Pricing Your Graphic Novel

Pricing a graphic novel is a balance between three numbers: what it costs to print, what readers expect to pay, and what you want to earn per copy. Full-color books cost more to print than prose, so the math matters more.

Royalty rates and printing costs below describe how KDP works in general; check KDP's current terms and use its royalty calculator for exact numbers.

How paperback royalties work

For a KDP paperback sold on Amazon, your royalty is a share of the list price, minus the printing cost:

royalty = (list price × royalty rate) − printing cost

On Amazon.com the rate is 60% for list prices of $9.99 and up, and 50% below that, so a book at $9.98 can earn noticeably less than the same book at $9.99. Printing cost depends on page count, ink (black and white, standard color, or premium color), and whether the trim size counts as "large" — try our KDP royalty calculator to see the numbers for your book.

That's why color graphic novels often look expensive next to novels: the printing cost comes off the top before you see anything.

Expanded Distribution

If you enroll a paperback in KDP's Expanded Distribution (so other retailers and libraries can order it), those sales pay 40% of the list price, minus printing. Your list price usually needs to be higher for those sales to be worth it. See distribution beyond Amazon.

Kindle royalties

Kindle ebooks have two royalty options: 35%, or 70% for ebooks priced within Amazon's eligible range (with a small delivery cost per download based on file size). Image-heavy graphic novels are large files, so check how delivery costs affect the 70% option for your book.

KDP Select makes your ebook exclusive to Amazon for 90-day terms. In return it's available in Kindle Unlimited, where you're paid for pages read, and you get promotional tools. It's a good fit for some books and not others; you can try it for one term.

Choosing a price

1. Look at comparable books. Search Amazon for graphic novels like yours — same age group, similar length, color or black and white — and note what they cost.
2. Find your floor. Use KDP's calculator to see the lowest price that still earns you a meaningful royalty.
3. Price for the reader. Parents buying for children and teachers buying for classrooms are price-sensitive. A slightly lower price with a smaller royalty can sell many more copies.
4. Keep a series consistent. If you publish several books, matching prices make it easy for a reader to buy the next one.

Ways to improve your margin

• Page count. Every page adds printing cost. Tighten the story rather than padding it.
• Trim size. Some sizes cost more to print than others; check before you design.
• Standard vs. premium color. Premium looks better; standard costs less. Order proofs of both if you're unsure.
• Hardcover. A hardcover can carry a higher price as a gift edition alongside the paperback.

Once your price is set, the next job is visibility — see how to get more graphic novel sales.