The Real Cost to Publish a Book on Amazon:
Budget Breakdown for Authors

By Editor / Writing Fundamentals / July 11, 2025

If you’re thinking about self-publishing your book on Amazon, you’re in good company. With Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), authors have the opportunity to reach millions of readers worldwide.

But like any business venture, publishing a book on Amazon involves costs, whether upfront or ongoing.

How Does Amazon KDP Work for Self-Publishers?

Before we dive into the costs, let’s briefly look at how Amazon KDP works for authors. Amazon allows you to publish eBooks and paperback books on their platform without any upfront fees. In exchange for publishing your book, Amazon takes a percentage of your book’s sales as royalties.

• ● For eBooks:Amazon takes 30% for books priced below $2.99, and 35% for books priced above that.
• ● For paperbacks: Amazon retains 60% of the list price (after printing costs).

Although Amazon doesn’t charge you for using the platform, the costs come in when you start to enhance your book’s quality and visibility.

Free Ways to Publish a Book on Amazon

When you’re looking into how much it costs to publish a book, you’ll be happy to know that there are several free options available for publishing on Amazon.

1. Uploading Your Manuscript

The most basic part of publishing a book on Amazon KDP is uploading your manuscript. If you have a finished manuscript, this process is entirely free. Simply create a KDP account, format your manuscript, and upload it to your Amazon KDP account.

While the KDP platform is free to use, proper formatting and preparing your manuscript can take some time and effort. Without professional help, this can be a bit tricky, especially for first-time authors. More on that below.

2. Kindle Direct Publishing Dashboard

Once you upload your manuscript, you’ll need to fill out your book’s details, including title, author name, book description, keywords, and categories. This part of the process is also free, and Amazon provides all the necessary tools to guide you through it.

However, if you need professional assistance with any of these aspects, such as SEO for keywords or crafting a compelling book description, it may cost you.

Paid Costs: Essential Services for a Professional Book

While it’s free to publish your book on Amazon, there are key services you may need to invest in to make your book professional, visible, and appealing to readers.

1. Editing: Ensuring Quality and Readability

Editing is one of the most crucial investments you’ll make when publishing a book, as it ensures your book is polished, professional, and free of errors. While you can edit your own manuscript, it’s highly recommended to hire a professional editor to improve your book’s quality.

• ● Developmental Editing: $500–$2,500
• ● Copyediting: $300–$1,000
• ● Proofreading: $150–$500

You might need more than one type of editing, depending on your book's needs. Developmental editing focuses on the overall structure and flow, copyediting tackles grammar and sentence structure, and proofreading catches any minor errors.

For a first-time author, editing is often one of the highest costs, but it is worth the investment to ensure your book stands out.

2. Book Cover Design Costs

Cover Design Costs: Making a Stunning First Impression

Your book cover is the first thing readers see. A professionally designed cover can make all the difference in getting noticed among the millions of books on Amazon.

While Amazon offers a free cover creator tool, it’s worth investing in a custom design if you want your book to stand out.

Average costs:

• ● Free: Use Amazon’s cover creator tool (basic and may not stand out).
• ● Low-cost design: $50–$200 for basic designs (freelancers on Fiverr, 99designs).
• ● Professional design: $250–$1,000 for a custom-designed, high-quality cover.

A good cover design can increase your book's click-through rate, and with a professional design, you're more likely to catch the eye of potential readers.

3. Formatting Costs

Book formatting is the process of ensuring that your book is ready for publication on both Kindle and in paperback formats. Proper formatting ensures your book displays correctly on various devices (e.g., Kindle, tablets, smartphones) and looks professional in print.

Amazon provides free tools to help you format your eBook and paperback. However, if you want a polished look, it might be worth hiring a professional.

Average costs:

• ● Free: Amazon’s free formatting tools (DIY)
• ● Low-cost formatting: $50–$150 (freelancers on Fiverr, Reedsy)
• ● Professional formatting: $200–$500 for both eBook and paperback formats

If you’re planning to offer your book in both digital and print formats, formatting your book properly will ensure that it reads smoothly on every platform.

