Pre-orders let you list your Kindle eBook on Amazon before your release date. Customers can place orders in advance, and they'll receive the book on the release date. Pre-orders contribute toward sales rank and Kindle Store merchandising before your release, helping readers discover your eBook through channels like Author Central, Goodreads, and your personal website. This page covers how pre-orders work, what you can change, and what happens if you miss a deadline.

How pre-orders work

When you set up a pre-order, your book's product detail page goes live. Customers can place orders at any time before the release date. You don't need to upload your final manuscript right away — you can upload it any time before the submission deadline.

• Pre-orders are available for eBooks only (not paperbacks or hardcovers).
• You can set a release date up to:
  • 18 months in the future (pre-orders created on or after September 2, 2026)
  • 12 months in the future (pre-orders created before September 2, 2026)
• Pre-orders are available in all Amazon marketplaces.
• Your book's product detail page will display a 'Pre-order' button instead of 'Buy now.' To understand what each status means on your Bookshelf, visit Pre-order statuses.

Eligibility

Pre-orders are available for new eBook titles only. You can have up to 10 active pre-order titles at a time. After a book is released, you can set up additional pre-orders. Public domain eBooks aren't eligible for pre-order.

Note: For paperbacks, you can't set up a pre-order, but you can schedule a release date.

Reading samples

If you upload a manuscript when you submit your pre-order, readers may be able to preview a sample of your book. Low-content books without an ISBN won't display a reading sample. Learn more about Read Sample.

Submission deadline

You need to upload and submit your final manuscript at least 72 hours before your release date. If you don't submit your file by the deadline:

• Your pre-order will be canceled.
• Customers who pre-ordered will be notified and their orders will be canceled.
• Your pre-order privileges may be removed.

What you can change

You can update the following before your submission deadline (72 hours before release):

• Book details (title, description, categories, keywords)
• Manuscript file
• Cover image

You can change your list price at any time before and after the review period. If you reduce the price, customers who already pre-ordered will be charged the lower price.

After you submit your final manuscript

After you submit your final manuscript, you won't be able to make changes for up to 72 hours while your eBook is reviewed. After the review is complete, you can update your manuscript or book details again.

Changing your release date

• Moving up: You can move up your release date as long as your final manuscript has been submitted and reviewed.
• Postponing: You can postpone your release date. The window and number of postponements allowed depends on when your pre-order was created. For details, visit Change your pre-order release date.

Pre-order privileges

If you miss your submission deadline or cancel a pre-order, it may affect your ability to create future pre-orders.

• First missed deadline or cancellation: Your pre-order privileges won't be removed. This is a one-time account-level courtesy.
• Second missed deadline or cancellation: Your pre-order privileges will be removed for 6 months across your entire catalog. During this time, you won't be able to create new pre-orders or postpone existing pre-orders. Your privileges will be restored automatically after 6 months. If your pre-order privileges were removed before September 2, 2026, your original penalty period of one year still applies.
• Postponement limits depend on when your pre-order was created. If you exceed your postponement limit, your pre-order may be auto-canceled, which counts toward your cancellation history above. For details, visit Postpone or cancel your pre-order release.

If your pre-order was created before September 2, 2026, different postponement limits apply. For details, visit Postpone or cancel your pre-order release.

KDP Select and pre-orders

You can enroll your pre-order eBook in KDP Select. The KDP Select enrollment term begins on your eBook's release date. You can only schedule Free Book Promotions and Kindle Countdown Deals after your book is released.

Related articles

• Postpone or cancel a pre-order release
• Change your pre-order release
• Setting up pre-orders
• Pre-order statuses
• Pre-order pricing and sales reports