Amazon has changed its KDP royalty rates, giving independent authors more pricing flexibility. As of July 7, 2026, qualifying ebooks priced between $2.99 and $12.99 may receive the KDP 70% royalty.
Previously, the upper limit was $9.99. Ebooks priced above that amount generally dropped to the 35% royalty rate.
For authors publishing longer books, boxed sets, workbooks, specialized nonfiction, the expanded KDP 70% royalty range creates greater flexibility.
What Changed With KDP Royalty Rates?
For years, authors who wanted to earn Amazon’s 70% ebook royalty had to keep the US list price between $2.99 and $9.99.
That restriction created a difficult decision for authors whose books reasonably warranted a higher price. They could price the book above $9.99 and accept the lower 35% royalty, or reduce the price to remain eligible for 70%.
The new ceiling allows qualifying ebooks priced as high as $12.99 to earn the higher rate.
Amazon still deducts ebook delivery costs under the KDP 70% royalty option, and other eligibility requirements continue to apply. Authors should review the current KDP pricing requirements before changing a book’s price.
Who Benefits Most From the Change?
The increased ceiling may be especially useful for authors publishing:
- Multi-book boxed sets
- Long or highly specialized nonfiction
- Educational guides and workbooks
- Professional or technical books
- Premium editions with substantial added content
A higher permitted price doesn’t automatically mean every author should raise an ebook to $12.99. Pricing must still reflect the genre, competition, audience expectations, value of the book.
A commercial romance novel, for example, may face very different pricing expectations than a detailed professional reference guide.
Check Books Already Priced Above $9.99
Authors who currently have an ebook priced between $9.99 and $12.99 should check the title’s settings in the KDP dashboard.
The Authors Guild confirmed the change and noted that authors with ebooks already priced between $9.99 and $12.99 may need to select the 70% royalty option manually. Do not assume Amazon has automatically changed the selected royalty option.
Authors should also check prices in international marketplaces, since Amazon uses equivalent pricing ranges for other currencies.
Price Is Only One Part of the Publishing Package
The new royalty range gives authors more control, but a higher price also creates higher reader expectations.
Before raising an ebook’s price, examine the complete publishing package:
- Has the manuscript been professionally edited and proofread?
- Is the ebook properly formatted for different devices?
- Does the cover communicate the correct genre and level of quality?
- Does the book description clearly explain its value?
- Do the categories and keywords help the right readers find it?
- Does the sample encourage readers to continue?
A higher royalty percentage can’t compensate for weak presentation or an unfinished manuscript.
So, ask yourself: Has the book received professional ebook formatting so it displays properly across devices and reading apps?
What Authors Should Do Now
Review your current ebook prices, royalty selections, delivery costs, and competing titles. Then decide whether the new KDP 70% royalty ceiling creates a genuine pricing opportunity for your book.
Authors preparing their first KDP release should also make sure the interior file, front matter, chapter formatting, ebook navigation are ready before uploading.
Lioness Press’s Format Your Book for KDP in One Day walks indie authors through preparing paperback and ebook files, making publishing decisions, and completing the KDP upload process. For authors who need additional support, Lioness Press also offers editing, proofreading, formatting, editorial assessments, final pre-publication reviews.
The royalty rules may change, but the principle remains the same: Publishing successfully requires more than uploading a file. Every part of the book must support the value you’re asking readers to see.