KDP publishing guide
First Amazon KDP Book Upload: A Checklist Before You Submit
Use this first-book KDP upload checklist to prepare your files, listing details, rights information, previews, and final format-specific checks.
Published by KDP Maker
Last reviewed: October 20, 2026. Verify requirements in Amazon KDP before publishing.
Prepare the book, listing, and preview before submission
Before uploading your first book to Amazon KDP, gather the final format-specific files, check that the listing describes the actual book, confirm your rights, and review the upload in KDP's preview tools. This checklist helps you catch avoidable omissions; it does not guarantee acceptance.
1. Confirm the edition you are uploading
- Choose the intended format and marketplace before preparing the final files.
- Check current trim, bleed, paper, ink, page-count, and file requirements for that specific edition.
- For print, prepare the interior and its matching full cover; for Kindle, use an appropriate digital book file and cover image.
- If you plan multiple editions, use the three-format file guide rather than assuming one export fits all formats.
2. Check the book files
- Open the final files and confirm the correct version, page order, title page, and intended blank pages.
- Review text, illustrations, image quality, margins, and any content that could be clipped or difficult to read.
- For print covers, confirm that the template matches the final page count and print choices.
- Use the formatting checklist and relevant file-checking tools as early checks, not approval guarantees.
3. Prepare accurate listing information
Check the title, subtitle, author or contributor names, description, language, categories, keywords, and series information against the finished book. Remove placeholders and confirm that every statement is accurate and supported by the contents.
Review the KDP listing metadata checklist before entering book details. Do not add unrelated phrases or imply endorsements, results, or features the book does not contain.
4. Confirm rights and disclosures
Make sure you control or have permission to use the text, illustrations, photographs, fonts, and other material in the book and cover. Answer the platform's rights and content questions based on the actual project. If the book includes AI-generated content, read KDP's AI-content disclosure guidance and verify the current instructions during upload.
5. Preview the uploaded book and save a final record
Upload the intended files to your KDP account and review the applicable previewer from beginning to end. Resolve warnings that apply, inspect the cover and page placement, then recheck the final version after any corrections. Save the submitted files and a note of the selected edition settings so later updates can be compared with the version you reviewed.
Amazon's file specifications and upload options can change. Check current help guidance and the live upload workflow before submitting your title.
Common questions
What should I prepare before uploading my first KDP book?
Prepare a final manuscript or interior and the matching cover, accurate listing details, confirmed rights, and the format-specific information KDP requests. Preview the files and verify current requirements in your KDP account before submitting.
Does passing a PDF check mean Amazon will accept my book?
No. A PDF checker can inspect selected technical properties, but it does not replace the relevant KDP Previewer or Amazon's review of a submitted title.