400-page eBook
Real KDP royalty calculations for eBooks: when to use 70% vs 35%, how delivery fees affect your take-home, and the price points that maximize earnings.
eBook royalty: the key numbers
At $4.99 in the 70% royalty tier, you earn roughly $3.28 per eBook sale after the $0.30 delivery fee. Drop below $2.99 and you fall to the 35% tier, earning just $1.75 per sale. Go above $9.99 and you drop to 35%, earning $3.50. Less than the 70% tier at $9.99 ($6.78).
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eBook royalty comparison: 70% vs 35%
| List price | 70% royalty | 35% royalty | Best tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2.99 | $1.88 | $1.05 | 70% tier |
| $4.99sweet spot | $3.28 | $1.75 | 70% tier |
| $6.99 | $4.68 | $2.45 | 70% tier |
| $7.99 | $5.38 | $2.80 | 70% tier |
| $8.99 | $6.08 | $3.15 | 70% tier |
| $9.99 | $6.78 | $3.50 | 70% tier |
| $11.99 | — | $4.20 | 35% tier |
| $14.99 | — | $5.25 | 35% tier |
| $17.99 | — | $6.30 | 35% tier |
| $24.99 | — | $8.75 | 35% tier |
70% royalty: eligible $2.99 to $9.99, delivery fee ($0.15/MB) deducted. 35% royalty: eligible $0.99 to $200, no delivery fee. 2 MB file assumed.
How eBook royalties work on KDP
Who actually publishes at this length
400-page eBooks are the natural format for epic fantasy, full non-fiction, ambitious memoir, and any genre where readers prefer Kindle's portability over print weight. Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy and Kindle Store > Romance > Fantasy peak at 380 to 480-page Kindle titles.
Pricing dynamics at 400 pages
$8.99 to $9.99 in the 70% tier. Epic fantasy authors often hold $9.99 because their readers expect to pay full price for a major book. Going to the 35% tier (above $9.99) does not improve per-sale economics until you cross $19+, which is unrealistic for indie Kindle.
For Kindle eBooks the math runs differently: at $4.99 in the 70% tier with a 2 MB file you earn roughly $3.28 per sale. At $9.99 (the 70% tier cap) you earn $6.78 per sale. The same book at $10.00 falls to the 35% tier and earns just $3.50. The penny matters.
Real examples in this category
Brandon Sanderson's Kindle pricing for major series titles holds $9.99 even when paperback hits $20. Sarah J. Maas's ACOTAR series Kindle editions price $9.99 to $14.99 (publisher-tier, 35%). Indie epic fantasy authors should sit at $7.99 to $9.99 Kindle to maximize 70% economics.
The common mistake at this page count
Pricing a 400-page Kindle at $14.99 because 'it's a big book'. You earn $5.25 (35%). At $9.99 you earn $6.78 (70%). The book length does not justify breaking the 70% tier rule for indie publishing economics.
Margin math, in concrete terms
At $9.99 with a 3 MB file ($0.45 delivery fee), royalty is $6.68/sale (70% of $9.54). A 400-page fantasy launch with 200 sales/day in week one earns $1,336/day. Over a year for a slow-burn series book, 50 sales/month sustains $334/month per back-list title.
Tips for your 400-page eBook
Price $2.99 to $9.99 for 70%
The 70% tier earns 2 to 3x the 35% tier at the same price. Never list at $10.00 when $9.99 earns more.
$4.99 is the sweet spot
Priced low enough for impulse buys, high enough to earn $3.28+ per sale in the 70% tier.
Delivery fee is small
At 2 MB, delivery fee is $0.30. Even at 5 MB it is $0.75. The 70% tier still wins for most books.
KDP Select for new books
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Above $9.99 loses you money
At $10.00 you earn $3.50 (35%). At $9.99 you earn $6.78 (70%). Always stay below $10 in the 70% tier.
Go wide after 90 days
After KDP Select exclusivity, consider distributing to Kobo, Apple Books, and library services for extra income.
Common questions about this scenario
Compare formats at 400 pages
Other page counts for eBook
Related KDP pricing guides
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