eBook Royalty: 70% vs 35% Explained
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
Every Kindle eBook author chooses between the 70% tier ($2.99 to $9.99 list, delivery fee deducted) and the 35% tier ($0.99 to $200 list, no delivery fee). The choice determines per-sale royalty by a factor of two or more, and almost every indie author should stay in the 70% tier unless they are intentionally price-anchoring or marketing-leading.
Pricing dynamics at this format
Inside the 70% window: royalty = (list - $0.15/MB delivery fee) * 0.70. Outside the 70% window: royalty = list * 0.35. The critical crossover: at $9.99 with a 2 MB file, 70% pays $6.78. At $10.00 (one cent above the cap), 35% pays $3.50. You lose $3.28 per sale by adding one cent. This is the most-broken pricing trap on KDP.
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
Most indie non-fiction Kindle bestsellers sit at $9.99 specifically to maximize the 70% tier. Romance authors typically price at $3.99 or $4.99 to drive Also-Boughts and KU read-throughs. Major publishers price $14.99 to $19.99 (35% tier, $5.25 to $7.00 per sale) because of marketing strategy, not per-sale math.
The common mistake at this page count
Pricing at $10.99 because 'it sounds more premium'. You earn $3.85. At $9.99 you earn $6.78. The premium positioning costs you $2.93 per sale. Unless you have brand recognition strong enough to outlast a 76% per-sale royalty hit, stay below $9.99.
Margin math, in concrete terms
At the 70% tier sweet spot of $4.99 with a 1 MB file ($0.15 delivery fee), your royalty is $3.39 per sale - 68% of retail returned to you. At the 35% tier ceiling of $9.99 hypothetical the math returns just $3.50 - virtually identical earnings but at twice the retail price. The 70% tier is where indie eBook economics live.
Tips for your 100-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
Enroll for 90 days to access Kindle Countdown Deals and Free Promotions, which boost ranking and reviews.
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 100 pages
Other page counts for eBook
Related KDP pricing guides
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