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Requirements for Amazon KDP and How to Pass Review

requirements for amazon kdp: KDP rules cheat sheet — what gets rejected and how to pass review

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

  • Know the common triggers for KDP rejections: formatting errors, duplicate or low-quality content, missing rights, and problematic covers.
  • Use a concise pre-upload checklist for technical specs, originality, metadata, and pricing to pass review the first time.
  • Tools that produce KDP-ready EPUBs and thumbnail-optimized covers reduce rework and speed publishing.
  • If KDP flags your book, fix the specific itemized issue, re-upload a clean file, and document any AI or licensed content.

Quick guide: what to expect from KDP review

If you’re preparing a non-fiction book for Kindle Direct Publishing, understanding the requirements for amazon kdp will save time and prevent rejections. KDP reviews uploads for technical compliance, content rules, and metadata.

Early in your workflow, decide who owns the rights and whether AI tools or licensed assets were used. If you need a streamlined path to publish, consider resources like Publish Book Amazon Kdp which explains steps for packaging a finished manuscript and cover for upload.

A clean EPUB and a thumbnail-optimized cover reduce errors in the KDP preview and speed approval.

requirements for amazon kdp: technical and content checklist

Manuscript and formatting

File type: For eBooks, prepare a clean EPUB. For paperbacks, use a print-ready PDF with correct trim size and bleed. EPUBs must be structured with metadata, front matter, and navigable chapters.

Fonts and embedding: Use common, embeddable fonts. Avoid custom fonts that won’t embed correctly.

Images: Optimize for size while keeping readable quality. Embed the front cover in the EPUB so it previews correctly.

Navigation: Include a table of contents that maps to chapter headings so readers can jump between sections.

Page breaks and spacing: Use consistent chapter breaks and avoid orphaned headings or single-line paragraphs.

Cover and thumbnail readiness

Design covers so the title and author are readable at thumbnail size. Backgrounds should match genre expectations and avoid misleading or generic AI art.

For print, confirm spine and back matter meet KDP’s trim and spine calculations.

Rights and originality

You must own or have a license for all text, images, and translations. Public domain and Creative Commons materials require correct attribution when applicable.

If AI generated any content, KDP requires disclosure and you should keep records of prompts, sources, or licenses.

Metadata and pricing

Metadata accuracy matters: title, subtitle, author name, series info, categories, and descriptions should be correct.

Confirm pricing fits the royalty bands (for example, 70% royalty has price limits and territory rules).

Proofing and previews

Always use the KDP Previewer for ebook and print. Order a proof copy for paperbacks to confirm layout and print quality.

Run a final copyedit to remove formatting glitches and spelling mistakes, which commonly cause returns.

Useful tools that save time

A proper cover generator produces market-ready fronts with readable typography, not just artwork. Similarly, a reliable EPUB converter handles metadata and structure so uploads succeed.

For end-to-end non-fiction book creation — formatted manuscript, cover, and EPUB — consider the services on Bookautoai and tools that speed validation.

What KDP rejects (and why)

Understanding why KDP rejects books helps you avoid common pitfalls. Rejections typically fall into: technical noncompliance, rights problems, low-quality content, and policy violations.

1. Technical noncompliance

Files that won’t convert or preview properly are a top rejection reason.

  • Corrupted or improperly built EPUBs: broken navigation, missing files, or malformed XML.
  • Wrong cover size or unsupported image formats, or missing bleed for print.
  • Embedded fonts that don’t load and cause layout shifts.

How to avoid it: validate EPUBs, preview in KDP, and order a print proof for paperbacks.

2. Rights and duplicate content

Amazon enforces copyright and licensing strictly. Uploads containing copyrighted material without permission get removed.

Republishing public-domain text must follow Amazon’s public-domain rules; minimal changes are not enough.

Keep licenses and permissions in a single folder and document AI-generated or third-party contributions.

3. Low-quality or spammy content

KDP tests for low-value, repetitive, or poorly assembled books. Machine translations without human editing and large-volume low-effort titles are targeted.

Humanize AI output and ensure each book provides real value.

4. Policy violations and misleading metadata

Policy issues include explicit content, hate speech, or misleading metadata like false authorship claims or keyword stuffing.

