Free tools
KDP pricing recommender
Most first ebooks are priced by gut feeling. This tool gives you a starting price from three things that actually move the number: how long the book is, what kind of book it is, and whether you want income, readers or Kindle Unlimited page reads first.
How the recommendation is built
Readers price ebooks by expected value, and the strongest proxies for value on a store page are length and category. Short non-fiction (under 8,000 words) sells between $2.99 and $3.99; a full guide of 10,000 to 20,000 words between $2.99 and $5.99; longer books up to $9.99. Workbooks carry a premium because the reader uses them as a product, not just reads them. Novellas under 20,000 words sit low, $0.99 to $2.99, because fiction readers compare against full-length novels.
Then the goal shifts you inside the range. Income pushes to the top; reach pushes to the bottom but never below $2.99 unless the book is a lead magnet, because $2.99 is the lowest price that keeps the 70% royalty.
The $9.99 ceiling and the $2.99 floor
KDP’s 70% option only applies between $2.99 and $9.99. Inside that band, every dollar you add is worth about 70 cents to you; outside it, only 35 cents. That is why the recommender never suggests $10 to $13: a $12.99 book earns less per copy than a $9.99 one.
Launch pricing
A common pattern is to launch at $0.99 for a week or two, collect reviews from early readers, then move to the recommended price. The launch price pays 35%, so treat it as marketing spend, not income.
Kindle Unlimited changes the question
If your book is in KDP Select, subscribers pay nothing per book and you earn per page read. Length and formatting then matter more than the list price: a clean, well-structured 15,000-word book reads to the end and pays every page. Keep the list price at $2.99 or above for buyers who are not subscribers.
Frequently asked questions
Should I price my first ebook at $0.99?
Only as a short launch tactic to get reviews. At $0.99 you keep 35 cents per copy. Move to $2.99 or more once you have a few reviews.
Is $2.99 too cheap for a 15,000-word guide?
It is the floor of the 70% band and a common price for short practical guides. If the guide solves an expensive problem (taxes, health, a professional skill), $4.99 to $6.99 is usual.
Why not price above $9.99?
Because the royalty falls to 35%. Very few self-published ebooks earn more per copy above $9.99 than at $9.99.
Do prices differ per country?
Yes. KDP lets you set a price per marketplace or convert automatically. Local price bands for the 70% option differ, so check them if a marketplace matters to you.
Can I change the price later?
Any time, from your KDP dashboard. Changes take a few hours to appear.