Blog

Can I Upload a PDF to Amazon KDP for Self-Publishers

Can I upload a PDF to Amazon KDP? A practical guide for self-publishers

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

  • Yes — KDP accepts PDFs for most print books and requires PDFs for print covers and books with bleed.
  • PDFs are allowed for some eBook uploads, but they often convert poorly; use EPUB or a KDP-friendly format for reflowable eBooks.
  • Properly prepared PDFs (embedded fonts, 300 DPI images, no crop marks) minimize upload errors and speed approval.
  • Tools that generate KDP-ready PDFs, cover files, and EPUBs—like BookAutoAI—save time and reduce formatting problems.

Table of Contents

What PDF types does KDP accept?

If you’re asking “can I upload a PDF to Amazon KDP,” the short answer is: yes — but the details change for paperbacks, hardcovers, and Kindle eBooks. Knowing the rules saves rework and speeds your book to market.

For step-by-step upload help, see Publish Book Amazon Kdp which guides authors through the Bookshelf upload and preview steps.

Print books (paperback and hardcover)

Manuscript: KDP accepts PDF for print interiors and often prefers PDFs when you use bleed or have exact page layout and typography. PDFs preserve page breaks, fonts, and layout so what you upload is what Amazon prints.

Cover: Print covers (full cover for paperbacks and hardcovers) must be uploaded as a single print-ready PDF sized to trim and spine width, with no crop or registration marks.

Why PDF works well for print

Fixed-layout: the PDF locks your page layout so images, tables, and graphs remain where they belong.

Embedded fonts ensure the printed result matches your design.

PDFs follow industry print-ready standards that KDP expects.

eBooks (Kindle)

KDP supports DOC/DOCX, EPUB, KPF, RTF, HTML, and plain text for Kindle uploads. PDFs are accepted but are not ideal for reflowable eBooks.

When KDP converts a PDF to Kindle format you can see broken chapters, odd line breaks, and images that don’t resize — readers expect reflow on Kindle devices, so EPUB or clean DOCX is usually better.

When PDF is acceptable for eBooks

Fixed-layout books (graphic-rich books, cookbooks, heavily formatted work) can be uploaded as PDFs, but expect limited reflow and reduced readability on small devices.

If you need a reflowable eBook, convert the original source to EPUB or DOCX rather than converting a PDF directly.

KDP file requirements for PDFs

  • Max file size: 650 MB
  • Images: 300 DPI recommended for print
  • Fonts: embed all fonts
  • No crop/trim marks or color bars
  • Proper trim size and bleed settings when using bleed
  • No extra metadata or hidden layers that could confuse processing

How to convert properly for KDP (print and eBook)

Preparing a PDF that passes KDP checks takes three steps: format, verify, and export. Below are practical options and when to choose PDF versus EPUB or DOCX.

1. Start with the right source file

For print: lay out the interior in InDesign, Affinity Publisher, or a proven template. Set trim size, margins, and bleed up front.

For eBook: draft in Word or export to EPUB from a clean source and validate the EPUB before upload.

2. Export settings for clean PDFs

  • Embed fonts: always enable font embedding.
  • Images at 300 DPI: downsample high-res images but keep 300 DPI for print quality.
  • Flatten transparency only if required by your tool/printer.
  • Do not include crop marks or color bars in the final upload.
  • Use PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-3 when possible.

3. Create a separate print-ready cover PDF

KDP needs a full-cover PDF (front, spine, back) exported to exact trim size with correct spine width, embedded fonts, and 300 DPI images.

Compute spine width from page count and paper type, then export a single-cover PDF at the exact dimensions.

4. Convert for Kindle (recommended paths)

Best route for reflowable eBooks is to export an EPUB from your source. EPUB preserves reflow, chapters, and navigation.

If you only have a PDF, convert the original source (Word, InDesign) to EPUB rather than converting the PDF; if a PDF-to-EPUB conversion is necessary, expect manual cleanup.

BookAutoAI includes an EPUB Converter that produces KDP-friendly EPUB files and reduces the cleanup most authors face.

5. Validate and preview

For print: use KDP’s Print Previewer after upload to check margins, gutter, and bleed.

For Kindle: use Kindle Previewer to test reflow, navigation, and images across device sizes.

Tools and services that help

Manual tools: InDesign, Affinity Publisher, Microsoft Word (with careful styles), and Calibre for test conversions.

Automated tools: services that generate properly formatted PDFs and EPUBs remove guesswork. BookAutoAI creates fully formatted PDFs, generates print-ready covers, and includes an EPUB converter to simplify uploads.

