KDP is simply the manufacturing dock where a finished book file becomes a sellable asset. Uploading is production. Publishing is positioning. The book gets placed on Amazon — but the ecosystem turns the author into a semi-celebrity. Keep that distinction front of mind throughout every step of this checklist.
Each phase builds on the last. Complete them in order — skipping ahead creates rework and delays going live.
Click Sign In or Join KDP. Use the email address that should control the publishing account long-term.
This grants Amazon the legal right to publish and sell the book through its platform. Required before any book can go live.
Use the legal name or business name that should receive payments and tax forms. Do not use the pen name here — KDP says pen names are entered later during book setup.
Add bank account details so royalties can be deposited directly. Double-check routing and account numbers carefully.
Navigate to Your Account → Tax Information. Answer all required questions, then save and submit. KDP displays the status as "Complete" once validated.
Before uploading anything, the interior and cover files must be precisely configured. The two most critical decisions are trim size and bleed — everything else flows from those two choices.
Common nonfiction sizes: 6×9, 5.5×8.5, 8.5×11. The interior PDF and cover file must both match this size exactly.
No bleed — for standard text-only books.
Bleed required — for full-page images, colored backgrounds, worksheets, or any graphic touching the page edge. KDP requires objects reaching the edge to extend 0.125 inches past the trim line.
Margins must provide enough room for printing and binding. KDP warns that improper trim size, bleed, or margins can cause rejection or print quality issues. Consult KDP's margin requirements table for your specific trim size and page count.
Before exporting, verify: page numbers, chapter starts, blank pages, headers and footers, image resolution and clarity, and the final page count. This page count will directly determine the spine width.
The spine width is calculated from page count, paper type, and trim size. Build the cover only after the interior manuscript is final and the page count is confirmed.
All print covers require bleed. KDP requires cover backgrounds to extend 0.125 inches beyond the final trim line on all outside edges to prevent white border gaps after cutting.
Use KDP's Cover Calculator to generate the exact cover template dimensions for your trim size, page count, and paper type before building the file.
This opens the book setup wizard where all metadata, files, and pricing will be entered.
For most GPS clients, start with Paperback. Add the Kindle eBook version after the print edition is approved and live.
Select the book's primary language — the language in which the book is written.
The title must match the cover and interior title page exactly. KDP metadata guidelines state the title field should contain only the actual title as it appears on the cover — no added keywords or promotional text.
Skip this field unless the book is formally part of a series. Adding a series name creates a series page on Amazon — only use it when intentional.
Use only for a true revised edition. Leave blank for a first-time publication. Misusing the edition field can confuse buyers and metadata systems.
This field accepts the legal name, brand name, or pen name. This is where the pen name is properly entered — not in the account details.
Add co-authors, editors, foreword writers, illustrators, or translators as applicable. Use the correct contributor role for each person — KDP uses these roles on the Amazon sales page.
Metadata is the book's discoverability infrastructure. It tells Amazon who should see the book, where to list it, and how to connect it with the right reader. Every field matters.
The book description becomes the Amazon sales page copy. KDP recommends keeping it simple, compelling, and professional. This is not a summary — it is a sales letter.
Open with the problem the reader is experiencing right now. Make them feel seen immediately.
State the transformation the book delivers. Be specific and outcome-focused.
Establish why the author has the credibility to deliver on that promise.
Briefly describe what the reader will discover or do inside the book.
Close with a direct, confident call to action that invites them to grab the book.
KDP allows up to 7 keyword fields. Use reader-search language — the exact phrases a buyer would type into Amazon, not internal industry terms.
Examples:
Categories help Amazon place the book where the right readers are already browsing. Choose up to 2 categories based on buyer intent, not author ego.
Step 24 — Adult Content: Answer the adult content question accurately. Misrepresenting this can trigger account-level issues.
Use a free KDP ISBN or bring your own. If using KDP's ISBN, Amazon is listed as the imprint. If brand identity matters, bring your own.
Usually use the current date. Reserve a future date only for a coordinated launch with pre-planned marketing activity.
Select trim size, interior type (B&W or color), paper type (white or cream), bleed setting, and cover finish (matte or glossy).
Upload the final, locked interior PDF. Confirm it matches the trim size and bleed settings selected above.
For most nonfiction brand-building books, use 6×9 trim, black and white interior, white paper, no bleed, matte cover.
The industry standard for nonfiction. Familiar to readers, efficient for printing, and looks authoritative on a shelf.
Keeps printing costs low, which keeps royalties strong and list price competitive. Use color only when the content genuinely requires it.
Matte reads as premium and professional for most nonfiction audiences. Glossy is better suited for children's books and cookbooks.
Upload the full wraparound cover PDF — back cover, spine, and front cover as a single file. Ensure bleed is included and the spine text is centered within the safe zone.
KDP's built-in Previewer renders the book as it will print. Review every single page. Look for:
Do not rush the Previewer step. The Previewer is the last gate before the marketplace. Once the book is approved and goes live, a reprint requires uploading corrected files and waiting for another review cycle.
Pricing a book is a positioning decision, not just a royalty calculation. The right price signals the book's value and fits within the author's broader business ecosystem.
Select worldwide rights if the author holds worldwide publishing rights. KDP allows authors to limit distribution to specific territories if rights are restricted.
For U.S.-based GPS clients, set Amazon.com as the primary marketplace. KDP will auto-calculate prices for other marketplaces based on the primary price.
Use KDP's royalty display to see estimated earnings per copy. The printing cost is deducted before royalty is calculated. Use the KDP royalty calculator to test price scenarios before committing.
Expanded distribution makes the book available through retailers and libraries beyond Amazon. It can increase discoverability — but it comes with trade-offs that must fit the author's specific strategy.
Most GPS clients are building an author brand around speaking, coaching, or consulting. For those authors, Amazon-only distribution is often the cleaner, more profitable starting point.
Revisit expanded distribution after the first print run is reviewed and the marketing ecosystem is active.
KDP submits the book for internal review. Publishing typically goes live within 24–72 hours after approval.
Amazon reviews both the files and the metadata before the book goes live. KDP will send an email notification when the book is approved and published.
Order a physical author proof to inspect cover color, spine alignment, margins, readability, page order, and overall print quality before promoting the book widely.
Check: title, subtitle, author name, description, categories, price, cover image, and the "Look Inside" feature when available. Confirm everything matches the intended brand presentation.
KDP allows post-publication updates to description, keywords, categories, territories, and price. Metadata is never permanently locked — improve it as the book matures in the market.
Do not let the client confuse uploading with publishing strategy. Uploading is production. Publishing is positioning. The book gets placed on Amazon — but the ecosystem turns the author into a semi-celebrity.
Getting the files live on Amazon is a technical milestone. It is the starting line, not the finish line.
The book's real power comes from the ecosystem it anchors — speaking engagements, consulting, coaching, and authority-building.
A published book on Amazon signals credibility. The ecosystem built around it creates a semi-celebrity author brand that generates real revenue.
The complete step-by-step guide for independent authors and self-publishers uploading a print book to Amazon KDP — from account setup to a live sales page.