KDP Low-Content Books: What the Rules Say

Every KDP fact below comes from KDP's own help pages, read on 2026-10-20. This guide makes no claim about what such books sell, because KDP's pages say nothing about it. KDP changes its rules, so check the linked pages before you publish.

What KDP counts as low-content

KDP's definition: "A low-content book has minimal or no content on the interior pages. Low-content books are generally repetitive, and designed to be filled in by the user." It adds that this does not typically include activity books, such as puzzle books, which generally don't feature repetitive content on each page. It also says there can be exceptions to its examples.

• Notebooks, planners, diaries and journals

  Not generally low-content

  Novels and nonfiction

• Prompt journals

  Not generally low-content

  Puzzle books and activity books

• Log books for tracking habits, activity or thankfulness

  Not generally low-content

  Photography and sheet music

• Coupon books and score card templates

  Not generally low-content

  Manuals and textbooks

• Crafting templates and blank sheet music

  Not generally low-content

  Children's books

KDP's page doesn't give a numeric test, such as a word or page count, for deciding. Whether a book is low-content comes down to the definition above. If yours falls near the line, reread KDP's page before you publish.

How the setup differs

KDP says creating one "is similar to creating other print books," with three differences that matter.

1. Tick the Low-content box under Categories. KDP warns: "if you do not select this box, or select a different box, your book will be rejected."
2. Choose an ISBN option. Under Print ISBN you can pick Publish without an ISBN or Use my own ISBN. KDP says low-content books are not eligible for the free KDP ISBN. Our guide on whether you need an ISBN covers the general rules.
3. Upload, preview and order a proof, then set territories and list price, as for any print book.

KDP says it doesn't currently offer a Release Date for low-content books, and that you cannot change your ISBN selection after publishing: you would need to unpublish and republish.

Barcode, Look Inside and what you can't use

If you use your own ISBN, you can upload a cover with or without a barcode. If you publish without an ISBN, or provide no barcode, KDP places one on the back cover, in a 2 inch by 1.2 inch white box in the lower right corner (50.8 mm by 30.5 mm). KDP warns that anything you leave in that area will be covered during printing, which could get the file rejected.

• Expanded Distribution

  What KDP says

  Not supported for low-content books, whichever ISBN option you choose.

• Read Sample (Look Inside)

  What KDP says

  The sample and back cover thumbnail are not currently supported for low-content books published without an ISBN. KDP suggests buying your own ISBN to activate it.

• A+ Content

  What KDP says

  KDP suggests it as an alternative way to show interior images on the detail page.

• Series

  What KDP says

  Low-content books are not eligible for a series, whichever ISBN option you choose.

• Transparency codes

  What KDP says

  Not available without an ISBN, and KDP says these codes are being retired and are not available for books created after November 2025.

KDP's page doesn't say whether a low-content book with its own ISBN gets Look Inside automatically in every case, only that the sample is unsupported without one. For the Expanded Distribution rules that apply to other paperbacks, see what KDP Expanded Distribution is.

KDP's Read Sample page gives the detail behind the Look Inside row. It says the sample is a percentage of the current manuscript, 20% for a paperback or hardcover, and that the percentage cannot be adjusted. It lists "books without an ISBN, such as low-content books" as ones that will not display the feature. It also says the sample can take 9 to 10 business days to appear for print books after the title is available, and longer to update after changes. Whether a sample helps a particular interior is your call: KDP's page says nothing about that.

KDP's content-quality rules

KDP's Content Guidelines say they apply to "book content, including title, cover art, and product description," that KDP will "reject or remove content that does not adhere," and that it reserves the right to remove content that creates a poor customer experience. Several rules are worth reading closely if the interior is repetitive.

• Metadata: KDP's metadata guidelines prohibit "repeating generic keywords like 'notebook,' 'journal,' 'gifts,' 'books,' etc." in the title field. The title must be the title as it appears on the cover.
• Disappointing content: KDP's quality guide lists content that is too short, content not significantly different from another book in the Kindle Store, and content "excessively reused, recycled, or repeated within or across books." That list sits under the Kindle quality guide. Its text doesn't say how it applies to print low-content titles, and it gives no page count for "too short."
• Accuracy: the Content Guidelines don't allow descriptive content meant to mislead, or that doesn't accurately represent the book.
• Rights: you are responsible for not violating copyright, trademark, brand, privacy, publicity or other rights.
• AI content: KDP requires you to disclose AI-generated text, images or translations when you publish or republish. See our guide to publishing an AI-assisted book on KDP.
• Kindle: the quality guide says books whose main purpose is to be written in are not suited to the Kindle format and are better published in physical form.