How to Publish Coloring Books on Amazon KDP: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

90% of first-time KDP publishers get their coloring book rejected for formatting errors. Wrong bleed settings, incorrect page sizes, or missing metadata = weeks of delays. This guide covers every technical requirement and publishing step to get your coloring book approved and selling on Amazon in 24-48 hours.

Step 1: Prepare Your Interior File

Page Size & Bleed Settings

Standard coloring book size: 8.5 x 11 inches (US Letter)

Bleed or no bleed? Most coloring books use NO BLEED (designs don't extend to page edges). This avoids trim issues and keeps designs safely in the printable area.

• No bleed: Exact page size = 8.5 x 11 inches, 0.25" margin on all sides
• With bleed: Page size = 8.75 x 11.25 inches (adds 0.125" bleed on all sides)

Interior File Specifications

• Format: PDF only (not Word, JPG, PNG, or other formats)
• Color mode: Black & white (grayscale) – DO NOT upload color interior for B&W coloring books
• Resolution: 300 DPI minimum, 600 DPI for finest detail
• Page order: Single-sided pages recommended (blank backs prevent bleed-through)
• Page count: Must be even number (24, 30, 50, 70, etc.)

Single-Sided vs. Double-Sided Printing

Single-sided (RECOMMENDED for coloring books):

• Design on front, blank page on back
• Prevents marker bleed-through to next image
• Can be perforated/removed without losing other designs
• Professional presentation customers expect

Double-sided: Only use if you need to minimize page count/cost. Most customers prefer single-sided.

How to create single-sided in PDF: After each coloring page, insert a blank white page. So 30 designs = 60 total pages (30 designs + 30 blanks).

Step 2: Design Your Cover

Cover Dimensions Calculator

KDP covers are SINGLE PDF files with front cover + spine + back cover in one image.

Formula: Total width = (Page width × 2) + Spine width + (Bleed × 2)

Example for 70-page book:

• Page size: 8.5 x 11 inches
• Spine width: 0.177 inches (70 pages × 0.002252 per page + 0.06 base)
• Bleed: 0.125 inches on all sides
• Total cover size: 17.552 x 11.25 inches

Cover Design Requirements

• Format: PDF (recommended) or JPG/PNG (must meet specs)
• Color mode: CMYK (not RGB) for accurate print colors
• Resolution: 300 DPI minimum
• Text safety: Keep title/subtitle 0.125" inside trim line (not in bleed area)
• Barcode space: Leave 2x2" blank space on bottom back cover (Amazon adds barcode)

Cover Content Best Practices

• Front cover: Eye-catching sample coloring page, clear title, age range or theme
• Spine: Book title + author name (readable at small size)
• Back cover: Book description, features ("50 unique designs"), sample interior page preview
• Colors: Bright, high-contrast colors that pop on Amazon thumbnails

Step 3: Create Your KDP Account & Upload

1. Set Up KDP Account

1. Go to kdp.amazon.com and sign in with Amazon account
2. Complete tax interview (W-9 for US, W-8 for international)
3. Add payment information (where Amazon deposits royalties)
4. Verify identity if prompted (sometimes required for first book)

2. Create New Paperback Book

1. Click "+ Create" → "Paperback"
2. Choose language (English for most)
3. Enter book details...

Book Details Section

• Title: Descriptive + keyword-rich ("Mandala Coloring Book for Adults: 50 Stress Relief Patterns")
• Subtitle: Expand on features ("Relaxing Floral Designs for Mindfulness and Meditation")
• Author: Your name or pen name
• Description: 2,000 characters of sales copy (HTML formatting allowed for bold, lists, etc.)
• Keywords: 7 keyword boxes – use all of them ("adult coloring book", "mandala patterns", "stress relief coloring")
• Categories: Choose 2 categories (browse Amazon to find best fit)

Print Options Section

• Interior type: Black & white
• Paper type: White or cream (white shows colors better, cream has vintage feel)
• Trim size: 8.5 x 11 inches (US Letter)
• Bleed: No bleed (for most coloring books)
• Page count: Auto-calculated from PDF (verify it's correct)

3. Upload Your Files

Interior file upload:

1. Click "Upload paperback manuscript"
2. Select your interior PDF file
3. Wait for processing (1-5 minutes)
4. Review automated quality check warnings (address any issues)

Cover upload:

1. Choose "Upload a cover you already have"
2. Select your cover PDF/JPG file
3. Wait for processing
4. Click "Preview" to see 3D book preview (CRITICAL step – catch errors before publishing)

Step 4: Set Pricing & Distribution

Pricing Strategy

• Check print cost: KDP shows exact print cost based on page count
• Calculate minimum price: Print cost ÷ 0.60 = break-even price
• Set list price: Add desired profit margin (typically $2-4 per book)
• Use .99 pricing: $7.99, $8.99, $9.99 (psychological pricing)

Example pricing (70-page book):

• Print cost: $1.69
• Desired profit: $3.00
• Minimum price: ($1.69 + $3.00) ÷ 0.60 = $7.82
• Set price: $7.99

Distribution Options

• Amazon.com: Always select (primary marketplace)
• Expanded distribution: Optional – sells through bookstores/libraries but lowers royalty to 40%
• International marketplaces: UK, DE, FR, ES, IT, JP, CA, AU (recommended for global reach)

