01
Introduction
A “70% royaltyˮ rarely means you receive 70% of your price. Delivery fees, price bands and payment processing all take a slice. Here's how each platform calculates what you earn, with worked examples.
02
Amazon
Amazon KDP: the 70% option
On Amazon.com, ebooks priced from $2.99 to $12.99 can earn 70% (the band was widened from $9.99 on July 7, 2026). But Amazon first subtracts a delivery cost of $0.15 per megabyte in the US, then pays 70% of what's left:
KDP royalty = 70% × (list price − $0.15 × file size in MB)
List price 2 MB file Calculation You receive
$2.99 $0.30 delivery 70% $2.69 $1.88
$4.99 $0.30 70% $4.69 $3.28
$9.99 $0.30 70% $9.69 $6.78
$12.99 $0.30 70% $12.69 $8.88
$14.99 none (35% option) 35% $14.99 $5.25
Prices below $2.99 or above $12.99 earn 35% of list, with no delivery charge. To qualify for 70%, your ebook must also be priced at least 20% below your print list price on Amazon.
03
Other Retailers
Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google and Kobo
Apple Books pays 70% of list on every ebook regardless of price, so a $9.99 sale earns $6.99 and a $14.99 sale $10.49. Barnes & Noble Press pays 70% of the price you set, and Google Play Books pays 70% in the US under its current terms. Kobo pays 70% within its main price band.