Plan or import the manuscript
Start blank, prepare an outline or import a supported manuscript and review its chapter split. Keep chapter titles, book context and continuity notes available during drafting.
How to publish a book on Amazon, step by step
To publish a book on Amazon, you use Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): finish the manuscript, export an ebook file and a print PDF, prepare a cover, create the title in KDP with its metadata, choose an ISBN, upload and preview, then set the royalty and price and publish. KDP estimates about three business days for ordinary books, while low-content reviews may take 3–4 weeks. These are estimates, with timing varying by type and marketplace. Current royalty, disclosure and review guidance was rechecked on 11 October 2026, and shows which parts Gixo Folio handles — the manuscript and files — and which stay in your KDP account.
Folio · real output
An actual manuscript. A complete export to inspect.
Open the finished book and the brief that produced it. Planning, chapter drafting, editorial passes and a frozen publishing edition have different scopes.
The Summer Lost-and-Found
A chapter book for readers aged seven to nine: a boy is put in charge of his village's lost-property cupboard for one summer and has to find the owners of a growing pile of odd objects. Folio wrote all six chapters from the brief. Each runs 1,513 to 1,754 words where the brief asked for about 1,100.
Inspect the source brief or data
A funny, warm chapter book for readers aged seven to nine about a boy who is put in charge of his village's lost-property cupboard for one summer and has to find the owners of a growing pile of odd objects. Six short chapters of about 1,100 words each, short sentences, plenty of dialogue, and a gentle surprise in the last chapter. Audience: Children aged seven to nine, read alone or aloud. Tone: Funny, warm and gentle. Everything in the book is invented: the village, the people and the events. Use no real person, organisation, brand or place, and no statistics or quotations.
Read the sample review notes
Screened mechanically for what the brief forbade (a real person, organisation, brand, place, statistic or quotation) and found none: every capitalised name is a character or place in the book. Nobody has edited the text, and nobody has read it for quality.
Review chapter by chapter
Draft individually or use Folio's sequential chapter batch. Inspect continuity findings and evidence, then accept, reject or defer editorial issues. Editorial findings do not overwrite manuscript text on their own.
Proof the exported edition
Choose the format and chapter scope separately. For print, inspect trim, margins, gutter, bleed, matter and rendered page count. Freeze the edition, annotate its exact proof and track corrections before preparing the publishing handoff.
Chapter batches, continuity and editorial passes
Review the imported chapter split or planned outline, then draft individual chapters or a sequential batch. Continuity entries can retain characters, frameworks, sources, story time, applicable chapters and who knows a fact. Editorial passes retain reading coverage and quoted evidence; accept, reject or defer findings without allowing the model to overwrite the manuscript automatically.
Format, chapter scope and print geometry
Choose the format separately from the full-book, current-chapter or selected-chapter scope. Print controls cover trim, margins, mirrored gutter, bleed, running matter and page numbering. A paperback wrap uses the rendered page count with the selected paper and ink choices. Fixed-layout EPUB spreads remain unavailable in the current UI.
Frozen editions, figures and international versions
Freeze the manuscript and export settings, inspect the exact proof, annotate corrections and compare it with later chapter changes. Saved Prism figures retain their own revision and accessibility text; updating the source visual does not silently replace an edition's snapshot. Translation creates a separate edition with its source revision, progress and export to review.
Folio chapter batching is separate from Quill CSV bulk generation. Fixed-layout EPUB spreads are not offered in the current UI. Print preflight and a publishing checklist do not guarantee retailer acceptance or perform a retailer upload. Chapter word goals guide a draft and do not fix its length, as the sample above shows, so check each chapter's count after drafting.
Estimated timing
Ordinary books: about three business days; low-content reviews may take 3–4 weeks. Check the current Bookshelf status.
35% or 70%
KDP ebook options; the US 70% price band is $2.99–$12.99, with territory and other eligibility conditions.
2,560 × 1,600
KDP's ideal ebook cover size in pixels, a 1.6:1 ratio.
6 × 9 in
KDP's default paperback trim size.
Review the exact edition before its publishing handoff
A format list is the starting point. Inspect print and ebook controls, freeze the manuscript and settings, then review the actual artifact that will leave the workspace.
Choose the actual print and ebook controls
Set standard or custom trim, mirrored margins, bleed and page headers. Inspect measured figure warnings; the paperback wrap uses the rendered interior's page count.
PDF is RGB, not PDF/X. EPUB 3 is reflowable; fixed-layout spreads and automatic index/bibliography generation are not provided.
Freeze and inspect the proof
Save a frozen edition, inspect its PDF or ebook artifact, add proof notes and corrections, and reproof changed files. Editorial clearance stays with that edition.
Approval is your recorded decision for one artifact. Later manuscript or layout changes need a new proof.
Prepare the author handoff
Choose the reviewed file, confirm provenance and destination requirements, then download the author handoff package and upload it yourself.
