💰 Print on Demand Royalty Calculator
Estimate your earnings per sale across KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu & more — instantly
Direct Sales
Distribution
Net Rate
Sales
Standard
$2.99–$9.99
Under $2.99
Bookstore
| Trim Size | 100 Pages | 200 Pages | 300 Pages | 400 Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 x 8 in | $1.68 | $2.15 | $2.62 | $3.09 |
| 5.5 x 8.5 in | $1.80 | $2.30 | $2.80 | $3.30 |
| 6 x 9 in | $1.92 | $2.48 | $3.04 | $3.60 |
| 7 x 10 in | $2.15 | $2.80 | $3.45 | $4.10 |
| 8.5 x 11 in | $2.75 | $3.65 | $4.55 | $5.45 |
| Trim Size | 50 Pages | 100 Pages | 150 Pages | 200 Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 x 8 in | $3.99 | $6.60 | $9.21 | $11.82 |
| 5.5 x 8.5 in | $4.45 | $7.52 | $10.59 | $13.66 |
| 6 x 9 in | $4.89 | $8.39 | $11.89 | $15.39 |
| 8.5 x 11 in | $6.39 | $11.40 | $16.41 | $21.42 |
| List Price | Gross Royalty (60%) | Minus Print Cost | Net Royalty | Net % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5.99 | $3.59 | $2.48 | $1.11 | 18.5% |
| $7.99 | $4.79 | $2.48 | $2.31 | 28.9% |
| $9.99 | $5.99 | $2.48 | $3.51 | 35.1% |
| $12.99 | $7.79 | $2.48 | $5.31 | 40.9% |
| $14.99 | $8.99 | $2.48 | $6.51 | 43.4% |
| $19.99 | $11.99 | $2.48 | $9.51 | 47.6% |
| Platform | Royalty Basis | PB Rate | HC Rate | eBook Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon KDP | List – Print Cost | 60% / 40% | 60% | 70% / 35% |
| IngramSpark | List – Print Cost | 45% | 45% | N/A |
| Lulu | Net Revenue | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Draft2Digital | Net Revenue | 60% | N/A | 60% |
| Blurb | Net Revenue | 50% | 50% | N/A |
| Printify | Retail – Base Cost | 100% margin | N/A | N/A |
Print on Demand Royalty is made up of the amount that publisher delivers to author for the sale of his book. That forms the part that author receives from every purchase. The royalty rating shows the percentage that author wins for every copy sold, commonly depending on the selling cost of the book.
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Traditional publishing delivers upfront income for creating the book. Hence the royalty parts usually stay the lowest compared to other publishing methods, widely between 7 and 25 percent. It is the only kind where promotions for books appear.
How Book Royalties Work
The most many publishers bid 12 until 18 percent royalties according to the list price of the book, although ratings for e-books and hardcover books commonly a bit differ. Around 10 percent is normal for hardcover books, while some authors reach 12 percent. Some authors mention to receive 6 until 7 percent, and partners can share 5 percent in mutual works.
Sometimes royalties are called “list royalties” or “retail royalties“. Even so, more and more publishers count author parts from final sales. This wants to say, that the percentage applies after discounts, that publishers give to stores.
Publishers offer books to bookshops with various discuonts, occasionally until half of the cover price or even more.
Promotions form other important part. Authors do not receive royalties, until quite a lot of copies sell so that publisher recovers the promotion. For instance, if book gives 2,50 dollars royalty for each copy and the promotion was 5 000 dollars, it needs 2 000 copies to pass it.
If it sells only 1 999 copies and goes out of printing, no royalties will pay. Many authors never succeed to recover there promotion entirely.
When book has two authors, that contributed almost equally, one usually shares royalties in 50/50. If one does more work, publisher can offer other division.
Self-publishing platforms work otherwise. Google Play, Apple, Kobo and Barnes and Noble all deliver 70 percent royalty, regardless of the price of the e-book. At Kobo, book requires price of 2,99 dollars or more to reach 70 percent.
At Amazon the current minimal price for 70 percent rating is similarly 2,99 dollars. Everything under that falls at 35 percent. For 70 percent royalties there is cost for delivering the e-book.
In 35 percent delivery stays free, regardless of file size. Since June 10th 2025, the royalty rating for books priced under certain list prices will adjust from 60 to 50 percent on at least one platform.
Authors do not get royalties for used books bought or for free got copies. Royalties depend only on new sales. Author receives them until his death, and his family can receive them during 70 years after that.
Royalty income usually comes six months until year after thereal sales because of reporting procedures.
