E-book Royalty Calculator

Find out exactly how much you earn per book sold. Account for different royalty tiers and file size delivery fees to maximize your author profits.

The retail price of your eBook

Typically 35% or 70% for Amazon KDP

Used to calculate Amazon delivery fees (approx $0.15/MB)

Total number of copies sold

Total Royalties = [(Price - Delivery Fee) × Royalty Rate] × Units Sold
Price: $4.99, Rate: 70%, Size: 1MB, Units: 100. Royalty per book ≈ $3.34. Total: $334.00.

How do Amazon KDP royalties work?

Amazon KDP typically offers two royalty options for eBooks: 35% and 70%. To qualify for the 70% royalty, your eBook must be priced between $2.99 and $9.99 and meet specific delivery requirements. If the book is priced outside this range or doesn't meet the criteria, you default to the 35% royalty rate.

What are "Delivery Fees" in eBook royalties?

For 70% royalty eBooks, Amazon charges a delivery fee based on the file size of the eBook (approximately $0.15 per megabyte). This fee is deducted from the sale price before the royalty is calculated. This is why optimizing your eBook file size (e.g., compressing images) can slightly increase your take-home profit.

Do royalties differ across different platforms?

Yes. Apple Books and Google Play Books often have different structures, though many mirror Amazon's 70% model. Direct sales through your own website (using tools like Shopify or Gumroad) typically yield the highest royalties (90-95%) because you only pay the payment processor fee (usually ~3% + $0.30).

How are royalties calculated for print-on-demand (POD) books?

POD royalties differ from eBooks because they must account for the physical printing cost. The formula is: Royalty = (Sale Price - Printing Cost) × Royalty Percentage. Printing costs vary based on page count, paper type (white vs. cream), and whether the book is color or black-and-white.