Free tool
Calculate your net royalty at different price points and formats — free.
KDP Expanded Distribution distributes to: online retailers (Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, etc.), bookstores ordering through Ingram, academic institutions, and library suppliers. Notably, it does not include major library catalogue systems as effectively as IngramSpark does, and bookstores rarely order KDP Expanded Distribution titles because KDP's wholesale discount (40%) is too low for most bookstores to stock profitably — they typically need 55% to cover their margins.
IngramSpark is a dedicated distributor that offers 55% wholesale discount — the level bookstores and libraries need. This is why serious authors who want genuine bookstore and library presence use IngramSpark rather than KDP Expanded Distribution. KDP Expanded Distribution is convenient and free, but its 40% wholesale rate limits its practical reach. The recommended approach: use KDP for Amazon distribution, and use IngramSpark for true expanded retail and library distribution.
Does Expanded Distribution affect my Amazon royalty?
No. Your Amazon royalty rate is calculated separately from Expanded Distribution. Enabling Expanded Distribution doesn't change what you earn on Amazon sales — it only adds a channel for non-Amazon sales at a different royalty rate (typically 40% of list price minus printing cost, instead of 60% for Amazon).
Can I use both KDP Expanded Distribution and IngramSpark?
Yes, but you should disable KDP Expanded Distribution's Amazon channel if you use IngramSpark (to avoid competing listings). Use KDP for Amazon and IngramSpark for everything else. Both can coexist for different channels as long as the Amazon distribution comes only from KDP.
Is KDP Expanded Distribution free?
Yes — there's no fee to enable it. The cost comes in the form of a lower royalty rate on sales made through expanded distribution channels, reflecting the wholesale discount passed to retail partners.
Related terms