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Printing cost changes FAQ

On June 20, 2023, at 12:00 AM UTC, we updated our printing costs to better align with today’s cost of materials and labor.

As a result, the minimum list price for your print books (paperback and hardcover) may have changed. While not required, you may want to change your list prices. Please find frequently asked questions below.


Contents


Printing cost changes and timeline

How have printing costs changed?

There have been three changes to printing costs:

  • An increase in the fixed cost for all paperback and hardcover books to cover the higher cost of labor, paper, and other materials.
  • A new fixed and per-page cost for paperback and hardcover books with large trim sizes to cover the additional costs to print these books. A large trim size is either more than 6.12 inches (155.5 mm) in width or more than 9 inches (228.6 mm) in height. Note: a 6” x 9” book is a regular trim size.
  • A decrease in the per-page cost for certain color-ink print books ordered from some marketplaces as outlined in the printing costs tables.
View the new printing costs for paperback and hardcover books at the bottom of this page.

Note: the printing cost changes affected the cost of proof and author copies. You can view the accurate price in your cart when you place an order.

When did the printing cost changes take effect?

Printing cost changes took effect at 12:00 AM UTC on June 20, 2023. Any orders shipped after this time will be processed using the new printing costs.

When will the bulk update happen?

The one-time bulk update option is no longer available. If you chose to run the bulk update, your paperback and hardcover list prices started updating immediately, but changes can take several weeks. If you started the bulk update on or close to June 19, 2023, you may earn a zero royalty for books that fall below the new minimum list price while the update runs. We will email you when all of your live list prices are updated in your KDP account.


Changes to list prices

Important: You are not required to update your list prices prior to the printing cost change. However, please note that your royalties could decrease, and/or you could earn zero royalties if your existing list price falls below the new minimum.

Where can I find my new minimum list price?

View your new minimum list price by marketplace on the Pricing tab for each of your print books. You can access the Pricing tab by going to your Bookshelf, clicking the ellipsis (…) next to your chosen book, and selecting Edit Pricing from the menu.

You can also use our Printing Costs and Royalty Calculator to determine your minimum list price by marketplace.

How do I know which books will fall below the new minimum list price?

For your primary marketplace, if any of your books fall below the new minimum list price, you’ll see a message on your Bookshelf along with a link to download your list of affected books. This list is available now if you have books below the new minimum list prices. Note: if this file is not available on your Bookshelf, it means none of your books will fall below the new minimum list price in your primary marketplace.

If you entered your non-primary marketplace list prices individually, they may fall below the new minimums and will not show in your downloadable list of affected books. Check the Pricing tab for each of your print books to confirm your non-primary marketplace list prices meet the new minimums. Note: if you base your list prices off of your primary marketplace or you chose to run the one-time bulk update, all marketplace list prices will be updated accordingly.

Can I update my list prices in bulk?

No. The option to run a bulk list price update is no longer available.

How do I change my list prices individually?

You can update your list price on the Pricing tab for each of your print books. List price changes take 3-5 days to appear on your detail page. Learn how to update your list price.


Royalty payments

Do the printing cost changes affect my royalty payment amounts?

Yes. For books shipped after 12:00 AM UTC, June 20, 2023, the new printing cost rates will apply. Your printing costs are deducted from your royalty. So, an increase or decrease in the printing cost will cause your royalty amount to be smaller or larger (respectively) if you choose not to update your list price. If your book falls below the minimum list price as a result of the printing cost changes, you will earn a zero royalty.

Does this change affect when I receive my royalty payments?

No. Your payment schedule will not change after the printing cost changes. See all royalties earned in your sales reports as usual.

Where can I see my new royalty amounts?

You can see your book’s new minimum list prices and royalties in all marketplaces on the Pricing page following the steps below.

  1. Go to your Bookshelf.
  2. Click the ellipsis (…) next to your chosen book.
  3. Select Edit Rights & Pricing.
  4. See details in the Pricing, royalty, and distribution section.

New printing costs

Use the tables below to compare the costs before and after printing cost changes effective on June 20, 2023, at 12:00 AM UTC. For more details on current costs, view the help pages for paperback and hardcover printing costs.

How do I calculate my book's printing cost?

To calculate your paperback or hardcover printing cost, we use this formula:

Fixed cost + (page count * per page cost) = printing cost

See an example of a 300-page black ink 6-inch width by 9-inch height (regular trim size) paperback sold in the United States below using the new printing costs effective June 20, 2023.