For upload-focused utilities, consider a dedicated book upload tool that handles retailer-specific requirements.

If you need a ready-made cover, the BookAutoAI Cover Generator creates market-appropriate, export-quality covers (not just artwork).

Common PDF problems and how to fix them

Problem: Upload rejected due to fonts not embedded

Cause: Fonts missing or not embedded during export.

Fix: Re-export with “embed all fonts” enabled. If a font disallows embedding, choose an embedding-friendly font or outline cover text where permitted.

Problem: Crop marks or registration marks cause upload failure

Cause: Export includes printer marks.

Fix: Disable crop/trim marks in export; KDP expects clean page content only.

Problem: Images look low-resolution or pixelated in print proofs

Cause: Images are under 300 DPI after export or were downsampled too aggressively.

Fix: Replace images with 300 DPI versions and re-export; avoid upsampling small images.

Problem: Fonts look different in print vs preview

Cause: Substitution due to unembedded or unsupported fonts.

Fix: Embed fonts or convert cover text to curves if necessary (avoid converting interior text to curves for accessibility reasons).

Problem: Incorrect spine width or cover mismatch

Cause: Wrong trim size, page count, or spine calculation.

Fix: Recalculate spine width using the actual page count and paper choice, then export a new cover PDF at the exact trim size.

Problem: eBook conversion yields broken chapters and odd line breaks

Cause: Converting PDFs directly to Kindle format.

Fix: Convert the original source to EPUB or DOCX for upload. If you must use a PDF, use a conversion tool designed for book files and proof carefully. The EPUB Converter is designed to produce clean EPUB output from formatted manuscripts.

Problem: Large PDF file size prevents upload

Cause: High-resolution images or embedded content inflate the file.

Fix: Compress images to the appropriate DPI (300 DPI for print; 150–300 DPI for complex images), optimize the PDF, and prefer EPUB for eBooks to reduce size.

Practical checklist before uploading a PDF to KDP

  • Interior PDF: trim size matches KDP setting; fonts embedded; images at 300 DPI; no crop/trim marks; file size under 650 MB.
  • Cover PDF: single PDF with front, spine, back; spine width matches page count and paper; fonts embedded and readable at thumbnail size.
  • eBook: prefer EPUB or DOCX for reflow; only use PDF for fixed-layout books; check navigation, table of contents, and images in Kindle Previewer.

BookAutoAI features that speed PDF and eBook publishing

Auto-formatting for non-fiction interiors to KDP trim sizes and bleed rules.

Export-ready PDFs with embedded fonts and correct 300 DPI imagery.

A built-in EPUB Converter that creates store-ready EPUB files for Kindle and other retailers.

A Cover Generator that produces export-quality PDFs tailored for print and eBook use.

Final thoughts

Uploading a PDF to Amazon KDP is common and often the right choice for print books. For eBooks, prefer EPUB or DOCX to preserve reflow and reader experience.

The key is preparation: embed fonts, keep images at 300 DPI, avoid crop marks, and check trims and bleed carefully.

If you want a faster path to publish-ready files, BookAutoAI builds complete non-fiction books formatted for KDP, creates print-ready cover PDFs, and includes an EPUB converter so your files upload smoothly.

For cover creation, the BookAutoAI Cover Generator creates market-ready covers with readable typography and accurate spine sizing. For EPUB needs, the BookAutoAI EPUB Converter produces properly structured files ready for Kindle and other stores.

Write like a Human, Publish like an author.

Visit Bookautoai.com and try our Demo book.

FAQ

Can I upload any PDF directly as a Kindle eBook?

Technically yes, but PDFs are fixed-layout and may convert poorly. For reflowable eBooks, use EPUB or a clean DOCX export.

Do I need to embed fonts in cover PDFs?

Yes — embed fonts so printed covers and interiors render correctly. If a font disallows embedding, choose a legal substitute.

What if KDP previewer shows text cut off at the spine?

Check inner margin (gutter) and bleed settings. Increase the gutter for thicker books and re-export.

Can I upload a manuscript created by an AI generator?

Yes, but disclose AI use if required by KDP policy. Prefer generators that humanize text and reduce detector flags.

How do I make sure my PDF meets KDP’s image DPI requirements?

Inspect each image in your source and ensure it’s at least 300 DPI at the final print size. Replace or resize images that fall short.

Sources

Can I upload a PDF to Amazon KDP? A practical guide for self-publishers Estimated reading time: 7 minutes Yes — KDP accepts PDFs for most print books and requires PDFs for print covers and books with bleed. PDFs are allowed for some eBook uploads, but they often convert poorly; use EPUB or a KDP-friendly format…