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Reports Amazon KDP Sales, Royalties and Page Reads

reports amazon kdp: Sales, Royalties, and Page Reads Explained with Examples

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

  • Reports from Amazon KDP show units sold, royalties, and page reads — learn to read them so data informs decisions.
  • Royalties come from list-price sales and from Kindle Unlimited page reads; simple examples show how to calculate each.
  • Use reports to spot trends, test pricing or length, and prioritize titles that drive steady page reads.
  • Tools like BookAutoAI speed non-fiction production and reduce formatting friction so you can focus on reports and revenue.

How KDP reports work

Amazon KDP reports collect the key numbers every self-publisher needs: units sold, returns, royalties owed, and — for KDP Select books in Kindle Unlimited — pages read. Clear reports let you compare titles, check payment timing, and diagnose dips in revenue.

The primary report types you’ll use are the Sales Dashboard, the Payments and Royalties report, and the KENP (page reads) report. If you need a short guide before you dive into reports, review the Amazon Kdp Account Setup to make sure sales map to the right tax and payment settings.

Right away, learn the basic layout so numbers stop being mysterious: title, marketplace, activity date, units (sold or returned), list price, currency, and royalty. For page reads, look for “Pages Read” or “KENP Read” and the attributable royalty amount for the period.

Reading sales, royalties, and page reads

KDP report columns are straightforward once you know what each one means. Below are the main elements you’ll see and how to interpret them.

1) Units and returns

Units sold is the net number after returns. If a report shows 100 units and 2 returns, the net units are 98.

Watch for spikes: a sudden large number of returns in a period often signals either a pricing or quality problem.

2) List price and royalty rate

For eBooks, KDP normally offers two royalty rates: 70% or 35%, depending on price and geography. Paperback royalties are calculated as list price minus printing cost, then the royalty rate is applied.

The report lists the royalty earned per unit and the total royalty for the title in that period; line up your manual checks with those numbers if totals look off.

3) Kindle Unlimited page reads (KENP)

For titles enrolled in KDP Select, royalties come partially from pages read. The report shows pages read and the money attributed from the KDP Select global fund for those reads.

The per-page payout varies monthly because it depends on the global fund and total pages read across all enrolled books. Treat the per-page number as a moving variable and rely on pages-read totals to measure reader engagement.

4) Currency, marketplace, and payment timing

Reports are grouped by marketplace (US, UK, DE, etc.). Pay attention to currency and conversion when comparing titles across regions.

Royalties accrue and are paid according to Amazon’s schedule — usually reported monthly and paid about 60 days after the end of the month for eligible accounts. The Payments report shows pending and paid balances.

5) Attribution and adjustments

Promotions, price changes, and free days affect sales and returns. The report also shows promo adjustments: free units are listed separately and don’t generate royalties but can drive page reads.

Examples: calculate royalties and page reads

Running a few manual calculations helps you verify the numbers in KDP reports. Below are simple examples you can follow with your own report figures.

Example A — eBook sale royalty

Assume: List price $4.99, royalty rate 70% (eligible), delivery fee $0.10, units sold 200.

Calculation steps: Gross per-unit before delivery = $4.99 × 70% = $3.493. Subtract delivery fee: $3.493 − $0.10 = $3.393. Total royalty = $3.393 × 200 = $678.60.

Notes: If your book is priced outside the 70% band, apply 35% of the list price instead and skip delivery fees.

Example B — Paperback royalty

Assume: List price $12.99, printing cost $4.50, royalty rate 60% of (list price − printing cost), units sold 150.

Royalty per unit = ($12.99 − $4.50) × 0.60 = $5.094. Total royalty = $5.094 × 150 = $764.10.

Printing costs vary; use the print cost shown in KDP reports to verify calculations.

Example C — Kindle Unlimited (page reads)

Assume: Book enrolled in KDP Select, pages read (KENP) 8,000, per-page payout that month $0.0045 (hypothetical).

Royalty from page reads = 8,000 × $0.0045 = $36.00. Use page reads mainly as an engagement metric because the per-page rate fluctuates.

Example D — Combined revenue for a title

Suppose one month you have 50 eBook units sold at $4.99 with the 70% option (per-unit after delivery $3.393 → $169.65) and 2,500 KENP at $0.0045 → $11.25. Total royalty = $180.90.

