Short answer. A KDP pre-order lists your Kindle ebook before release, for up to 18 months ahead. Paperbacks and hardcovers cannot take pre-orders. Upload your final file at least 72 hours before the release date. Miss it and KDP cancels the pre-order and every customer order, and a second miss blocks pre-orders for 6 months.
Key points
- Pre-orders are for new Kindle ebooks only, in all Amazon marketplaces.
- You can list up to 18 months ahead for pre-orders created on or after 2 September 2026.
- The final manuscript is due 72 hours before the release date.
- Your first missed deadline or cancellation is forgiven once per account. The second removes pre-orders for 6 months.
- Public domain ebooks cannot be put on pre-order.
- Our KDP upload and listing prep service writes the description, keywords and categories a pre-order page shows from day one.
How does a KDP pre-order work?
You set a release date and your Amazon page goes live straight away, with a "Pre-order" button instead of "Buy now". Readers order any time before the date and get the book on release day.
KDP's pre-order page says you do not need the final manuscript at setup. You can upload it any time before the deadline. Pre-orders count toward sales rank before release, so the page can start earning attention early.
You can have up to 10 pre-orders live at once.
Can I put a paperback on pre-order?
No. KDP says pre-orders are for ebooks only. For a paperback, you can schedule a release date instead, but readers cannot order it before then.
If you are releasing both formats on one day, the ebook takes the pre-order and the paperback gets the scheduled date. Our post on how to upload a paperback to KDP walks through that side.
What happens if I miss the KDP pre-order deadline?
KDP cancels the pre-order, and every customer who ordered is told their order is canceled. That is the part readers see.
The account cost depends on your history. KDP's current rules:
- First miss or cancellation. No penalty. KDP calls it a one time, account level courtesy.
- Second miss or cancellation. No new pre-orders and no postponements for 6 months, across your whole catalog.
If your privileges were removed before 2 September 2026, the old one year penalty still applies. Going over your postponement limit can also auto-cancel the pre-order, and that counts as a cancellation.
The fix we do for this: KDP listing prep writes your description, 7 keywords, 3 categories and title fields as text ready to paste, so the pre-order page is right the day it goes live. It costs $99 and takes 2 business days, and we never log in. Tell us your release date.
What can I change during a pre-order?
Until the deadline, 72 hours before release, KDP lets you change the title, description, categories, keywords, manuscript file and cover image. The price can change at any time. If you lower it, everyone who already ordered pays the lower price.
Once you submit the final manuscript, KDP reviews it and you cannot make changes for up to 72 hours. After the review you can edit again.
When should I upload the final file?
Earlier than the deadline. The 72 hours is the minimum KDP sets, and a file that fails a check eats into it.
Check the file in Kindle Previewer before you upload. Our post on using Kindle Previewer to check your ebook shows what to look at.
You can also upload a draft at setup. KDP says that lets readers preview a sample while the book is on pre-order.
Which books cannot go on pre-order?
Public domain ebooks, and any title that is not new. Our own sample work falls under the first rule. The sample EPUB we built on 10 October 2026 is a chapter of Pride and Prejudice. It is public domain, so as a KDP title it could not go on pre-order.
Does KDP Select work with a pre-order?
Yes. KDP says you can enroll a pre-order ebook in KDP Select. The 90 day term starts on the release date, and free days and Countdown Deals can only be scheduled after release. Our post on whether KDP Select is worth it for a first book covers that choice.
What else do authors ask about KDP pre-orders?
Up to 18 months for pre-orders created on or after 2 September 2026. Older ones were capped at 12 months.
Yes, but it counts like a missed deadline. Your first one in the account is forgiven.
No. It is due 72 hours before release.
Earlier, once the final file is in and reviewed. Later, within KDP's postponement limits.
No. Paperbacks can only get a scheduled release date.
What should you do next?
Pick a release date you can beat by a week, not by 72 hours. Set the pre-order with a complete description, keywords and categories, since the page is public from day one. If you want that text written, start on our KDP upload and listing prep page.