Provide required disclosures and be honest about authorship and edition claims.

How to fix common rejections and pass review

Step 1 — Read the KDP message carefully

KDP usually gives a reason for rejection. Save the message and any referenced filenames or screenshots so you can match the issue precisely.

Step 2 — Match the message to a checklist item

Map the rejection to the technical and content checklist above. For example, run a validation tool for EPUB errors or gather licenses for rights questions.

Step 3 — Rebuild the file properly

When the issue is technical, rebuild from your manuscript master and export a fresh EPUB or PDF rather than patching a corrupted file.

Using tools that produce clean outputs reduces guesswork and re-uploads; for example, reliable book upload tools help manage distribution and avoid common upload mistakes.

Step 4 — Fix content issues with human review

If the problem is low-quality content or unedited AI translations, perform a human edit or hire an editor to improve clarity and accuracy.

Step 5 — Address rights and disclosure

Prepare clear disclosures for AI or third-party content and collect licenses, invoices, or release forms to provide when requested.

Step 6 — Re-upload and monitor

After fixing the issue, re-upload and preview. If KDP rejects again, escalate with a concise explanation and supporting documentation.

Practical examples and fixes

  • EPUB cover missing in preview: Re-embed the cover as the EPUB’s first item and ensure the image uses RGB and adequate resolution.
  • Spammy metadata: Remove keyword stuffing and make titles truthful and reader-focused.
  • Flagged translation: Have a native reviewer edit and certify the translation, then note the human review when re-uploading.

Cover and print specifics that often fail review

Covers that read well at full size may fail at thumbnail. Design with clear fonts and a hierarchy that reads when small.

For paperbacks, calculate spine width precisely and confirm bleed settings. When you need a tested pattern-based cover generator, it often saves rework and speeds acceptance.

EPUB and upload best practices

Good EPUBs include a single embedded front cover, correct metadata tags, a clean table of contents, and no absolute-positioned layouts that break on devices.

If you’re not confident building an EPUB from raw HTML or DOCX, use a tested EPUB converter that handles structure and metadata automatically.

Pricing and royalty checks

Confirm the price band for the royalty you want; KDP enforces price limits for 70% royalties and territory rules.

Reuploads and version control

Label each uploaded version clearly in your archive and keep the rejection message with notes on the fixes to streamline follow-up.

Practical publishing workflow

  1. Confirm rights and licenses.
  2. Finalize manuscript and run a human edit pass.
  3. Export to a clean EPUB using a trusted converter.
  4. Generate a thumbnail-optimized cover that matches your genre.
  5. Upload to KDP, preview, and order a print proof for paperbacks.
  6. Address any KDP messages and re-upload if needed.

For non-fiction authors who want an end-to-end option — formatted manuscript, market-ready covers, and clean EPUBs — consider the tools and services available at Bookautoai.

Final thoughts

Publishing on KDP is a set of predictable steps: meet technical specs, confirm rights, price correctly, and ensure readable content. Most rejections point to specific, fixable issues.

Stay calm and systematic: validate EPUBs, document licenses, and humanize any AI-generated text before upload.

Write like a Human, Publish like an author.

FAQ

What is the single most common reason KDP rejects a book?

Technical formatting errors in the EPUB or cover are the most common causes; validating files often fixes many rejects.

Do I need to disclose AI use to KDP?

Yes. KDP requires disclosure for AI-generated text, images, or translations. Keep records of usage and edits.

Can BookAutoAI create a paperback-ready cover and EPUB?

BookAutoAI’s services produce thumbnail-optimized covers and KDP-ready EPUBs; details are described in the main article above.

What should I do if KDP requests rights documentation?

Gather invoices, licenses, collaboration agreements, or proof of public-domain status, and respond with clear documentation.

Will using AI content always trigger rejection?

Not always. Rejection usually results from poor-quality, unedited AI output or lack of disclosure. Human editing and transparency reduce risk.

Sources

requirements for amazon kdp: KDP rules cheat sheet — what gets rejected and how to pass review Estimated reading time: 11 minutes Know the common triggers for KDP rejections: formatting errors, duplicate or low-quality content, missing rights, and problematic covers. Use a concise pre-upload checklist for technical specs, originality, metadata, and pricing to pass review…