KDP Expanded Distribution Royalty Calculator
Enter a page count and list price to see your royalty on Amazon versus Expanded Distribution side by side, using KDP's actual published rates.
Royalty = list price × rate minus printing cost. Amazon direct sales use 60% at or above $9.99, 50% below that. Expanded Distribution is always a flat 40%, it doesn't get the higher tier no matter your price. Printing cost is the same either way for the same book.
Common questions
What royalty rate does Expanded Distribution pay?
A flat 40% of list price minus printing cost, regardless of your price point. Direct Amazon sales get 60% at or above $9.99, or 50% below that.
Is Expanded Distribution worth it for paperback?
Depends heavily on price and page count. At lower prices with higher page counts, the flat 40% rate combined with printing cost can leave a very thin, or even negative, royalty.
What is KDP Expanded Distribution?
A distribution option that makes your paperback available to bookstores, libraries, and online retailers outside Amazon, at that flat 40% rate.
Why this matters
Expanded Distribution sounds like pure upside, more places your book can be sold, but the flat 40% rate means it can quietly be a losing proposition at exactly the price points where direct Amazon sales do best. Run the numbers before opting in, not after.
If you're deciding on a price point at all, KDP Workspace's free royalty calculator shows your direct-Amazon royalty across every price you're considering.
Try the free tool →