How to create your account and upload a coloring book to Amazon KDP
From opening KDP and creating your account to setting up payments, uploading your PDFs, checking the book and publishing it.
A KDP Coloring Book Studio guide
The quick version
To publish a coloring book on KDP, you upload two files: the interior PDF and one complete cover PDF. You set the book size under Print Options, and for this workflow we use 8.5 × 8.5 inches.
2
files to upload
8.5 × 8.5
inches
10 min
for the walkthrough
This guide is for your first upload. Button names can vary a little by language or marketplace, but the path is the same: details, size, interior, cover, preview and pricing.
START HERE · ACCOUNT
Starting from zero: prepare your account first
If you have never published on KDP, start here. You can use an Amazon account you already have or create a new one from KDP.
Open your Bookshelf or start the sign-up flow.
Official guide to signing up and adding your details.
Official guide to adding your bank and receiving royalties.
Official questionnaire for completing your tax profile.
Account details
In Your Account > Account Details, choose individual or corporation and use your legal name, address and phone number.
Getting Paid
In Getting Paid > Add a bank account, choose your country, add the details, then click Add and Save.
Tax Information
In Your Account > Tax Information, open Complete Tax Profile and answer the questionnaire.
Your account legal name and bank account holder name should match. For taxes, follow KDP's questionnaire and ask a professional in your country if you need advice.
Keep these two files in an easy-to-find folder. The interior and cover are uploaded separately.
A PDF with the book pages in their final order.
One PDF with the back cover, spine and front cover.
STEP 01
Open your Bookshelf and create a paperback
Go to kdp.amazon.com, sign in and open your Bookshelf. Start a new book and choose Paperback.
- Use the Amazon account where you want to receive royalties.
- If you already started the book, open the three-dot menu next to its title and choose to edit the paperback content.
STEP 02
Fill in the book details slowly
KDP uses these details to build your sales page. Add the language, title, subtitle, author name, description, audience, categories and keywords.
- Make the title, subtitle and author match exactly what appears on the cover and in the interior.
- Choose categories and keywords that genuinely describe the book.
- If your book contains AI-generated content, disclose that use when KDP asks you.
Calm tip: keep your copy in a separate document so you can edit it without losing anything.
STEP 03
Set the print size
In Paperback Content, open Print Options and select the format you prepared. For this kind of book, the size we usually use is 8.5 × 8.5 inches.
- Choose the ink and paper type you planned for your interior.
- Under Trim Size, choose 8.5 x 8.5 in. KDP shows it as a square format.
- If your drawings reach the edge, review the Bleed option. The PDF must have been prepared with bleed from the start.
Do not change the size just because KDP offers another option. The interior and cover must use the same format.
STEP 04
Upload the interior
In the Manuscript section, click Upload paperback manuscript and select your interior PDF.
- Wait for KDP to process the file. Larger books can take a little while.
- For an illustrated interior with edge-to-edge artwork, PDF is the safest format for preserving size and bleed.
- If an error appears, do not panic. It usually points to size, bleed, missing pages or a protected PDF.
STEP 05
Upload the complete cover
Under Cover, upload the KDP-ready cover PDF. It should be one file with the back cover, spine and front cover.
- Do not upload only the front image if you are using a paperback with a spine.
- Check that the title and author match the details from the previous step.
- KDP can place the barcode for you if you are not using your own.
KDP Coloring Book Studio can generate the KDP cover as a PDF after you finish the interior.
STEP 06
Open Print Previewer and inspect every page
This is the part worth doing slowly. Previewer shows how the book will print and flags technical issues.
- Check the first page, last page and several pages in the middle.
- Look for cropped drawings, unexpected white edges, blank pages and elements too close to the trim line.
- Confirm the title, author, page count and orientation look right.
STEP 07
Set rights, territories and price
Once the interior and cover look good, move to Rights & Pricing. This is where you choose where to sell and how much to charge.
- Select the territories where you hold distribution rights.
- Review the final price and estimated royalty for each available marketplace.
- If something feels off, go back and fix the files before publishing.
STEP 08
Publish and wait for review
When everything looks right, click Publish Your Paperback Book. KDP reviews content and quality before listing it for sale.
- The review can take time. You do not need to re-upload while the status is still in review.
- If KDP asks for a fix, edit the original file, export it again and upload the new version.
- Once approved, open the Amazon detail page from the link in your Bookshelf.
Official KDP sources
That is the whole map
The first upload feels bigger than it really is. Save this guide, keep both PDFs nearby and move through one screen at a time. If you are still preparing the book, you can go back to the studio and finish it there.
Create another book