Publishing an ebook on Kindle is often assumed to be simpler than print, and in some ways it is, since there is no physical proof to order or spine width to calculate. But it introduces its own set of decisions, particularly around metadata, categories, keywords and whether to opt into KDP Select, that are easy to rush.
This guide sets out the current high-level workflow conceptually and flags the decisions that deserve more thought than a quick tick-box.
Ebook preparation
Most fiction, memoir and general non-fiction ebooks should be prepared as reflowable files, built from consistent paragraph and heading styles rather than manual spacing. See how do I format a book for KDP? for the detail on preparing a clean file before you start the upload process.
Reflowable format
A properly reflowable file adapts cleanly to any font size or screen the reader chooses, with a working, clickable table of contents built from real heading styles. This is worth double-checking in the previewer specifically, since it is one of the most common places ebook files quietly fail even when they look fine in a word processor.
Cover
An ebook needs a single front-cover image file, unlike print, which needs a full wraparound cover. The cover still needs to work at very small sizes, since most readers first encounter it as a thumbnail while browsing search results on a phone screen.
Metadata
Metadata for an ebook includes the title, subtitle, series details, description, author name and contributor information. This information drives both search discoverability and how the book presents itself on its product page, so it is worth treating as a genuine piece of copywriting rather than a formality.
The ISBN question
Kindle ebooks generally do not require an ISBN in the way paperbacks do, since Amazon assigns its own internal identifier for Kindle editions. This is a genuinely different situation to print, and the detail is covered fully in do I need an ISBN for Amazon KDP?
Categories
Categories place the book into the browsable sections readers use to find books by genre or topic. Choosing categories that genuinely match the book, rather than the most competitive-looking category regardless of fit, tends to serve both readers and long-term discoverability better.
Keywords
KDP allows authors to enter a limited number of search keywords or phrases that help readers find the book through search. These should reflect genuine terms a reader might search for, rather than an attempt to game unrelated popular search terms, which tends not to help and can run against platform content guidelines.
DRM, where current and relevant
KDP has historically offered an optional digital rights management setting for Kindle ebooks, intended to limit copying and sharing of files. Whether this option exists, and what it actually does, can change, so check KDP’s current help pages if this decision matters to you rather than assuming a setting still works the way it once did.
Pricing
Ebook pricing on KDP is generally set per marketplace and interacts with royalty options in ways that depend on price bands and other current rules. Rather than repeating specific percentages here, which change over time, check KDP’s current royalty and pricing pages directly when setting a price.
Royalties
Royalty structures for Kindle ebooks are tied to pricing choices and, in some cases, delivery costs based on file size and marketplace. Use KDP’s own current royalty calculator when deciding on a price, since figures quoted in older articles, including ones on this site, may no longer be accurate.
KDP Select
KDP Select is an optional programme that generally requires a period of exclusivity for the ebook edition in exchange for participation in certain promotional tools and Kindle Unlimited-style reading programmes. It is a genuine trade-off, exclusivity for potential extra reach and reader payment through a different route, and whether it suits a given book depends on the author’s wider distribution plans. If you intend to also sell the ebook through other retailers, this needs deciding before enrolling.
Previewing
The Kindle previewer lets you check the ebook across several simulated device types and font sizes before publishing. Checking the table of contents, chapter breaks, image placement and a sample of pages at more than one font size catches problems that are easy to miss when only looking at a single default view.
Publishing
Once metadata, files, rights, pricing and any Select decision are confirmed, submitting sends the ebook for review. As with print, review times are not fixed, so avoid announcing a hard publication date until the book has actually gone live.
Updating later
Ebook files, metadata and pricing can generally be updated after publication, and updated files can typically be pushed to readers who already purchased the book, within the platform’s current rules for content updates. This makes ebooks more forgiving of small errors than print, but it is still worth getting the launch version right, since readers who buy early see whatever was live at the time.
Common mistakes
- Treating metadata as a formality. Title, description, categories and keywords materially affect discoverability and are worth real drafting time.
- Confusing KDP with KDP Select. KDP is the publishing platform itself; Select is an optional, exclusivity-based enrolment on top of it.
- Choosing keywords unrelated to the book. Irrelevant popular search terms rarely help and can conflict with platform content guidelines.
- Enrolling in Select without checking exclusivity terms. Select generally requires exclusivity for the ebook edition, which affects other retailers.
- Skipping the previewer at more than one font size. Reflowable formatting problems often only appear once font size is changed.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an ISBN for a Kindle ebook?
Generally no, since Amazon assigns its own identifier for Kindle editions; see [do I need an ISBN for Amazon KDP?](/resources/amazon-kdp/do-i-need-an-isbn-for-amazon-kdp) for the full picture across formats.
Is KDP Select required to publish on Kindle?
No, it is an optional programme with its own exclusivity terms; publishing a standard Kindle ebook does not require enrolling in Select.
Can I sell my ebook on other platforms too?
Yes, unless you are enrolled in KDP Select, which generally requires exclusivity for that ebook edition during the enrolment period.
How do I choose the right price for my ebook?
Use KDP’s current royalty and pricing calculator, consider comparable books in your genre, and remember royalty structures can depend on price bands and marketplace.