How to Publish on Amazon KDP: Complete Guide for Indie Authors

Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) is where most indie authors start — and for good reason. Amazon accounts for roughly 70% of English-language ebook sales globally. Getting your book live on KDP is Step 1 of any publishing strategy.

Before You Start: What You Actually Need

Most guides skip this part and jump straight to the dashboard. Don’t. Missing any of these will stall your launch:

A formatted ePub file — not your Word document. KDP accepts Word, but the conversion quality is inconsistent. A professionally-formatted ePub gives you control over how your book looks on every Kindle device.

Cover image at the right size — KDP requires a minimum ratio of 1:1.6 (width:height). The recommended size is 2560 x 1600 px. Most cover designers deliver at this size, but verify before uploading.

W-8BEN form — if you’re not a US citizen or US tax resident, you need this form to avoid 30% US tax withholding on your royalties. This is filled out inside your KDP account, not as a separate document. See our W-8BEN guide for details.

Keywords and categories — do this research before uploading, not during. Use Publisher Rocket, KDSPY, or manual Amazon search to find the right keywords and BISAC categories for your book.

Step-by-Step: Publishing Your Ebook on KDP

Step 1: Create a KDP Account

Go to kdp.amazon.com. Sign in with your existing Amazon account or create a new one. Complete the tax interview (this is where W-8BEN comes in for non-US authors).

Pro tip: Use a dedicated Amazon account for your publishing business, separate from your personal shopping account. This keeps royalty payments and tax documents organized.

Step 2: Start a New Title

From your KDP Bookshelf, click + Kindle eBook.

You’ll go through three sections:

1. Kindle eBook Details — title, contributors, description, keywords, categories
2. Kindle eBook Content — upload your manuscript and cover
3. Kindle eBook Pricing — set your price and royalty rate

Step 3: Fill in Book Details

Title and subtitle: Enter exactly as it appears on your cover. Amazon is strict about matching the cover title to the metadata.

Author name: Use your pen name if applicable. This is what appears on the product page.

Series info: If your book is part of a series, enter the series name and book number. This links your titles in the Amazon series page.

Description: This is your sales copy. Amazon allows basic HTML (bold, italic, line breaks). Most successful indie authors write 200–400 word descriptions with a hook, premise, and comparison titles. Formatting with HTML headers and bold text improves readability.

Keywords (7 slots): Don’t waste keywords on words that are already in your title or category. Think about reader search behavior: “second chance romance” not just “romance.” Use all 7 slots.

Categories (2 slots): You can contact KDP support to add up to 10 categories total after publishing, but you only choose 2 during upload. Choose your most specific relevant categories.

Step 4: Upload Your Manuscript

Click Upload eBook Manuscript and upload your .epub file.

KDP will process it and show you a preview. Review the preview on both the Kindle e-ink preview and the Kindle Fire/tablet preview before proceeding. Pay attention to:

• Drop caps on chapter openings
• Chapter header formatting
• Table of contents links
• Any images or special characters

If something looks wrong, fix it in your formatting file and re-upload. Don’t publish with formatting errors.

Step 5: Upload Your Cover

Upload your cover as a separate file (JPEG or TIFF, 2560 x 1600 px minimum). The cover is not embedded in the ePub — it’s uploaded separately to KDP.

Step 6: Set Pricing

Royalty rate: KDP offers 35% or 70% royalties. The 70% rate requires pricing between $2.99 and $9.99 and enrollment in Kindle Unlimited (KDP Select) or wide distribution at matching prices.

KDP Select: Enrolling gives you 70% royalties and access to Kindle Unlimited reads (paid per page read). The catch: 90-day exclusivity to Amazon. You can’t sell on Apple Books, Kobo, or other platforms during enrollment.

Wide pricing: Set your price the same on all platforms. Amazon tracks price matching and may reduce your royalty rate if you price lower elsewhere.

Step 7: Publish

Click Publish Your Kindle eBook. KDP typically takes 24–72 hours to review and make your book live. You’ll receive an email confirmation when it goes live.

Common Rejection Reasons (and How to Avoid Them)

Cover quality: Low-resolution covers (under 2560 x 1600) or covers with blurry text get flagged. Always verify dimensions before uploading.

Formatting errors: Books with major formatting issues (broken table of contents, images that don’t display) may be rejected or require revision.

Content guideline violations: Amazon has specific content guidelines. Review them before publishing, especially for romance/erotica categories.

Copyright issues: Ensure you have rights to all content including cover art, interior images, and any quoted material.

After Publishing: The First 48 Hours

Once live, your book needs:

1. A verified purchase review from a trusted reader (the first review is critical)
2. A Look Inside preview that hooks browsers — the first few pages need to be strong
3. Correct category placement — verify your book appears in the categories you chose

Need Help With the Publishing Setup?

MekarPad’s Global Launch Setup handles the entire KDP setup process in your account: formatting, upload, metadata optimization, W-8BEN filing, and monitoring until live. Starting at $150 for KDP-only, or $200+ for the full bundle including wide distribution.