can simply return to your cart.
Actual manufacturing times fluctuate according to total order volume. There may be times that your order is manufactured faster than expected, but faster delivery isn't guaranteed. We recommend noting the delivery date you're given when placing the order. This date takes manufacturing time into consideration, and can change depending on the demand.
Note: Author copy orders don't qualify for free or Prime shipping, but all paid standard and expedited Amazon shipping options are available.
Below, you’ll find guidance on selecting the Amazon marketplace for placing your order, based on the shipping destination.
The total shipping charge for an order depends on several factors, including how many items are in the order and how quickly you need those items to arrive. Shipping rates and times depend on the shipping speed and the weight/size of the items.
The total shipping cost for your order is displayed on the last page at checkout, just before you click "Place your order."
You can ship copies to multiple shipping addresses by placing separate orders for each destination.
For information on checking your order status, or managing orders you’ve already placed, visit Manage Orders.
When you order copies through your KDP Account, you’ll pay the author price for your own books. The author price can be calculated by multiplying the print cost for your book in your selected marketplace times the number of copies ordered.
The print options you’ve chosen, such as trim size, interior type, page count, determine the print cost for your book. For estimated printing costs, use our calculator.
This price is the lowest price we can offer for your book. We can't offer additional discounts.
You will not earn royalties for proof copies or author copies.
Author copies are subject to taxes. The appropriate taxes are collected at checkout.
You might qualify to make tax-exempt purchases. Learn more about the Amazon Tax Exemption Program.
You can resell author copies you ordered from KDP, but royalties aren't paid for author copies.
The quantity can't be updated from your KDP Bookshelf.
Option to order doesn't appear in Bookshelf If your paperback or hardcover isn't available for sale on Amazon, the option to order won't appear. When the book status changes to "Live," you'll be able to order author copies within 24 hours.
Empty cart or basket. If your cart or basket is empty or items are missing from it, it's likely you aren't signed in to your KDP account. If you add items to your cart or basket while signed in to your account and then sign out, your items will seem to disappear. If this is the case, you should be able to retrieve your cart or basket by signing back in to your KDP account. If your cart or basket is empty, it might also be because of the marketplace you chose for your request. To complete your order, you need to go to the corresponding Amazon site. For example, if you chose Amazon.co.uk when ordering copies, you need to go to your Amazon.co.uk basket to complete the order.
Browser issues. Sometimes you can have issues ordering copies because of your browser. Try clearing your cache and deleting cookies. Check your browser's help files for instructions on clearing cache and deleting cookies.
Quantity limits
You can order up to 999 author copies per order. If you want to order more than 999 copies, place separate orders. You pay shipping charges for each order.
If you receive a quantity limit message that prevents you from ordering up to 999 copies:
- From the Order author copies page, add the highest number of copies possible.
- Click Submit Order. This sends you to the Amazon cart or basket. Change the quantity to the desired amount.
- Click Proceed to Checkout. You’ll go to a page, where you can change the order quantity.
- Change the quantity to desired amount.
- Click Update. If you don't click Update, the change won't take effect.
- Check your quantity and order total.
- When ready, click the Place your order button.
Shipping author copies
Shipping times and delivery estimates
Our manufacturing and delivery estimates are based on the quantity ordered and selected delivery speed. The most up-to-date delivery estimate will display during checkout.Note: The delivery estimate is displayed on the last page at checkout, just before you click "Place your order." If you’re only looking for an estimate, and don’t wish to purchase copies at this time, you don’t need to complete the process of placing the order, you can simply return to your cart.
Actual manufacturing times fluctuate according to total order volume. There may be times that your order is manufactured faster than expected, but faster delivery isn't guaranteed. We recommend noting the delivery date you're given when placing the order. This date takes manufacturing time into consideration, and can change depending on the demand.
Note: Author copy orders don't qualify for free or Prime shipping, but all paid standard and expedited Amazon shipping options are available.
How to order by Amazon marketplace
There are some regions where you may need to order your proof or author copy from a different marketplace. You'll be notified at checkout if we can't ship copies to the address you entered.Below, you’ll find guidance on selecting the Amazon marketplace for placing your order, based on the shipping destination.
| Shipping to... | Order from... |
| United States | Amazon.com |
| Canada | Amazon.ca for paperback proof and author copies. Hardcover proof and author copies are not currently available for Amazon.ca. To have hardcover proof and author copies delivered to Canada, select Amazon.com. |
| United Kingdom | Amazon.co.uk for paperback proof and author copies. Hardcover proof and author copies are not currently available for Amazon.co.uk. To have hardcover proof and author copies delivered to the United Kingdom, select Amazon.de, Amazon.es, Amazon.fr, or Amazon.it to place your order. |
| France | Amazon.fr |
| Italy* | Amazon.it |
| Spain | Amazon.es |
| Brazil | Amazon.com |
| Portugal | Amazon.es, Amazon.fr, Amazon.it |
| Germany* | Amazon.de |
| Netherlands | Amazon.de |
| Australia | Amazon.com.au |
| New Zealand | Amazon.com.au |
|
*Swiss Customs Union
|
Author copies cannot be shipped to Swiss Customs Union locations, however, you can purchase retail copies from EU marketplaces such as Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk, and Amazon.fr.
|
Shipping rates
The total shipping charge for an order depends on several factors, including how many items are in the order and how quickly you need those items to arrive. Shipping rates and times depend on the shipping speed and the weight/size of the items.
The total shipping cost for your order is displayed on the last page at checkout, just before you click "Place your order."
| Local shipping rates: | Global shipping rates: |
Shipping to multiple addresses
You can ship copies to multiple shipping addresses by placing separate orders for each destination.
How to check your order status
For information on checking your order status, or managing orders you’ve already placed, visit Manage Orders.
Pricing and discounts
When you order copies through your KDP Account, you’ll pay the author price for your own books. The author price can be calculated by multiplying the print cost for your book in your selected marketplace times the number of copies ordered.
The print options you’ve chosen, such as trim size, interior type, page count, determine the print cost for your book. For estimated printing costs, use our calculator.
This price is the lowest price we can offer for your book. We can't offer additional discounts.
You will not earn royalties for proof copies or author copies.
Taxes
Author copies are subject to taxes. The appropriate taxes are collected at checkout.
You might qualify to make tax-exempt purchases. Learn more about the Amazon Tax Exemption Program.
Reselling copies
You can resell author copies you ordered from KDP, but royalties aren't paid for author copies.
