How to Publish a Word Document on Amazon KDP

The 9 steps from .docx to live Amazon listing

1. Step 1

   Clean up your Word manuscript

   Open your .docx in Microsoft Word and do one final editorial pass. Remove any track-changes, comments, hidden text, double spaces between sentences, and stray tabs. KDP cares about how the file looks when printed, not how it looks on your screen, so anything weird in the document tends to show up in the proof.

   • Use Find & Replace to strip double spaces (" " → " ")
   • Accept or reject all tracked changes before exporting
   • Delete any comments — they sometimes export into the PDF
2. Step 2

   Set the page size to your KDP trim

   Go to Layout → Size → More Paper Sizes and enter your trim size in inches. The most common KDP trims are 6×9″ (novels), 5×8″ (pocket / poetry / novellas), and 8.5×11″ (workbooks, large print, picture books). The trim you set in Word must match exactly the trim you select on KDP — otherwise the previewer will reject the file.

   • 6×9″ is the safest default for fiction and non-fiction
   • Set top/bottom margins to 0.75″ and inside margin to 0.875″ for ≤300 pages
   • Increase the inside (gutter) margin for thicker books — KDP has a chart
3. Step 3

   Format chapters and front matter

   Apply Word's built-in Heading 1 style to every chapter title (this lets KDP build a working table of contents) and start each new chapter on a right-hand page. Add a title page, copyright page, dedication, and an optional table of contents to the front matter. Keep body text in a serif font like Garamond or Times New Roman at 11–12 pt with 1.15 line spacing.

   • Use Insert → Page Break for chapter starts (NOT repeated Enter keys)
   • Set chapter titles to start on odd pages via Layout → Breaks → Odd Page
   • Embed page numbers in the footer, suppressed on the title page
4. Step 4

   Export your Word file as a print-ready PDF

   In Word click File → Save As (or Export) and choose PDF. Open Options and tick "PDF/A compliant" plus "Document structure tags for accessibility" — both keep KDP happy. Save the PDF somewhere you can find it again. This PDF is the interior file you'll upload to KDP.

   • On Mac use File → Save As → PDF (NOT Print → Save as PDF — it loses fonts)
   • Open the PDF and scroll through every page before uploading
   • Keep the file under KDP's 650 MB cap (most novels are 1–5 MB)
5. Step 5

   Prepare your cover

   For paperbacks, KDP needs a full wraparound cover (back + spine + front) as a single PDF. Use KDP's free Cover Creator with a front cover image you already have, or upload a finished wraparound that you designed in Canva, Photoshop, or our AI cover designer. Spine width depends on page count — KDP gives you a downloadable template with the exact dimensions.

   • Download KDP's Cover Calculator template once you know your final page count
   • 300 DPI minimum, CMYK color space, 0.125″ bleed on all sides
   • Leave the barcode area on the back blank — KDP places it for you
6. Step 6

   Create a new paperback on KDP and fill in the metadata

   Sign in at kdp.amazon.com and click Create → Paperback. The Details tab asks for your title, subtitle, series name (optional), author, description, keywords (up to 7), and BISAC categories (up to 2). Your description supports light HTML — use it to bold the hook and break up paragraphs.

   • Pick keywords real readers search, not generic ones ("cozy mystery cat" beats "mystery")
   • Both BISAC categories should match your genre exactly
   • Set the language and an honest publication date
7. Step 7

   Upload, preview, and order a proof

   On the Content tab, upload your interior PDF and your cover. KDP processes the files (a few minutes) and unlocks the Launch Previewer. Open it and click through every page — this is the only reliable way to spot bad page breaks, runaway widows/orphans, or images cut off by the trim. Order a printed proof copy before publishing publicly; it costs only printing + shipping.

   • Wait for the "Print Preview" button to turn blue before clicking
   • Fix anything flagged in red — KDP won't let you publish with errors
   • Proofs ship in 3–7 business days; multiple rounds are cheap insurance
8. Step 8

   Set pricing, royalty, and Expanded Distribution

   On the Pricing tab choose your primary marketplace (usually Amazon.com) and enter your list price. KDP shows your printing cost and 60% royalty live as you type. Most indie paperbacks land between $9.99 and $14.99. Enable Expanded Distribution if you want bookstores and libraries to be able to order it (lower royalty but wider reach).

   • Use the price-other-marketplaces auto-fill — it converts on exchange rates
   • Aim for at least $2–$3 royalty per copy after printing costs
   • Enrol in KDP Select only if you're publishing the eBook exclusively on Amazon
9. Step 9

   Hit Publish and go live on Amazon

   Click Publish Your Paperback Book. Amazon reviews the file (usually within 72 hours) and your book goes live with its own ASIN and product page. Set up Amazon Author Central afterwards to claim the title under your author profile and unlock the editorial review and biography sections.

   • Share the listing URL with friends and family for early honest reviews
   • Updates to the manuscript are easy — re-export, re-upload, wait a day
   • Existing reviews stay intact when you push a new interior file

Frequently asked questions