Publish your book on Amazon KDP without the guesswork
The checklist we use for our own paperbacks, ebooks and puzzle books, from ISBN to live listing.
The launch checklist
1. ISBN & imprint
Decide whether to use your own ISBNs (Bowker in the US) and imprint name. The copyright page and the KDP Publisher field must match exactly.
2. Interior
Pick the trim size first. Respect KDP's minimum margins: the gutter grows with page count (0.5 in. at 151-300 pages). Embed every font.
3. Page count, then spine
Final page count sets the spine. For cream paper KDP uses 0.0025 in. per page, so 190 pages = 0.475 in. Add 0.125 in. bleed on every side of the wrap.
4. Cover
Build the full wrap at the exact size, keep text off the spine edges, and leave the back cover's lower-right clear for the barcode.
5. Proof copy
Order a printed proof before you publish. Holding the book catches what the screen doesn't.
6. Listing & keywords
Title and subtitle exactly as on the cover. Seven keyword slots: no words already in the title, and no word repeated across slots.
Books we've published this way
ALL HANDS — The Only Conclusion #1
An interactive mystery novel set in the Great Storm of 1913. Twenty-six went out. Only twenty-five were ever named.
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MITCH McCONNELL: The Unmaking of American Democracy
How lawful Senate power built a 6-3 Court, and what it cost. Publishing before the 3 Nov 2026 midterms.
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The P2E Bible
An applied textbook on Web3 gaming economies: analytical, evenhanded, built for courses.
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Brain Focus Calcudoku
Large-print logic puzzle books: 500+ verified puzzles per book, answers included.
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How do I calculate the spine width for a KDP paperback?
Multiply the final page count by the paper's thickness. For cream paper KDP uses 0.0025 inches per page, so a 190-page book has a 0.475-inch spine. Add 0.125 inches of bleed on every side of the cover wrap.
How big should the gutter margin be?
It grows with page count. For 151 to 300 pages KDP's minimum inside margin is 0.5 inches.
How many keywords does a KDP listing get?
Seven keyword slots. Don't repeat words already in the title, and don't repeat a word across slots.
Should I order a proof copy?
Yes. Order a printed proof before you publish. Holding the book catches what the screen doesn't.
Do the copyright page and the KDP Publisher field need to match?
Yes. If you use your own ISBNs and imprint, the copyright page and the KDP Publisher field must match exactly.
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The complete checklist with templates, as it's published.
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