Folio does not issue ISBNs, publish to retailers or certify acceptance. Translation and audio are separate workflows.
Start blank, import and manually edit your own book. Its downloads and proofs do not need an active Folio subscription. New AI planning, drafting and editorial assistance need eligible access; translation and narration use separate edition conditions. Existing book view, comment and edit permissions apply.
Review the book workflow · Compare current Folio plans · Check supplied publishing details
01Brief the book
02Shape the outline
03Draft chapters
04Review the manuscript
05Export the edition
Folio is a strong fit whenThe manuscript still needs structure, revision, and a finish line.
Use the persistent book workspace when the outcome is a real guide, authority book, training manual, client asset, or exportable edition.
Consider another tool whenYou only need one narrow part of the publishing job.
If your manuscript is already finished and you only need specialist formatting or a dedicated fiction system, a focused tool may be the simpler choice.
What you need before you open KDP
Having these ready turns the KDP setup into a single sitting.
Ebook file
DOCX, EPUB or KPF
KDP accepts DOC and DOCX, EPUB and KPF for ebooks, among others. MOBI is no longer accepted for fixed-layout ebooks since March 2025.
Print interior
A PDF at your trim
A paperback interior sized to a KDP trim such as 5 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5, 6 × 9, 7 × 10 or 8.5 × 11. Bleed of 0.125 inch is only for images that run to the edge.
Cover
Ebook cover and print wrap
An ebook cover ideally 2,560 × 1,600 pixels in JPEG or TIFF; a paperback needs a full cover sized to the page count.
Metadata
Title, description, keywords
Title and subtitle, author name, description, keywords and categories, written before you start the form.
ISBN
Free KDP ISBN or your own
KDP offers a free ISBN for paperback and hardcover; an ebook does not need one.
AI disclosure
Know what KDP asks
KDP asks about AI-created text, cover/interior images and translations, including substantially edited AI-created work. Author-created work only improved with AI is distinguished as assisted; rights and policy compliance remain yours.
How to publish a book on Amazon KDP in six steps
The order that avoids re-uploading files after a late fix.
1
Finish and proofread the manuscript
Complete the edits first. A structural change after formatting means re-exporting and re-uploading every file.
2
Export the ebook and paperback files
Export a reflowable EPUB (or DOCX) for the Kindle ebook and a print PDF at your chosen trim for the paperback. KDP's default trim is 6 × 9.
3
Prepare the cover
Create the ebook cover at about 2,560 × 1,600 pixels and, for print, a full wrap — back, spine and front — sized to the final page count.
4
Create the KDP title and enter the metadata
In your KDP bookshelf, create the ebook or paperback, then add the title, author, description, keywords and categories, and answer the AI-content question.
5
Choose an ISBN, upload the files and preview
Pick the free KDP ISBN or enter your own for print, upload the manuscript and cover, and page through both in KDP's previewer.
6
Set the royalty and price, then publish
Choose the 35% or 70% ebook royalty, set list prices and territories, and submit. KDP's timing is an estimate; ordinary books and low-content books have different review windows. Check your Bookshelf status.
Which KDP steps Gixo Folio handles
Folio prepares the book and its files; the KDP account and listing stay yours.
| KDP step | Gixo Folio | Your KDP account |
|---|---|---|
| Manuscript | Plan, draft, revise and audit the book | Not a writing tool |
| Ebook file | Exports EPUB 3 and DOCX | Accepts EPUB, DOCX and KPF |
| Print interior | Print PDF at 5 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5, 6 × 9, 7 × 10, US Letter and more | Validates the PDF against the trim and margins |
| Cover | Front cover preparation and a separate paperback wrap derived from the rendered interior | Needs the ebook cover and the full paperback wrap |
| ISBN | Validates your ISBN and generates its barcode | Issues a free ISBN for paperback and hardcover |
| Listing, price and royalties | Not part of Folio | Metadata, pricing, royalties and publishing |
Sources
Checked against KDP's own help pages
Royalty options, AI-content disclosure, review timing, print-file guidance and the author preview process were rechecked against official KDP pages on 11 October 2026. Other historical format details retain their earlier source context. Confirm the current rules and your actual files in KDP before submitting.
Royalties
How much Amazon pays
KDP offers 35% and 70% ebook options, each with list-price and eligibility requirements. The Amazon.com 70% price band is $2.99–$12.99 from 7 July 2026; territory and other conditions apply. Delivery costs and applicable taxes affect the calculation. Check the current title setup and pricing rules.
Paperback royalties use 50% or 60% according to marketplace and list price. On Amazon.com, $9.98 or less uses 50% and $9.99 or more uses 60%. Royalty equals the rate multiplied by the tax-exclusive list price, minus printing cost. For an illustrative $15 price and $4.60 printing cost at 60%, ($15 × 0.60) − $4.60 = $4.40. Eligible Expanded Distribution uses 40% before subtracting printing cost.
