How to Publish a Coloring Book on Amazon KDP

The Simple Version

Design your pages 8.5" × 8.5" (the standard coloring-book square), export them as a single PDF at 300 DPI, make a cover in a 2:3 ratio, upload both to KDP, and set a price. That’s the whole process — the details below are the pitfalls that trip people up.

Step 1 — Pick Trim Size & Bleed

• Trim size — 8.5" × 8.5" is the coloring-book standard (8" × 10" also works).
• Bleed — if any design reaches the edge, enable bleed and extend it .125" (3.2mm) past the edge on all sides.
• Page count — KDP requires a minimum of 24 pages; 40–110 pages feels like a real book.
• Check current limits — KDP guidelines change; confirm page-count and file-size caps when you upload.

Step 2 — Build the Interior PDF

• One page per design — a 40-page book = 40 coloring pages, sized exactly to the trim (minus bleed).
• 300 DPI — export at 300 DPI or line art looks soft when printed.
• No margins inside — full-page designs should reach the safe area; keep important art 0.25" from the trim.
• Combine into one PDF — KDP takes a single interior file, not a folder of images.

Step 3 — Make the Cover

• 2:3 ratio — cover height is 1.5 × width (e.g. 8.5" × 11" for an 8.5" × 8.5" book).
• Spine included — KDP’s cover template adds the spine and back; use it so text doesn’t get cut.
• 300 DPI, JPEG/TIFF/PDF — upload a high-res file; KDP rejects low-resolution covers.
• Use KDP’s Cover Calculator — it generates your exact dimensions from trim size, page count and paper type.

Step 4 — Title & Keywords

Your title is your best keyword — include the theme and audience (“Unicorn Coloring Book for Kids Ages 4-8”). Use all 7 keyword slots for phrases your title doesn’t cover. Our free book title generator and keyword generator fill these in 30 seconds.

Step 5 — Pricing

Most coloring books sell between $5.99 and $9.99. For a paperback, KDP pays 60% royalty minus print cost — a $6.99 book earns roughly $2–3 per copy. Check the exact print cost for your trim size and page count before pricing.