eBook Retailer Payouts

Some eBook Retailers pay out different royalty rates based on your eBook’s list price, so review this list carefully before making your pricing determination. Email your author manager if you have any questions.

What are eBook Royalties?

Book royalties are the percentage of a book’s list price that authors earn from their sales. In simple terms, eBook royalties work like this:

You set a price for your book and publish your eBook.
Readers begin purchasing your book at some of the many retailers Gatekeeper Press partners with.
You receive a percentage (the number varies from retailer to retailer) of the list price of each book that is sold, which is your eBook royalty.

For example’s sake, let’s say you sell 10 copies of your eBook for a list price of $2.99 at the iBookstore, which has a 70% payout as we show listed above. The book sales would amount to $29.90, and you receive 70% of that amount. Your eBook royalty in this example scenario would be $20.93.

How do eBook Royalties Differ from Print Book Royalties?

Royalties can differ depending on whether your book is being sold in print or eBook format. The difference lies in the production and distribution differences between the two.

For example, it costs more to produce a physical book because you have to print the book (different print formats affect the cost and profits as well), and then printed books have different distribution options, which can affect sales and, thus, the royalties. Some of the factors affect the royalties for print books include the binding type, the trim size, interior type, retail price, and wholesale discount among others.

It might sound complicated, but Gatekeeper Press offers an easy-to-use calculator to determine the cost of royalties for print books. Or, learn more about eBook retailer payouts below!

Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer and the creator of the world’s best-selling eReader, the Kindle. Publish your eBook on Amazon’s Kindle Store and it will be available for purchase worldwide on Amazon.com. Your eBook will be available for purchase on Kindle devices and Kindle apps for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, and Android-based devices.

Amazon Kindle

70% of list price less delivery fees for eBooks priced between $2.99 & $9.99.
35% of list price for eBooks priced between below $2.99 & above $9.99.
(Amazon’s delivery fees are based on the size of your eBook file. Roughly $0.15/MB.)