By Iminza Keboge
Published May 19, 2023
Publishers and authors using Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing service could see a decrease in the royalties on their books when Amazon increases the price of printing on June 20, 2023.
“Since launching KDP print books in 2016, we’ve enjoyed helping you publish and sell your books around the world. During this time, we’ve kept our printing fees the same, despite increasing costs of materials and labor over the past six years,” Amazon writes to publishers. “On June 20, 2023, we’re changing our fees to better align with today’s cost to print books. We have not taken this decision lightly, and have reduced printing costs where possible.”
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The announced changes to printing costs that shall become effective on June 20, 2023, 12:00 AM UTC, include:
- An increase in the fixed cost for all paperback and hardcover books to cover the higher cost of materials, suppliers, and labor
- A new fixed and per-page cost for paperback and hardcover books with large trim sizes to cover the additional costs to print these books. A large trim size is either larger than 6.12 inches (155 mm) in width or 9 inches (229 mm) in height, and
- A decrease in the per-page cost for certain color-ink print books ordered from some marketplaces.
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“These changes will affect your royalties for paperback and hardcover books. While not required, you may choose to update your list prices to avoid a change in royalty payments or zero royalties on paperback and hardcover books where your list price drops below the new minimum list price. If you make updates to a print book after June 20, it will need to comply with the new minimum list price in order to publish the updates,” Amazon informs publishers.
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