1.00 USD fixed cost per book + (300 page count * 0.012 USD per page cost) = 4.60 USD (printing cost)

To estimate your printing costs, use the updated Printing Costs and Royalty Calculator.


Paperback printing costs

Black ink paperback:
Note: Black ink paperbacks with 24 - 108 pages only incur the fixed cost.
Marketplace Before June 20, 2023 Effective June 20, 2023
All Trim Sizes Regular Trim Sizes Large Trim Sizes

(More than 6.12 inches (155.5 mm) in width or more than 9 inches (228.6 mm) in height)

Fixed Cost Per Book Per-Page Cost Fixed Cost Per Book
Per-Page Cost
Fixed Cost Per Book
Per-Page Cost
Paperback specification: black ink with 24-108 pages
Amazon.ca 2.82 CAD None 2.99 CAD None 3.53 CAD None
Amazon.co.jp 400 YEN None 422 YEN None 530 YEN None
Amazon.co.uk 1.70 GBP None 1.93 GBP None 2.15 GBP None
Amazon.com 2.15 USD None 2.30 USD None 2.84 USD None
Amazon.com.au 4.49 AUD None 4.74 AUD None 5.28 AUD None
Amazon.de/es/fr/it/nl 1.90 EUR None 2.05 EUR None 2.48 EUR None
Amazon.pl 8.76 PLN None 9.58 PLN None 11.61 PLN None
Amazon.se 19.27 SEK None 22.84 SEK None 27.67 SEK None
Paperback specification: black ink with 110-828 pages
Amazon.ca 1.11 CAD 0.016 CAD 1.26 CAD 0.016 CAD 1.26 CAD 0.021 CAD
Amazon.co.jp 175 YEN 2 YEN 206 YEN 2 YEN 206 YEN 3 YEN
Amazon.co.uk 0.70 GBP 0.010 GBP 0.85 GBP 0.010 GBP 0.85 GBP 0.012 GBP
Amazon.com 0.85 USD 0.012 USD 1.00 USD 0.012 USD 1.00 USD 0.017 USD
Amazon.com.au 2.17 AUD 0.0215 AUD 2.42 AUD 0.022 AUD 2.42 AUD 0.027 AUD
Amazon.de/es/fr/it/nl 0.60 EUR 0.012 EUR 0.75 EUR 0.012 EUR 0.75 EUR 0.016 EUR
Amazon.pl 2.77 PLN 0.06 PLN 3.51 PLN 0.056 PLN 3.51 PLN 0.075 PLN
Amazon.se 6.09 SEK 0.12 SEK 8.37 SEK 0.134 SEK 8.37 SEK 0.179 SEK
Color ink paperback:
Marketplace Before June 20, 2023 Effective June 20, 2023
All Trim Sizes Regular Trim Sizes Large Trim Sizes

(More than 6.12 inches (155.5 mm) in width or more than 9 inches (228.6 mm) in height)

Fixed Cost Per Book Per-Page Cost Fixed Cost Per Book
Per-Page Cost
Fixed Cost Per Book
Per-Page Cost
Paperback specification: premium color ink with 24-40 pages
Amazon.ca 4.78 CAD None 4.66 CAD None 5.26 CAD None
Amazon.co.jp 475 YEN None 475 YEN None 475 YEN None
Amazon.co.uk 2.05 GBP None 2.65 GBP None 3.25 GBP None
Amazon.com 3.65 USD None 3.60 USD None 4.20 USD None
Amazon.com.au 5.05 AUD None 5.82 AUD None 6.42 AUD None
Amazon.de/es/fr/it/nl 2.40 EUR None 3.03 EUR None 3.63 EUR None
Amazon.pl 11.06 PLN None 12.86 PLN None 15.32 PLN None
Amazon.se 24.34 SEK None 30.65 SEK None 36.51 SEK None
Paperback specification: premium color ink with 42-828 pages
Amazon.ca 1.11 CAD 0.09 CAD 1.26 CAD 0.085 CAD 1.26 CAD 0.10 CAD
Amazon.co.jp 175 YEN 4 YEN 206 YEN 4 YEN 206 YEN 5 YEN
Amazon.co.uk 0.70 GBP 0.045 GBP 0.85 GBP 0.045 GBP 0.85 GBP 0.06 GBP
Amazon.com 0.85 USD 0.07 USD 1.00 USD 0.065 USD 1.00 USD 0.08 USD
Amazon.com.au 2.17 AUD 0.072 AUD 2.42 AUD 0.085 AUD 2.42 AUD 0.10 AUD
Amazon.de/es/fr/it/nl 0.60 EUR 0.06 EUR 0.75 EUR 0.057 EUR 0.75 EUR 0.072 EUR
Amazon.pl 2.77 PLN 0.28 PLN 3.51 PLN 0.267 PLN 3.51 PLN 0.337 PLN
Amazon.se 6.09 SEK 0.61 SEK 8.37 SEK 0.636 SEK 8.37 SEK 0.804 SEK
Paperback specification: standard color ink with 72-600 pages
Amazon.ca 1.11 CAD 0.047 CAD 1.26 CAD 0.037 CAD 1.26 CAD 0.052 CAD
Amazon.co.uk 0.70 GBP 0.025 GBP 0.85 GBP 0.020 GBP 0.85 GBP 0.027 GBP
Amazon.com 0.85 USD 0.036 USD 1.00 USD 0.027 USD 1.00 USD 0.042 USD
Amazon.de/es/fr/it/nl 0.60 EUR 0.031 EUR 0.75 EUR 0.024 EUR 0.75 EUR 0.035 EUR
Amazon.pl 2.77 PLN 0.14 PLN 3.51 PLN 0.112 PLN 3.51 PLN 0.164 PLN
Amazon.se 6.09 SEK 0.31 SEK 8.37 SEK 0.268 SEK 8.37 SEK 0.3691 SEK

