Blog
How to Upload Your Book to KDP: A Step-by-Step Guide
You have reached the final, exciting step of your publishing journey: it’s time to upload your book to Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). This is the moment where your manuscript officially begins its transformation into a product for sale on the world’s largest bookstore. While the KDP dashboard is designed to be user-friendly, the upload process is a precise, technical step that requires you to have all your professional assets in order.
This guide will provide a clear, step-by-step walkthrough of the entire upload process. As a publisher that manages KDP uploads every day, we’ll show you exactly what information you need and which files to have ready for a smooth and successful launch.
Key Takeaways & Summary
Preparation is Everything: Before you even start the upload, you must have your final, professionally formatted manuscript and cover files ready.
A 3-Tab Process: The KDP upload process is broken down into three main tabs on the dashboard: Book Details, Book Content, and Pricing.
You Need Two Sets of Files: You will go through this upload process twice: once for your ebook (using EPUB and JPEG files) and once for your paperback (using PDF files).
The “Launch Previewer” is Crucial: Always use the built-in preview tool to check for errors before you hit publish.
The Crucial First Step: What You Need Before You Upload
You cannot successfully complete the upload process without having your final, professional book files on hand. Do not start until you have these assets:
Your Final Edited Manuscript: The text of your book should be 100% complete and professionally proofread. Making changes after this point is complicated. This is why our book editing services are a foundational first step.
Your Ebook Files: A formatted EPUB file of your interior and a high-resolution JPEG file of your front cover.
Your Paperback Files: A print-ready PDF of your interior (formatted to your chosen trim size) and a print-ready PDF of your full wraparound cover.
The KDP Upload Process: A 3-Tab Walkthrough
After you log in to your KDP account and click “Create,” you will be guided through three main pages.
Step 1: The “Book Details” Tab (Your Metadata)
This is where you tell Amazon all about your book. Have this information prepared in a separate document so you can copy and paste it.
Book Title, Subtitle, and Author Name.
Book Description: Your compelling, HTML-formatted blurb.
Keywords: Your seven strategic backend keyword phrases.
Categories: The two main categories you have chosen for your book.
The strategic importance of this metadata is a key topic for author organizations like the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi).
Step 2: The “Book Content” Tab (Your Files)
This is the core of the upload process.
Manuscript: Click the “Upload eBook manuscript” (or “Paperback manuscript”) button and select your final file (EPUB for ebook, PDF for print). The upload may take several minutes.
Cover: Select the option to “Upload a cover you already have” and upload your final cover file (JPEG for ebook, PDF for print).
Previewer: Once both files are processed, you must click the “Launch Previewer” button. This crucial tool will show you an interactive digital proof of your book exactly as it will appear to customers. Click through every single page to check for any formatting errors. KDP’s own help pages provide detailed guides on using this tool.
ISBN: For a paperback, you will either be assigned a free KDP ISBN or enter the one you have purchased.
Step 3: The “Pricing & Royalties” Tab (Getting Paid)
This is the final page before you publish.
Territories: Choose “All territories” to sell your book worldwide.
Pricing and Royalties: Enter your desired list price. KDP will automatically show you your estimated royalty after they take their share. For ebooks, ensure your price is between $2.99 and $9.99 to get the 70% royalty rate.
The Final Step: Hitting “Publish”
Once you have completed all three tabs and are satisfied with the preview, you can click the “Publish Your Book” button at the bottom of the pricing page.
Your book will go into a review process that can take up to 72 hours (for ebooks) or longer for paperbacks.
Once approved, your book will be live and for sale on Amazon!
This entire technical process can be time-consuming. Our Amazon KDP publishing services can manage this entire upload and setup for you, ensuring a flawless and strategically optimized launch.
Short FAQ
Q: Can I make changes after I upload and publish my book?
A: Yes. You can upload a revised manuscript or cover file at any time. The new version will replace the old one on the Amazon store after it goes through the review process again.
Q: What is the most common error during the upload process?
A: For paperbacks, the most common errors are related to the cover file being the wrong size or having an incorrect spine width. Using KDP’s official cover template is the best way to avoid this. For ebooks, errors are usually caused by a poorly formatted source document.
Q: Do I have to upload the ebook and paperback at the same time?
A: No, but it is highly recommended. Launching them together allows KDP to link their pages, which looks more professional to customers.
