How to print your own picture book with Amazon KDP
You do not have to sell a book to hold it in your hands. Amazon KDP prints single paperbacks at cost and ships them to your door. Here is how to go from the files you download in CreateBooksAI to a printed copy on your kitchen table.
Download your two print files
In the studio, open Export book. You get the interior PDF and, once you have painted a cover, the cover PDF. KDP needs both. Downloading is free.
The cover file is one piece: back, spine and front, sized to your page count.
Sign in to Amazon KDP
Go to kdp.amazon.com and sign in with your normal Amazon account. KDP is free to use. When you publish a book for sale, it also asks for your tax and bank details.
Where you are heading: your own book, printed and bound.
Create the paperback
Choose Create, then Paperback. Fill in the title and your name, then go to Paperback Content and use these settings.
- ISBN: take the free KDP ISBN
- Picture book: Premium color ink on white paper, the trim size of your book (8.5 x 8.5, 8 x 10 or 8.25 x 6 in), Bleed
- Coloring book: Black ink on white paper, 8.5 x 11 in, No bleed
- Manuscript: upload the interior PDF
- Book cover: choose Upload a cover you already have, and upload the cover PDF
- AI-generated content: answer Yes for the images
Open the Launch Previewer and flip through the book. When it looks right, approve it and save the book as a draft.
Just for you: order a proof copy
On your Bookshelf, open the menu next to the paperback and choose Request printed proofs. The book does not have to be published, so it is never for sale on Amazon.
- Up to 5 copies per order. You can order again whenever you like
- You pay the printing cost, shipping and tax. There is nothing else to pay
- A proof has a small Not for Resale mark on the cover. Perfect for checking your book, or a copy for your own shelf
Copies without the mark: author copies
For gifts, a school or a book fair, order author copies. They look exactly like the copies Amazon sells. The book has to be published (live) on Amazon first.
- Up to 999 copies per order, at the printing cost plus shipping and tax
- You may give them away or sell them yourself. They earn no royalty and do not show in your KDP reports
Publishing makes the book available to anyone on Amazon. If you would like to sell it too, see how to sell your book on Amazon KDP.
What one printed copy costs
KDP charges a fixed printing cost by book type and page count, plus shipping and tax. Amazon.com prices in 2026:
A coloring book prints in black ink, so it is the cheapest book to print.
- Picture book, 24 to 40 pages: $4.20 a copy in premium color. A CreateBooksAI book with up to 18 story pages fits in 40 pages
- Longer picture books: $1.00 plus $0.08 per page
- Coloring book, 24 to 110 pages: $2.84 a copy in black ink, which fits up to 53 pictures
Prices differ a little by country, and KDP shows the exact figure before you order.
Frequently asked
Can I print my own book on Amazon KDP without selling it?
Yes. Order proof copies from your Bookshelf while the book is still a draft. It never goes on sale, and you pay only the printing cost, shipping and tax. Proofs have a small Not for Resale mark on the cover.
What is the difference between a proof copy and an author copy on KDP?
A proof is a test print of a draft book, up to 5 per order, with a Not for Resale mark. An author copy is a print of your published book at cost, up to 999 per order, without the mark, and you may give it away or resell it.
How much does it cost to print one picture book on KDP?
On Amazon.com a 24 to 40 page premium color paperback costs $4.20 to print, plus shipping and tax. A black and white coloring book of 24 to 110 pages costs $2.84.
Do I need an ISBN to print a copy for myself?
KDP gives you a free ISBN when you set up the paperback, so you do not have to buy one.
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