Hardcover printing costs

Black ink hardcover:
Note: Black ink hardcover in regular trim size with 75 - 108 pages only incur the fixed cost.
Marketplace Before June 20, 2023 Effective June 20, 2023
All Trim Sizes Regular Trim Sizes Large Trim Sizes

(More than 6.12 inches (155.5 mm) in width or more than 9 inches (228.6 mm) in height)

Fixed Cost Per Book Per-Page Cost Fixed Cost Per Book
Per-Page Cost
Fixed Cost Per Book
Per-Page Cost
Hardcover specification: black ink with 75-108 pages
Amazon.co.uk 5.10 GBP None 5.23 GBP None 5.45 GBP None
Amazon.com 6.80 USD None 6.80 USD None 7.49 USD None
Amazon.de/es/fr/it/nl 5.80 EUR None 5.95 EUR None 6.35 EUR None
Amazon.pl 26.73 PLN None 27.85 PLN None 29.87 PLN None
Amazon.se 58.83SEK None 66.38 SEK None 71.21 SEK None
Hardcover specification: black ink with 110-550 pages
Amazon.co.uk 4.00 GBP 0.010 GBP 4.15 GBP 0.010 GBP 4.15 GBP 0.012 GBP
Amazon.com 5.50 USD 0.012 USD 5.65 USD 0.012 USD 5.65 USD 0.017 USD
Amazon.de/es/fr/it/nl 4.50 EUR 0.012 EUR 4.65 EUR 0.012 EUR 4.65 EUR 0.016 EUR
Amazon.pl 20.74 PLN 0.06 PLN 20.34 PLN 0.056 PLN 20.34 PLN 0.075 PLN
Amazon.se 45.65 SEK 0.12 SEK 48.49 SEK 0.134 SEK 48.49 SEK 0.179 SEK
Color ink hardcover:
Marketplace Before June 20, 2023 Effective June 20, 2023
All Trim Sizes Regular Trim Sizes Large Trim Sizes

(More than 6.12 inches (155.5 mm) in width or more than 9 inches (228.6 mm) in height)

Fixed Cost Per Book Per-Page Cost Fixed Cost Per Book
Per-Page Cost
Fixed Cost Per Book
Per-Page Cost
Hardcover specification: premium color ink with 75-550 pages
Amazon.co.uk 4.00 GBP 0.045 GBP 4.15 GBP 0.045 GBP 4.15 GBP 0.060 GBP
Amazon.com 5.50 USD 0.070 USD 5.65 USD 0.065 USD 5.65 USD 0.080 USD
Amazon.de/es/fr/it/nl 4.50 EUR 0.060 EUR 4.65 EUR 0.057 EUR 4.65 EUR 0.072 EUR
Amazon.pl 20.74 PLN 0.28 PLN 21.78 PLN 0.267 PLN 21.78 PLN 0.337 PLN
Amazon.se 45.65 SEK 0.61 SEK 51.91 SEK 0.636 SEK 51.91 SEK 0.804 SEK

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