You can sell books on Amazon starting today — either by self-publishing your own book through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or by reselling physical books through Amazon Seller Central. Amazon controls roughly 50% of all print book sales in the United States and about 67% of the ebook market, making it the single most important sales channel for any author or book seller.
This guide covers both paths to sell books on Amazon, the fees and royalties you need to know, and the strategies that actually move copies in 2026.
Two Ways to Sell Books on Amazon
Before you set up anything, you need to decide which path fits your situation.
Self-publishing through KDP is for authors who have written (or want to write) their own book. You upload your manuscript and cover, Amazon prints copies on demand when someone orders, and you earn royalties on every sale. There are no upfront inventory costs.
Reselling through Seller Central is for people who buy physical books (new or used) from thrift stores, library sales, or wholesale sources and list them for sale on Amazon’s marketplace. You handle sourcing and either ship books yourself or send them to Amazon’s warehouses through FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon).
Most readers of this blog are authors looking to publish and sell their own work, so this guide focuses primarily on the KDP path — but we cover reselling basics too.
How to Sell Your Own Book on Amazon (KDP)
Step 1: Write Your Book
You need a finished manuscript before anything else. If you are still in the writing phase, tools like Chapter.pub can help you go from idea to finished draft faster — it is an AI-powered book writing platform designed specifically for nonfiction authors.
Our Pick — Chapter
Chapter.pub helps nonfiction authors write complete, structured books using AI that actually understands book-length content. Instead of piecing together ChatGPT outputs, you get a guided workflow from outline to finished manuscript.
Best for: Nonfiction authors who want a complete book draft fast Pricing: $97 one-time Why we built it: Most authors stall between “I have an idea” and “I have a manuscript.” Chapter bridges that gap.
Whether you write manually or use AI assistance, your manuscript needs professional-level editing before it goes to Amazon. Readers leave one-star reviews for typos faster than for bad plots.
Step 2: Create Your KDP Account
Head to kdp.amazon.com and sign in with your existing Amazon account (or create one). You will need to complete three things:
- Author/publisher information — your legal name, address, and business type
- Bank account details — where Amazon sends your royalty payments
- Tax information — Amazon requires a W-9 (US) or W-8BEN (international) before you can publish
Setting up your KDP account is completely free. Amazon makes money by taking a percentage of each sale, not from charging you to list.
Step 3: Format Your Manuscript and Cover
Amazon accepts manuscripts in DOCX, EPUB, or PDF format depending on whether you are publishing an ebook or print book. Your interior formatting matters — readers notice bad margins, inconsistent fonts, and broken page breaks.
For covers, you have three options:
- Amazon’s Cover Creator — free but limited in design quality
- Professional designer — typically $200–$500 for a custom cover
- AI cover generators — a growing option for authors on a budget (see our guide to AI book cover generators)
Your cover is the single biggest factor in whether someone clicks on your listing. Invest here.
Step 4: Set Your Pricing and Royalties
Amazon offers two royalty tiers for ebooks and a sliding scale for print:
| Format | Royalty Rate | Price Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Ebook | 70% | $2.99–$9.99 |
| Ebook | 35% | Any price |
| Paperback | 60% | List price $9.99+ |
| Paperback | 50% | List price under $9.99 |
| Hardcover | 50–60% | Depends on list price |
For ebooks, the 70% royalty tier requires your price to fall between $2.99 and $9.99. Outside that range, you earn 35%. The 70% option also deducts a delivery fee based on file size (about $0.15 per megabyte for US sales).
For print books, Amazon deducts printing costs from your royalties. A standard 300-page black-and-white paperback costs roughly $4.45 to print. Use Amazon’s royalty calculator to model your exact earnings before you set a price.
Pricing sweet spots in 2026:
- Fiction ebooks: $2.99–$4.99
- Nonfiction ebooks: $4.99–$9.99
- Paperbacks: $12.99–$16.99 (gives readers a price anchor that makes your ebook look like a deal)
Step 5: Optimize Your Book Listing
Your Amazon book listing is a sales page. Treat it like one.
Title and subtitle — Include your primary keyword naturally. Amazon’s search algorithm weighs the title heavily.
Book description — Your first line must hook the reader. Amazon only shows an abbreviated preview before the “Read more” fold. Use bold text, bullet points, and a clear value proposition.
Keywords — KDP lets you enter up to seven keyword phrases. Use specific, long-tail phrases that describe what your book covers. Learn more in our guide to Amazon keywords for books.
Categories — You can select two browse categories. Pick the most specific subcategories where you can realistically rank in the top 20. Our guide on how to choose Amazon book categories breaks this down further.
Step 6: Publish and Launch
When you click “Publish,” your book enters Amazon’s review queue. It typically takes 24–72 hours to go live. Plan your launch activities around this timeline.
A strong launch week matters because Amazon’s algorithm favors books that generate early sales velocity. Here is what moves the needle:
- Tell your email list first — even a small list of 50 people buying in the same week helps your ranking
- Run a KDP countdown deal or free promotion if you enroll in KDP Select (requires ebook exclusivity on Amazon)
- Get early reviews — aim for 10–25 reviews in your first month (see our guide on how to get book reviews on Amazon)
- Consider Amazon Ads — even $5–10/day can boost visibility during launch (our Amazon Ads for authors guide covers this)
How to Resell Books on Amazon (Seller Central)
If you want to sell used or new physical books you have sourced from elsewhere, you need an Amazon Seller Central account — not a KDP account.
