Help Topics
- Help
- Account & Taxes
-
Book Formatting
-
Format Your Paperback
- Set Trim Size, Bleed, and Margins
- Format Front Matter, Body Matter, and Back Matter
- Save Your Manuscript File
- Paperback and Hardcover Manuscript Templates
- Cover Creator
- Create a Paperback Cover
- Format Images in Your Book
- Paperback Fonts
- Fix Paperback and Hardcover Formatting Issues
- Paperback Submission Guidelines
- Format Your Hardcover
- Format Your eBook
- Tools and Resources
-
Format Your Paperback
- KDP Publishing
-
Orders & Book Copies
-
Proof and Author Copies
- How do I order a proof or author copy?
- How much do proof or author copies cost?
- What is the cost to ship my proof or author copy?
- When will my proof or author copy arrive?
- I’m getting an error ordering my author copy
- I’m getting an error ordering my proof copy
- My proof or author copy came damaged
- My proof or author copy didn’t arrive on time
- My proof or author copy has printing errors
-
Proof and Author Copies
- Amazon Store & Detail Page
- Marketing & Distribution
- Book Updates
- Payments & Reports
- Legal & Content Guidelines
-
User Guides
-
Kindle Publishing Guidelines
- Getting Started
- General Best Practices
- Guidelines for Specific Types of eBooks
- Appendices
- KDP Jumpstart
- KDP University
-
Kindle Publishing Guidelines
Contact Us
Have feedback? Can't find your answer in our Help pages?
Contact Us
KDP Publishing
Hardcover
Hardcover
You can now create case laminate hardcover books along with paperbacks and eBooks. Explore the resources below to learn more and set up your hardcover book.
After you publish your title, we'll review the hardcover edition of your book to make sure it meets our content and quality guidelines. Learn more about the hardcover submission process.
Contents
Case laminate hardcover
Hardcover books are printed as case laminate. This means your hardcover book will not have a dust jacket and the art is printed directly on the cover.Differences between paperback and hardcover
Just as you did for paperbacks, you'll create covers, format interior files, choose print and distribution options, order proof and author copies, and advertise your books. If you have an existing paperback, you'll need a unique ISBN to create a hardcover edition of your book. There are minor differences between the two formats, which we've included in the below table.Print options | Hardcover books have the same print options as paperbacks, with a few exceptions:
|
Supported languages | Hardcover right-to-left publishing for Hebrew and Yiddish isn't currently available. Learn more about supported languages. |
Manuscript formatting | There are different trim size and page count requirements for paperback and hardcover books. If your manuscript fits both requirements, you can upload an interior file with the same measurements for both books. If your ISBN is included in the interior file, you'll need to update the ISBN included in the file to match what you provided in your hardcover book details.
Learn more about the hardcover submission overview. |
Cover formatting | You'll use different cover requirements and measurements to format a hardcover cover file than you did to format a paperback cover file.
Learn how to format a hardcover cover file or use one of our tools: Learn more about hardcover cover formatting . |
Distribution | You can publish your hardcover book in these marketplaces:
Hardcover isn’t available for Amazon.co.jp, or Expanded Distribution. |
Printing costs | How we calculate printing cost for hardcover and paperback books is the same, but the fixed cost is different.
Here's the printing cost formula: Fixed cost + (page count * per page cost) = printing cost We offer a fixed 60% royalty rate on hardcovers sold on Amazon marketplaces where we support hardcover distribution. We offer the same royalty rate for paperbacks. When someone buys your hardcover book through Amazon and a new copy is manufactured to fulfill that order, you'll receive a royalty. To see the impact to your royalties, check our hardcover royalty calculator. For more information, visit Hardcover Royalty. |
Reporting |
To see your hardcover sales:
|
Frequently asked questions
1. How do I publish a hardcover book?
To publish a hardcover book:- Go to your Bookshelf.
- In the "Create a New Title" section, click + Hardcover.
- Enter your information for each section:
- Hardcover details. Enter your title, description, keywords, categories, etc.
- Hardcover content. Choose print options, upload your manuscript and cover files, preview your book, and order a proof.
- Hardcover rights and pricing. Choose the territories where you hold distribution rights and set your list price.
- After entering your information, click Publish Your Hardcover Book.
2. Can I turn an existing paperback or eBook into a hardcover book?
To publish a hardcover book:- Go to your Bookshelf.
- Click + Create.
- Click Create hardcover.
- Review and update your information for each section:
Hardcover details. We'll update your hardcover details with the details you provided when you set up your existing format. You can still edit these details.
Hardcover content. You'll need to choose a new KDP ISBN or enter your own new ISBN for the hardcover edition of your book. You'll need to upload a new manuscript and cover file that meets our specifications.
Hardcover pricing. You can set separate prices and distribution options for each supported marketplace for your hardcover book. - After entering your information, click Publish Your Hardcover Book.
After you publish your title, we'll review the hardcover edition of your book to make sure it meets our content and quality guidelines. Learn more about the hardcover submission process.