Introduction

We're introducing groundwood paper as an alternative to white and cream paper for Kindle Direct Publishing. As a beta participant, you can select groundwood paper for eligible paperbacks on your KDP Bookshelf. To learn more about groundwood paper and its benefits, please review the FAQs below.

If you're not in the beta: While groundwood paper is not yet widely available, we will notify you and other authors once it is launched.

Contents

• Eligibility and updating your paperbacks
• Technical specifications

Why is groundwood paper a good choice for readers?

Groundwood paper is a lower carbon option perfect for paperback novels and text-heavy books. Because of its higher opacity and textured feel, it makes pages easier to read and turn. Groundwood printing costs per page are also 5% lower than cream and white paper with black and white ink for all supported marketplaces.

Additionally, print-on-demand books made from groundwood paper have at least 15% fewer CO2-equivalent emissions compared to other paper types. For the remaining residual carbon emissions of entire Groundwood paper book, we are applying high-quality carbon credits.

Which books are eligible?

Groundwood paper is eligible for paperbacks with black and white interiors in all trim sizes. The reading direction of the book must be left-to-right. Books that meet these criteria will be marked with a green banner and a leaf icon on your Bookshelf.

The leaf icon serves as a clear, universal symbol of nature and environmental consciousness, making it easy to identify titles that can be updated to be more eco-friendly and help you make environmentally conscious manufacturing decisions.

Which books are not eligible?

Books that have heavy ink coverage are not eligible or recommended for groundwood paper to prevent the ink from showing through the pages. If we encounter issues when printing your book on groundwood paper, KDP reserves the right to change the paper to cream or white to ensure quality.

In which marketplaces is groundwood paper available?

Groundwood paper is available in all marketplaces where KDP paperbacks are supported:

• Amazon.com
• Amazon.co.uk
• Amazon.de
• Amazon.fr
• Amazon.it
• Amazon.es
• Amazon.co.jp
• Amazon.com.au
• Amazon.ca
• Amazon.pl
• Amazon.se
• Amazon.nl

How can I switch my existing books to groundwood?

You can convert your existing books to groundwood paper in two ways, one by one, or using the bulk conversion feature.

To convert your titles one by one:

Simply update your book's Ink & Paper type and submit the update by following these instructions:

1. Sign into your KDP account.
2. Go to your Bookshelf.
3. Under the book you want to update, click the ellipsis button ("...").
4. Select Edit Paperback Content.
5. Under Print Options, update the ink and paper type to groundwood.
6. Click Save and continue to submit your changes.

For bulk conversion: Use the bulk update tool.

Important: If your book exceeds 350 pages (cream paper) or 525 pages (white paper), the spine section of your cover dimensions will require adjustments. This is due to the thickness of groundwood paper. Check our cover calculator to determine if your book requires updates. If you need to adjust your book, visit our help page for instructions to Update Your Cover.

Note: This feature is available to beta participants only. If you don't see groundwood as an option in your Print Options, you're not part of the beta.

How can I confirm that my titles have been switched to groundwood?

When you switch a title to groundwood and submit your changes, your title's status will update from "Live" to "In Review," then "Publishing," and back to "Live" once the conversion is complete. For quick conversions, you may not see any status change. Your title will remain "Live" throughout the process.

To confirm your title is using groundwood paper:

• Check Title Setup to verify the paper type is set to groundwood
• Your title will no longer show the groundwood eligibility indicator on your Bookshelf
• Your title will no longer appear in the bulk conversion tool (because it's already using groundwood)

For publishing timelines, check our Timelines help page.

Are there any changes in the printing costs when using groundwood paper?

Yes. For beta participants, groundwood printing costs per page are 5% lower than cream and white paper with black and white ink. The exact savings depend on your book's page count and trim size.

You will see the specific printing cost per page for your book displayed on the Rights & Pricing page of Title Setup before publishing.

Note: Black-ink paperbacks with 24–108 pages only incur the fixed cost — no per-page fee applies, so the 5% reduction does not apply to these titles.

Can I order proof copies with groundwood paper?

Yes, to order a proof copy from your Bookshelf, first change the paper type of the book to groundwood. Then follow the instructions on this Help article to order the proof copy.

Note: If you recently updated your book and ordered a new copy from the Amazon retail website, you may receive a copy from inventory that was printed prior to the changes. While we operate on a print-on-demand model, when a copy is printed on demand and the order is later canceled, that copy remains in inventory until sold. Books printed from a previous file are not eligible for replacement or refund.

Can I order a sample book in groundwood so I can see the paper?

Yes, if you'd like to experience groundwood before changing your book's paper type, you can order a book sample, at printing cost. Pick the appropriate marketplace below to get started.

Technical Specifications

Maximum Page Count

Spine calculations for paperbacks using groundwood paper

We only print spine text on books with more than 80 pages. Text on spines must be sized to fit the spine, with at least 0.0625" (1.58 mm) of space between the text and the edge of the spine. We do not support spine text that bleeds to the edge of the spine.

How to calculate the spine