This shows unit sales and page reads add up differently for each title; for some, page reads are the dominant income source.

Using reports to improve earnings

Reports are signals, not just numbers. Here are practical ways to use KDP data to make better decisions about pricing, updates, and marketing.

1) Spot high-engagement titles

Pages read are the clearest metric of engagement. Titles with steady page reads deserve promotion, updates, or upsells over time.

2) Test pricing with controlled changes

When you change price, run a short test and watch units sold, revenue per unit, and net royalty totals. Let the report data decide whether the new price improves your earnings.

3) Watch promotions and free days

Free days and discount promos often increase page reads later, but results vary. Track whether promos increase paid sales or only short-term visibility.

4) Compare marketplaces

Break down sales and royalties by marketplace in the report and invest marketing in top-performing countries or regions.

5) Track returns carefully

A sudden increase in returns reduces royalties; inspect content quality, delivery expectations, or metadata mismatches if returns spike.

6) Use reports to prioritize your production pipeline

Focus on books that show steady or growing page reads, strong conversion to reviews and word-of-mouth, and favorable royalty per unit for the effort required.

7) Speed up production without losing quality

If you publish at scale, remove formatting and upload friction so you can respond faster to trends. Tools such as BookAutoAI build complete non-fiction books ready to upload and reduce the time between idea and report data.

How to reconcile reports with taxes and payments

Reports show what you earned, but you must account for taxes and currency conversions. The Payments report shows amounts withheld for taxes based on your tax settings and the payment schedule for transfers.

Keep clear month-to-month records and reconcile KDP reports with bank deposits and accounting software to avoid surprises at tax time.

Practical checklist for monthly review

1) Open the Sales Dashboard: note top-performing titles and marketplaces.

2) Review KENP pages read: mark titles with steady engagement.

3) Check returns and refunds: investigate unusual spikes.

4) Compare month-over-month royalty totals per title.

5) Run simple manual calculations for 1–2 titles to confirm report math.

6) Make one small action: change a price, schedule a promotion, or update a book description based on the data.

If you’re setting up or troubleshooting your KDP account as part of analyzing reports, a clear guide like the Amazon Kdp Account Setup helps ensure payments and tax settings are correct so royalties flow to the right place.

If formatting and converting your manuscript is slowing you down, consider a reliable EPUB converter to create clean, store-ready files quickly so your focus stays on writing and analyzing results.

When upload processes are the bottleneck, tools that streamline file preparation and distribution can help; explore dedicated book upload tools to simplify retailer-ready uploads.

If you need to create paperback or ebook files faster, production platforms such as BookAutoAI generate complete, upload-ready files for non-fiction authors.

Final thoughts

KDP reports are the primary lens through which you measure publishing success. Learn the columns, run quick manual checks, and use trends — not single data points — to guide price, promotion, and production decisions.

When formatting or upload tasks slow you down, faster production means more tests and more reporting data; consider tools that reduce friction so you can publish, test, and learn more often.

Visit BookAutoAI and try the demo book to see how faster production affects your reporting cadence and revenue timelines.

FAQ

What counts as a sale in Amazon KDP reports?

A sale is a completed paid transaction for a unit. Returns and refunds are tracked separately and reduce net units; promotions and free downloads are listed separately and do not generate royalties.

How often does Amazon pay royalties?

Amazon reports royalties monthly and pays eligible royalties according to its schedule, typically around 60 days after the end of the month in which the sale occurred, subject to marketplace rules and your payment setup.

Are page reads included in royalty reports for all books?

Page reads appear only for books enrolled in KDP Select (available in Kindle Unlimited). Non-Select books do not earn from KU page reads.

How do I calculate my net royalty for a paperback sale?

Subtract printing cost from the list price, then apply your royalty rate (use the printing cost and list price shown in the report for accurate calculations).

Can I rely on page-read income as steady revenue?

Page-read income can be steady for books with consistent readership, but per-page payouts fluctuate. Treat page reads as an engagement metric and weigh them with unit sales for a full picture.

Sources

reports amazon kdp: Sales, Royalties, and Page Reads Explained with Examples Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Reports from Amazon KDP show units sold, royalties, and page reads — learn to read them so data informs decisions. Royalties come from list-price sales and from Kindle Unlimited page reads; simple examples show how to calculate each. Use…