Choose Your Seller Plan
Amazon offers two plans:
- Individual Plan — no monthly fee, but $0.99 per item sold plus a 15% referral fee and $1.80 closing fee per book
- Professional Plan — $39.99/month with no per-item fee, same referral and closing fees
If you sell more than 40 books per month, the Professional plan saves money. Most casual sellers start with the Individual plan.
Source Your Inventory
Profitable book resellers find inventory at:
- Thrift stores and Goodwill outlets
- Library book sales
- Estate sales and garage sales
- Online clearance retailers
Use scanning apps like ScoutIQ or the free Amazon Seller app to check a book’s current selling price and sales rank before you buy it. A book is generally worth picking up if it sells for $10+ on Amazon and has a sales rank under 1 million in its category.
Choose Your Fulfillment Method
FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) — You ship your books to Amazon’s warehouse. They handle storage, shipping, customer service, and returns. FBA books qualify for Prime shipping, which increases sales. Amazon charges storage and fulfillment fees.
FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) — You store and ship books yourself when they sell. Lower fees but more work, and no Prime badge.
Most serious book resellers use FBA for higher-value books and FBM for lower-margin ones.
Amazon Fees at a Glance
| Fee Type | Amount | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Individual seller per-item fee | $0.99/sale | Seller Central (Individual plan) |
| Professional seller subscription | $39.99/month | Seller Central (Professional plan) |
| Referral fee | ~15% of sale price | All Seller Central sales |
| Closing fee | $1.80/book | All Seller Central media sales |
| KDP ebook royalty | 35% or 70% | Self-published ebooks |
| KDP print royalty | 50% or 60% minus printing cost | Self-published paperbacks/hardcovers |
For KDP self-publishers, there are no listing fees — Amazon deducts its share from your royalties automatically. For resellers, fees stack up quickly on low-priced books, which is why experienced sellers focus on books priced above $10.
How to Market Your Book After Publishing
Getting your book on Amazon is only step one. Here is how to drive consistent sales:
Optimize for Amazon search. Amazon is a search engine for buyers. Research keywords, pick tight categories, and write a listing that converts. This is the highest-leverage marketing activity for most authors.
Build an author platform. An email list, social media presence (especially BookTok for authors), and an author website create demand that does not depend on Amazon’s algorithm alone.
Run Amazon Ads. Sponsored Product ads put your book in front of readers searching for books like yours. Start small, test keywords, and scale what works.
Price strategically. If you have both ebook and paperback editions, the price difference creates a psychological anchor. A $14.99 paperback makes your $4.99 ebook feel like a bargain.
Build reviews. Books with more reviews convert better. Follow up with readers, include a review request at the end of your book, and consider using Amazon’s “Request a Review” button in Seller Central.
For a deeper dive into post-launch marketing, see our complete guide to how to market a self-published book.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Publishing before your book is edited. Poor quality leads to bad reviews, which tank your listing permanently. Pay for at least a copyedit.
- Ignoring your book description. Many authors treat this as an afterthought. It is the single most important conversion element on your listing besides the cover.
- Pricing too high or too low. A $0.99 ebook signals low quality. A $14.99 ebook prices you out of the 70% royalty tier. Use the sweet spots above.
- Skipping keyword research. If readers cannot find your book, they cannot buy it. Spend an hour researching what people search for in your genre.
- Expecting organic sales without a launch plan. Amazon rewards momentum. A book that sells zero copies in its first month will sit at the bottom of search results indefinitely.
FAQ
Is it free to sell books on Amazon?
Self-publishing through KDP is free — no listing fees, no upfront costs. Amazon deducts printing costs and its royalty share from each sale. Reselling through Seller Central is free on the Individual plan (no monthly fee), but Amazon charges $0.99 per sale plus referral and closing fees.
How much money can you make selling books on Amazon?
It depends entirely on your book, pricing, and marketing effort. A nonfiction ebook priced at $4.99 with the 70% royalty earns roughly $3.44 per sale. Sell 100 copies per month and that is $344/month from a single title. Some self-published authors earn six figures annually across multiple titles, while others earn very little. The books that sell are the ones that target a specific audience and are actively marketed.
Should I use KDP Select (Kindle Unlimited)?
KDP Select requires ebook exclusivity on Amazon but gives you access to Kindle Unlimited readers, promotional pricing tools, and higher visibility. For new authors without an established audience on other platforms, KDP Select is usually worth it. You can opt out after each 90-day enrollment period.
How long does it take for a book to appear on Amazon?
After you click publish in KDP, your book typically appears on Amazon within 24–72 hours. During peak periods, it may take slightly longer. Resellers listing through Seller Central see their listings go live almost immediately.
Can I sell AI-written books on Amazon?
Yes, but with disclosure requirements. Amazon requires you to disclose AI-generated content when publishing through KDP. AI-assisted content (where you use AI as a tool but provide substantial creative input) is fully allowed. The key is quality — regardless of how a book is written, it needs to provide genuine value to readers.
