How to Self-Publish a Book on Amazon KDP (Guide for Ebooks, Paperbacks and Hardcovers)

Alex at www.bookeditingservices.co.uk
Apr 3
8 min read

Updated: 5 hours ago

This page may include affiliate links. If you click and purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse tools and resources that I believe will benefit authors and self-publishers. See my Affiliate Disclosure for more information.

How to Self-Publish a Book on Amazon KDP

I provide resources to support authors through editing and self-publishing. If you find this article useful, you can support this content.

Buy Me a Coffee ►

Self-publishing is now more accessible than ever for both new and established authors. With affordable tools and platforms available, publishing your own book is far less daunting than securing a traditional publishing contract.

Publishing through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is completely free. If you’re looking to self-publish your book – whether it's an ebook, paperback or hardcover – this step-by-step guide will walk you through the process using one of the most popular platforms available.

Firstly, congratulations on finishing your book. As a freelance proofreader and editor at Book Editing Services, I have worked with many authors over the years and understand just how much time, effort and persistence it takes to reach this stage.

Today, many writers choose self-publishing because it gives them full control and avoids long submission processes, delays or potential rejection from traditional publishers.

Amazon offers access to one of the largest global book-buying audiences, where books are discovered based on keywords, categories, covers and reviews – not just publishers. This creates a level playing field for independent authors.

This Guide to Self-Publishing on Amazon Covers:

Setting up your KDP account
Understanding tax requirements
Deciding whether to enrol in KDP Select
Entering your book details
Writing your book description
Choosing keywords and categories
Formatting your book
Creating a professional cover
Uploading and previewing your book
Publishing paperback and hardcover editions
Promoting your book with Amazon Ads
Enhance your listing with A+ Content
Set up your Author Profile
What to expect after publishing

For reference to accompany this article, please also check Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing introductory page, which is updated regularly as appropriate.

Set Up Your KDP Account

To begin, you’ll need:

Your bank account details (IBAN and BIC/SWIFT)
Your tax information (such as your National Insurance number, UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference) or company tax reference)

You can sign in using your existing Amazon account or create a new account if you don't already have one. Your author/pen name can differ from your account name, and you can publish books under multiple pen names if required.

Understanding Your Tax Requirements

KDP requires you to complete a tax interview. Amazon handles VAT and sales tax collection on book sales, but you are responsible for declaring and paying tax on your royalties in your country of residence.

For UK authors, tax treaties with the USA usually reduce withholding tax to 0% once the correct information is submitted. Depending on the country you are based in, similar tax treaties may apply, so it is important to check what is relevant in your location.

As tax rules can change, it’s always best to check current guidance or speak to a tax adviser.

Decide Whether to Enrol in KDP Select

KDP Select is an optional programme for ebooks that requires exclusivity with Amazon.

Benefits include:

Inclusion in Kindle Unlimited
Access to promotional tools such as countdown deals
Increased visibility within Amazon

However, you cannot sell your ebook elsewhere while enrolled.

Find out more on the Amazon KDP Select page.

Check out my article How to Promote Your Book on Amazon to see all the promotional tools Amazon provide, most of which are free, to use in your marketing strategy to maximise the exposure of your book.

Enter Your Book Details

You’ll be guided through entering your core book information, including:

Title and subtitle (up to 200 characters)
Author name
Series details (if applicable)
Description (can use book blurb)
Keywords and categories
Publishing rights and primary market
ISBN selection for print books (use a free KDP ISBN or your own) and ASIN automatically assigned for Kindle ebooks as appropriate
Trim size and print options (for paperback and hardback editions)
Uploading your manuscript interior and cover files
Pricing across the different marketplaces (you can set your primary price on Amazon.com and apply it across all other regions)

Write Your Book Description

Your description acts as your sales copy. It should:

Hook the reader immediately
Clearly explain what they will gain from the book
Use short paragraphs or simple formatting for readability

Tools such as the Kindlepreneur Book Description Generator can help you write and format a professional book description using Amazon-approved HTML. It simplifies layout and spacing, while also offering optional AI support to improve clarity, flow and readability.

Your book description is one of the most important elements for converting clicks into sales.

Choose Keywords and Categories

Keywords

You are given seven keyword boxes to help readers find your book.

Best practices:

Use long-tail phrases (e.g. “small town romance” or “budgeting and personal finance book”)
Avoid repeating words already in your title
Think like a reader searching for your book

If you need more structured guidance, your keyword research can be improved by using Publisher Rocket, a software tool developed by Dave Chesson at Kindlepreneur, designed to help identify high-traffic, low-competition keywords on Amazon. It can also be used to analyse keywords used by popular books and to support keyword selection for advertising campaigns.

See also Dave Chesson's article How to Choose Your Amazon Kindle & Book Keywords to find out more.

Format Your Book

Formatting the layout of your manuscript ensures your book looks professional, is easy to read, and is prepared in a compatible file type to upload on to Amazon KDP for self-publishing.