4. Marketing and Promotion Costs

Once your book is published, the next step is to make sure people actually see it. While organic reach can help, investing in marketing will greatly improve your chances of success.

Amazon offers some promotional tools to help you get noticed, but other external services like Proton Tech Lab can boost your visibility:

Average costs:

• ● Amazon Ads: $0.10–$1.00 per click, depending on your book’s niche
• ● BookBub Ads: $50–$300+ per day
• ● Social Media Marketing (Facebook, Instagram): $10–$50 per day (depending on the campaign)

If you want to maximize your reach, it’s essential to factor in advertising costs. These costs can add up quickly, so it's best to start small, monitor your results, and scale your efforts.

5. ISBN and Copyright Costs

Amazon provides a free ISBN (International Standard Book Number) if you’re publishing through KDP, but you can also purchase your own ISBN if you prefer to retain more control over your publishing rights.

Average costs:

• ● Free ISBN: Provided by Amazon for eBooks and paperbacks published through KDP
• ● Custom ISBN: $125 each (if you buy through Bowker in the U.S.)
• ● Copyright registration: $45–$65 (optional but recommended for legal protection)

While using a free ISBN from Amazon is convenient, it ties your book to Amazon's imprint. If you're looking for complete control, purchasing your own ISBN gives you the option to publish elsewhere under your own imprint.

6. Additional Costs

While not always necessary, there are a few other services you may want to consider depending on your goals:

• ● Audiobook production: $200–$1,000+ (if you want to create an audiobook version of your book)
• ● Book Trailer: $100–$500 for a basic promotional video
• ● Website/Domain Hosting: $50–$100 per year if you want to build an author website

These additional costs are optional, but they can be valuable tools for building your author brand and expanding your book’s reach.

Total Cost to Publish a Book on Amazon: What’s the Breakdown?

Let’s break it down into potential ranges for the overall cost of publishing on Amazon KDP:

Service	Low Budget	Mid-Range	High-End
Editing (Proofreading)	$100	$300	$1,200
Cover Design	$0 (DIY)	$150	$1,000
Formatting	$0 (DIY)	$150	$500
Marketing (Ads)	$50	$200	$1,000+
ISBN (Optional)	$0	$125	$125
Copyright Registration	$0	$50	$50
Total	$100	$850	$3,875+

How to Save Money When Publishing Your Book

If you’re working with a limited budget, here are some tips to keep your publishing costs low without sacrificing quality:

• 1. Do your own formatting: Learn how to use Amazon’s free formatting tools or use DIY software.
• 2. Use Fiverr for affordable services: Look for budget-friendly options on Fiverr for editing, cover design, and marketing.
• 3. Leverage social media: Promote your book organically on social platforms to avoid spending too much on paid ads.
• 4. Start small with marketing: Test different ad campaigns before committing to a larger budget.

How We Can Support Your Publishing Journey

At Proton Tech Lab, we understand that publishing a book is a big step. Whether you’re self-publishing on Amazon or promoting your book through digital channels, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Here’s how we can help:

• ● End-to-End Self-Publishing Support: From formatting and cover design to uploading your book to Amazon KDP, we offer complete services to make your publishing process smooth.
• ● Professional Editing Services: Our team of experienced editors will help refine your manuscript to ensure it’s polished and ready for publication.
• ● Custom Book Covers: Get a stunning, professionally designed book cover that will grab attention and boost sales.
• ● Effective Marketing Campaigns: From Amazon Ads to social media promotions, we help you craft marketing strategies that drive visibility and sales.
• ● Amazon KDP Optimization: Our experts will guide you through optimizing your Amazon KDP account and listings for better visibility and higher rankings.

Let us handle the technicalities while you focus on your writing.

Ready to Publish Your Book on Amazon?

Now that you know how much it costs to publish a book on Amazon, you’re equipped with the knowledge to make informed decisions about your publishing journey. Whether you’re working with a limited budget or looking for premium services to polish your book, Amazon KDP provides a flexible platform for authors.

At Proton Tech Lab, we specialize in helping authors and businesses navigate the digital world, including Amazon publishing and digital marketing. Contact us today to learn how we can support you through the self-publishing process and beyond!