ISBN Options

• Free KDP ISBN: Amazon provides free ISBN (locks book to Amazon only)
• Your own ISBN: Purchase from Bowker.com ($125+) if you want to sell elsewhere
• Recommendation: Use free KDP ISBN for first books, buy own ISBN once profitable

Step 5: Review & Publish

Pre-Publish Checklist

1. Preview 3D book cover: Check spine alignment, text readability, barcode placement
2. Download digital proof: Review ENTIRE interior page-by-page for errors
3. Verify metadata: Title, description, keywords accurate and compelling
4. Check pricing: Confirm profit margins acceptable
5. Review categories: Ensure categories match book content

Order Proof Copy (HIGHLY Recommended)

Before making book live, order a physical proof copy ($5-10 including shipping). This reveals print quality issues invisible in digital previews. Check for:

• Line thickness (too thin = faint prints, too thick = heavy/muddy)
• Page alignment and centering
• Cover color accuracy (RGB to CMYK conversion can shift colors)
• Spine text alignment
• Paper quality (white vs. cream appearance)

Publish Your Book

1. Click "Publish Your Paperback Book"
2. Wait 24-72 hours for KDP review (usually approved within 24 hours)
3. Receive email confirmation when live on Amazon
4. Book appears in search results within 5-7 days (indexing delay)

Step 6: Post-Launch Optimization

1. Set Up Author Central

• Create free account at author.amazon.com
• Add author bio and photo
• Claim your book (links KDP book to Author Central profile)
• Add editorial reviews and "From the Author" sections

2. Monitor Early Sales & Reviews

• Check BSR (Best Seller Rank) daily: Under 100,000 = good sales velocity
• Track first reviews: Respond professionally to all reviews (thank positive, address negative)
• Watch "Also Bought" section: Shows what customers buy alongside your book (competitor research)

3. Iterate Based on Feedback

• Common complaints: "Lines too thin" → Increase line thickness and re-upload
• "Not enough pages": Add more designs to future versions
• "Cover misleading": Adjust cover to better represent interior content

Common Publishing Mistakes

1. Skipping the Proof Copy

80% of first-time publishers discover major issues AFTER going live when customers complain. Spend $7 on a proof to save hundreds in lost sales and bad reviews.

2. Wrong Color Mode

Uploading RGB cover instead of CMYK = colors look great on screen, print totally different (usually darker/duller). Always convert to CMYK before uploading.

3. Ignoring Bleed Requirements

If you select "bleed" but don't extend designs 0.125" past trim lines = white borders after printing. Match bleed setting to your actual file design.

4. Weak Keywords & Categories

Generic keywords like "coloring book" = competing with 500,000 books. Specific keywords like "french bulldog coloring book adults" = 200 competitors. Niche wins.

Common Rejection Reasons (And How to Avoid Them)

KDP rejects a significant percentage of first-time coloring book submissions. Here are the most common rejection reasons in 2026 and how to fix each one before you submit:

1. Bleed Setting Mismatch

The problem: You selected "bleed" in KDP settings but your PDF does not have 0.125" of extra content beyond the trim line (or vice versa). This is the #1 rejection reason.

The fix: For most coloring books, select "No Bleed" and keep all content within 8.5x11" with 0.25" margins. Only use bleed if your designs intentionally extend to the page edge.

2. DPI Too Low

The problem: Your interior PDF is below 300 DPI. This often happens when exporting from tools that default to 72 DPI or 150 DPI for screen viewing.

The fix: Always export at 300 DPI minimum. For the crispest line art, use 600 DPI. Check your export settings in whatever tool you use—Canva, Illustrator, Procreate, or AI generators all have DPI settings in their export dialogs.

3. Spine Text on Thin Books

The problem: You added text to the spine, but your book has fewer than 79 pages. KDP does not allow spine text on books under 79 pages because the spine is too narrow to print legibly.

The fix: If your book is under 79 pages, leave the spine area completely blank on your cover. If you need spine text for branding, increase your page count to 80+ by adding more designs or blank pages.

4. Copyright / Trademark Content

The problem: Your book contains copyrighted characters (Disney, Marvel, Pokemon, etc.), trademarked names in the title, or AI-generated content that closely resembles copyrighted material.

The fix: Never use copyrighted characters or trademarked names. Use generic descriptors instead ("princess" instead of specific character names, "superhero" instead of brand names). If using AI tools, review generated images carefully for any resemblance to copyrighted works.

5. Odd Page Count

The problem: Your PDF has an odd number of pages. KDP requires an even page count for all paperback books.

The fix: Add a blank page at the end of your PDF to make the total even. Most PDF editors can do this in seconds.

Your Publishing Timeline

• Day 1: Prepare interior PDF + cover PDF (2-4 hours)
• Day 1: Upload to KDP, fill metadata, set pricing (30-60 min)
• Day 1: Order proof copy ($7 + 5-7 days shipping)
• Day 7-8: Receive proof, review quality
• Day 8: If good, publish. If issues, fix and re-upload (1-2 days)
• Day 9-10: Book approved and live on Amazon
• Day 15-17: Book fully indexed in Amazon search