---
title: "KDP's 70% Royalty Option, Explained"
description: "How KDP's 70% ebook royalty works: the Amazon.com price band, the delivery cost it deducts, the territories it covers and who can't use it."
url: "https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/70-percent-royalty-option"
updated: "2026-10-20"
---

# 70% royalty option

**Definition.** The 70% royalty option is the higher of KDP's two ebook royalty plans. It pays 70% of the list price, less VAT and a delivery cost based on file size, on sales to customers in eligible territories. On Amazon.com the list price must be $2.99 to $12.99, and public-domain works can't use it.

Sources checked October 20, 2026. Figures: KDP's Amazon.com ebook royalty, list-price and delivery figures, as of October 11, 2026.

## How it works

Choosing 70% doesn't mean every sale pays it. Sales to customers outside the eligible territories are paid at 35%, which is why a Bookshelf can show both rates for one book on Amazon.com. Each eligible sale is charged a delivery cost of $0.15 per megabyte on Amazon.com. If Amazon matches a lower price elsewhere, you are paid 70% of the sale price. A book that is mainly public-domain text qualifies only if substantial original material or an original translation is added.

## An example

A 2 MB ebook at $4.99 pays $3.28 per Amazon.com sale under the 70% option: $4.99, less $0.30 delivery, times 70%. Under 35% it would pay $1.75. But a 10 MB, image-heavy ebook at $2.99 pays $1.04 under 70% after $1.50 delivery, while 35% would pay it $1.05.

## Common mistakes

Assuming 70% always pays more: for large files at low prices the delivery cost can tip it below 35%. Raising the price above $12.99 on Amazon.com, which takes the book out of the band. And choosing 70% for a public-domain edition with no substantial original content, which KDP pays at 35% only.

## Questions

**Why does my Bookshelf show both 70% and 35% for one book?** KDP says it's expected: the rate for each sale depends on where the buyer is. Sales to customers in the eligible territories are paid at 70%, and sales to customers elsewhere at 35%.

**Is the 70% option always the better choice?** Usually, inside its price band, but not always. A large file at a low price can pay less under 70% once the delivery cost is taken off. The Kindle royalty calculator shows both for your price and file size.

## Sources

- [KDP: eBook Royalties](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200644210): The 70% calculation, territories, both rates on the Bookshelf, price matching and the public-domain rule.
- [KDP: eBook List Price Requirements](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200634560): The Amazon.com band for the 70% option, from July 7, 2026.
- [KDP: eBook Pricing Page](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200634500): Delivery cost per megabyte on Amazon.com, rounding and the minimum.

## Related terms

- [35% royalty option](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/35-percent-royalty-option.md)
- [Delivery cost](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/delivery-cost.md)
- [List price](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/list-price.md)
- [Public domain](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/public-domain.md)

## Read next

- [Kindle royalty calculator](https://www.superebook.ai/tools/kindle-royalty-calculator.md)
- [Ebook pricing: how to reason about the price](https://www.superebook.ai/guides/ebook-pricing-strategy.md)
- [All glossary terms](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary.md)