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KDP Expanded Distribution: A Guide to Amazon's "Wide" Program
When you publish a paperback on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), you’ll encounter an optional checkbox: Expanded Distribution. This feature is Amazon’s way of offering to distribute your print book to a wider audience beyond just the Amazon website, including other online retailers, bookstores, and libraries.
While it sounds like a simple “yes,” the decision to enroll in KDP Expanded Distribution is a strategic one with significant financial and professional implications. It’s a convenient option for beginners, but it’s not always the most profitable or effective way to achieve wide distribution. This guide will break down what the program is, its pros and cons, and how it compares to the professional alternative.
Key Takeaways & Summary
- Amazon’s “Go Wide” Option: KDP Expanded Distribution is an optional program that makes your KDP paperback available for order by other retailers and libraries.
- The Benefit is Convenience: It offers a simple, one-click way to make your book available beyond the Amazon ecosystem.
- The Main Drawback is a Lower Royalty Rate: Your royalty rate for sales made through Expanded Distribution channels drops significantly to 40% (minus the printing cost).
- The Professional Alternative is IngramSpark: The industry-standard method for achieving wide distribution is to use a separate service called IngramSpark, which offers better terms and is preferred by bookstores.
How Does KDP Expanded Distribution Work?
When you check the Expanded Distribution box, KDP makes your book’s files available to major distributors (including Ingram, the largest book wholesaler). This means:
Other Online Retailers: Your book can be listed for sale on the websites of other retailers, such as Barnes & Noble’s website.
Physical Bookstores and Libraries: A bookstore or library can, in theory, order a copy of your book through the distribution network if a customer specifically requests it.
It’s important to understand what this does not do. It does not mean your book will automatically appear on the physical shelves of your local bookstore. It simply makes it available for them to order.
The Pros and Cons of Using KDP Expanded Distribution
The Pros:
It’s Easy and Convenient: It’s a single checkbox on your KDP dashboard. For a beginner who is overwhelmed by the publishing process, this is the simplest way to get wider availability.
It’s Free: There is no extra cost to enroll in the program.
The Cons:
Significantly Lower Royalty Rate: This is the biggest drawback. For a sale made on Amazon, you get a 60% royalty (minus print cost). For that same book sold through an Expanded Distribution channel, your royalty drops to just 40% (minus print cost). This can cut your profit per sale in half.
Bookstores are Hesitant to Order: Many physical bookstores are reluctant to order books that are printed by KDP (Amazon). They often prefer to order from their primary distributor, Ingram.
You Cannot Set a Wholesale Discount: You have no control over the wholesale discount, which is a key factor for bookstores.
The Professional Alternative: KDP vs. IngramSpark
The professional strategy for achieving wide distribution is to bypass KDP’s program and go directly to the source: IngramSpark.
The Strategy: Serious independent authors use a two-platform approach:
They publish their paperback on KDP without checking the Expanded Distribution box. This is for all their Amazon sales, where they get the higher 60% royalty.
They publish the exact same book (using their own purchased ISBN) on IngramSpark and use it for all non-Amazon distribution.
Why this is better: This strategy, often called the “KDP vs. IngramSpark” method, gives you the best of both worlds: maximum profit on your Amazon sales and the most professional, effective, and bookstore-friendly distribution to the rest of the market. This is a core strategy advocated by leading author organizations like the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi).
Our Amazon KDP publishing services can help you set up the KDP side of this professional distribution strategy.
Short FAQ
Q: Should a beginner use KDP Expanded Distribution?
A: If you are a beginner, your budget is very tight, and you are only focused on simplicity, then checking the box is an acceptable starting point. However, as soon as you are able, moving to the professional KDP + IngramSpark strategy is highly recommended for long-term career growth.
Q: Does Expanded Distribution apply to KDP hardcovers?
A: Yes. KDP also offers an Expanded Distribution option for their print-on-demand hardcovers, with the same 40% royalty rate and the same strategic considerations.
Q: Can I un-enroll from Expanded Distribution later?
A: Yes. You can go into your KDP dashboard at any time and uncheck the box for Expanded Distribution. This will allow you to then set up your book on IngramSpark to take over your wide distribution.
