Launch plan and graphics
Book launch plan: a 4-week timeline for a first KDP book
Work back from one fixed date: files and listing final four weeks out, early readers at three, posts and emails written at two, launch week for showing up.
Self-publishing guides
Fixes, rules and costs for publishing a book on KDP: editing, formatting, covers, Amazon listings, launch plans and author websites.
If a file is already stuck, start with our KDP rejected file fix, or see the paperback interior service if you are choosing who sets your pages.
Guides
Hardcover from paperback
KDP hardcover requirements: trim sizes, page limits, paper and cover
Hardcover rules are tighter: five trim sizes from 5.5 x 8.5 to 8.25 x 11, 75 to 550 pages, no standard color, and its own ISBN and cover file.
KDP rejected files
KDP cover error: what each message means and how to fix it
Almost always one of six things, such as a PDF the wrong size for the page count, a background short of the 0.125 inch bleed, or spine text under 79 pages.
Author website
How much does an author website cost in 2026?
At Clean Page Press an author website is $449 for one page or $849 for five, built in WordPress. Domain and hosting are extra and in your own name.
Book editing
How much does a developmental edit cost for a self-published book?
A developmental edit is $35 per 1,000 words with a $299 minimum. A 70,000-word novel is $2,450 and 15 business days, with a structure report and margin notes.
Amazon listing optimization
Amazon book description length: the limit, and what shows before Read more
The limit is 4,000 characters and every HTML tag counts. KDP suggests a 150-word paragraph, and only the opening lines show before "Read more".
KDP rejected files
Why KDP keeps rejecting my book: 10 formatting fixes
"KDP keeps rejecting my book" nearly always means one of ten formatting checks failed: page size, margins, gutter, bleed, fonts, blank pages, template text, a title mismatch, image resolution or text size.
Paperback interior
KDP margins 6x9, 5x8, 5.5x8.5 and 8.5x11 by page count
KDP margins are the same for every trim size: 0.25 inch top, bottom and outside, 0.375 with bleed. The inside gutter grows with your page count.
Paperback interior
How much does book formatting cost for KDP in 2026?
KDP formatting costs nothing with free tools, about $150 to $250 for software, or several hundred dollars and up for a pro. Ours is $249 up to 80,000 words.
Written by the production team behind Clean Page Press.
Prefer to have it done? See what book formatting costs for every service, ebook formatting included.
See your own book formatted, free
Up to 1,300 words of your manuscript, set at your trim size, back in 2 business days. No card.