AI-written books on KDP
What the disclosure question means
KDP requires disclosure of AI-created text, cover/interior images and translations when publishing or editing and republishing a book. Substantial later edits do not turn AI-created content into author-created content. It distinguishes author-created work only improved or brainstormed with AI as assisted. You remain responsible for rights and policy compliance.
Describe the actual origin of each part of your book, including AI-created images or translations. KDP separately limits new-title creation and first submission per format each week; check the current account guidance before scheduling a release.
Print proof
Preflight is followed by KDP's own review
Inspect the actual interior and separate paperback wrap. Check trim versus bleed dimensions, embedded fonts, image resolution at printed size and matching book details. Folio's measured warnings are bounded checks, not a current-KDP acceptance certificate.
Upload the files to KDP, inspect its Print Previewer and fix reported issues. KDP later checks the interior and cover manually; an optional physical proof lets you inspect the printed copy before publication.
Where Folio fits
The manuscript and the files, not the account
Folio prepares downloadable book files; it does not publish them to a retailer, provide human copyediting, or guarantee publishing or commercial outcomes.
Folio validates an ISBN you already hold, converts between ISBN-10 and ISBN-13, and generates the barcode for your print cover. It does not issue ISBNs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I publish a book on Amazon?
Through Kindle Direct Publishing. Finish the manuscript, export an ebook file (EPUB or DOCX) and a print PDF, prepare the cover, create the title in KDP with its metadata, choose an ISBN, upload and preview, then set the royalty and price and publish.
How long does it take to publish a book on Amazon KDP?
KDP currently estimates about three business days for ordinary books, with timing varying by book type and marketplace. Low-content reviews may take 3–4 weeks, and search results can take additional time after a title is live. These are estimates; inspect your KDP Bookshelf for current status.
What file format does Amazon KDP accept?
For ebooks, KDP accepts DOC and DOCX, EPUB and KPF, among others; MOBI is no longer accepted for fixed-layout ebooks since March 2025. For paperbacks, upload a print-ready PDF sized to your trim.
Do I need an ISBN to publish on Amazon?
Not for a Kindle ebook, where an ISBN is optional. For a paperback or hardcover, KDP offers a free ISBN, which lists the imprint as Independently published, or you can use your own.
How much does Amazon pay authors on KDP?
KDP offers 35% and 70% ebook options; the current US 70% price band is $2.99–$12.99, with other eligibility, territory, delivery and tax conditions. Paperback standard distribution uses 50% or 60% by list price and marketplace; multiply the applicable rate by the tax-exclusive list price, then subtract printing cost. Eligible Expanded Distribution uses 40% before printing cost.
Do I have to disclose AI on Amazon KDP?
Yes, for AI-created text, cover/interior images or translations, including substantially edited AI-created work. KDP distinguishes author-created work only improved with AI as assisted. You remain responsible for rights and content-policy compliance.
What size should my book be for KDP?
KDP's default paperback trim is 6 × 9 inches; 5 × 8 and 5.5 × 8.5 are common for fiction and memoir. The trim sets the page count and the cover dimensions, so choose it before you format.
Does Gixo Folio upload my book to Amazon?
No. Folio prepares the manuscript and exports the EPUB, DOCX and print PDF you upload. The KDP account, ISBN choice, upload, listing and royalties stay with you. Folio can prepare a paperback wrap, but you inspect it against current KDP requirements.
Before and after KDP
The pages for the steps around publishing on Amazon.
Product
Gixo Folio landing page
See the public Books positioning and strongest-fit use cases.Product
Books product page
Review the monthly Folio Author and Pro plans and the core manuscript workflow.Guide
Books Studio guide
Walk through the manuscript flow from setup to final export.Guide
How to self-publish a book
The wider self-publishing process, beyond Amazon.Guide
Book trim sizes
KDP's standard trims and which books use each.Tool
Book page count calculator
Estimate pages at your trim before you order a cover.Tool
Copyright page builder
Create the copyright page KDP books carry.Tool
Book publishing preflight
Check metadata and front matter before you upload.Official policy
KDP print royalties
Check current marketplace rates and the printing-cost formula.Official policy
KDP ebook price requirements
Check the current 70% price band and eligibility conditions.Official policy
KDP review timelines
Check estimated review and marketplace timing.Official policy
KDP content and AI disclosure
Review the content-origin distinction and author responsibilities.Official policy
KDP print-file review
Inspect file specifications and the preview/manual-review process.
More Gixo Folio pages
Related book writing, publishing, and alternative pages.
Guide
How to create an ebook
From purpose to a published EPUB in six steps.Guide
How many words in a book
Word counts by genre from three publishing sources.Overview
AI book writer
See the main Gixo Folio workflow for full manuscripts.Use case
AI eBook generator
Plan, draft, review, and export digital-first books.
Updated
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