You can:

Format your manuscript manually using Microsoft Word with consistent styles and spacing, applying the correct formatting features where needed and avoiding unnecessary ones (see Basic Tips below)
Use tools such as Kindle Create, Atticus or Vellum (Mac only) to apply professional layout styling, ensure consistent formatting throughout the manuscript and generate a KDP-compatible file ready for upload to Amazon
Or hire a professional formatting service for a publisher-standard layout, including converting your manuscript into a fully optimised file

Basic tips:

Use consistent paragraph styles for headings and body text to maintain a clean, uniform layout
Avoid using the tab key for indentation – use paragraph settings instead
Use page breaks to separate chapters clearly (not required for ebooks)
Ensure font choice and spacing are consistent and easy to read throughout
Remove extra spaces and formatting inconsistencies
Ensure images are high quality (300 DPI for print) and correctly positioned
Apply headers, footers and page numbers appropriately for print formats, and remove them for ebooks

Create a Cover

Your cover is one of the biggest factors in attracting readers.

Options include:

Hiring a professional designer
Using KDP’s Cover Creator
Creating your own using design tools, including Canva and AI software (such as MidJourney, ChatGPT, Nano Banana, Adobe InDesign, or Affinity Designer)

There are many YouTube videos discussing how to create book covers to self-publish on Amazon.

A strong cover should be clear, readable at thumbnail size and aligned with your genre.

Preview and Upload

Use Amazon KDP’s built-in preview tool or use Kindle Previewer (desktop software) to check your book across devices with different screen sizes, such as a Kindle, tablet, phone, etc.

Once ready, upload your manuscript and cover via your KDP Bookshelf.

Publish Paperback and Hardcover Versions

KDP allows you to publish paperback and hardcover editions using their print-on-demand service, meaning books are only printed when ordered, with no upfront printing or storage costs, and Amazon handle the delivery.

You can use the Kindle Create tool to format your print manuscript, with separate guides and templates available for both PC and Mac users. Alternatively, many authors now upload a clean, formatted PDF (preferred) or Word document directly.

The format specifications for printed books are more detailed than for ebooks, so it’s worth taking time to review your options for trim size, margins and spine width before getting started.

For further guidance, you can refer to Amazon KDP’s official resources, including the Paperback and Hardcover Trim Size guides, the Build Your Book – Format a Paperback and Format a Hardcover Manuscript resources, and the downloadable Paperback and Hardcover Manuscript Templates, which provide detailed specifications and ready-to-use layouts for both formats.

KDP can provide a free ISBN (International Standard Book Number) for paperback and hardcover editions; however, this is limited to books published and sold through Amazon's KDP platform, so you may prefer to use your own ISBN if you plan wider distribution.

Kindle ebooks do not require an ISBN to be published and sold, as Amazon assigns a unique ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) to each title. However, ASINs are only recognised within Amazon's platform and cannot be used for distribution elsewhere, so using your own ISBN may be beneficial if you plan to publish more widely.

Key points:

No upfront printing costs
Books are printed only when ordered
Amazon manages the sale, printing and delivery of your book, or provides readers with access to your ebook.
A free ISBN is available for print books (KDP-only use), or you can use your own
Royalties are calculated from your list price, minus Amazon’s share of the sale and the printing costs for each copy sold

If you’d like a clearer understanding of book publishing terminology, you can also check out my book publishing terms and terminology post for an extensive glossary with simple explanations.

Promote Your Book with Amazon Ads

Amazon Ads are one of the most effective ways to increase your book's visibility.

A simple starting strategy:

Run automatic campaigns to gather data
Use low bids to stay within your royalty margin
Move successful keywords into manual campaigns
Regularly review and refine your ads

Want a step-by-step approach? Check out this free Amazon Ads course by Dave Chesson at Kindlepreneur, which shows how to set up your ad campaign/s, finding profitable keywords, optimising and managing campaigns, and more.

Enhance Your Listing with A+ Content

You can improve your book’s product page using Amazon's A+ Content feature.

This allows you to:

Add images and formatted sections
Showcase your book’s features
Strengthen your author branding

It can help improve conversion rates once readers land on your book page.

Set Up Your Author Profile

Create an Amazon Author Central account to:

Add your author bio
Link all your books
Upload editorial reviews
Improve your credibility as an author

What to Expect After Publishing

Once your book is live:

It usually appears within 24–72 hours
You’ll have access to real-time sales data
Royalty payments are made monthly (two months in arrears)
You can update your book at any time if needed (not the title or subtitle)

Is There a Downside to Publishing Through Amazon?

While KDP offers huge reach and flexibility, there are some considerations:

Physical bookstores are less likely to stock self-published titles
Competition is high, so marketing is essential
Success depends on your niche, cover (and obviously content) and promotion

Final Thoughts

Self-publishing on Amazon KDP offers an accessible and flexible route to getting your book into the hands of readers worldwide.

With the right preparation, professional presentation and consistent promotion, you can successfully publish and market your book without submitting to a traditional publisher.

With my editorial services, you can prepare your manuscript for publication with confidence:

✔️ Expert proofreading corrects spelling, grammar and punctuation, ensuring your manuscript is polished and error-free before publication.

✏️ Professional editing refines your writing, enhances clarity and flow, and improves consistency – ensuring a high-quality finish that appeals to readers and strengthens credibility.

📖 Ebook formatting creates a clean, publisher-standard layout, ready to self-publish on Amazon KDP or submit to a publisher or agent.

Need help finalising your manuscript before self-publishing? Contact me ►