2026-11-09 · all guides
KDP Premium Color vs Standard Color vs Black and White: What Each Costs and Which to Pick
TL;DR
On the US store, a black ink paperback under 110 pages prints for a flat 2.30 dollars, and longer ones cost 1.00 dollar plus 1.2 cents a page. Premium color costs a flat 3.60 dollars up to 40 pages, then 1.00 dollar plus 6.5 cents a page. Standard color costs 1.00 dollar plus 2.55 cents a page, but only for books of 72 to 600 pages, and it isn't offered for hardcovers. Large trim sizes cost more in every case. A short picture book has to use premium color, and a long illustrated book usually only works in standard color or black and white. The ink type is locked once the book is published, so order a proof first.
The three choices
When you set up a paperback, KDP asks for an ink and paper type. For an illustrated book the choice comes down to three.
| Option | Paper | Page count | Hardcover? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black ink | White or cream, 50 to 61 lb | 24 to 828 | Yes |
| Standard color | White, 50 to 61 lb | 72 to 600 | No |
| Premium color | White, 60 to 71 lb | 24 to 828 | Yes |
Premium color uses heavier paper. Standard color prints on the same weight of paper as a black ink book. Both color options print on white paper only.
What each one costs to print
These are KDP's printing costs for the US store, checked on its Paperback Printing Cost page in November 2026. The cost is a fixed amount plus a charge for every page. A "large" trim size is anything wider than 6.12 inches or taller than 9 inches, which includes 8.5 x 8.5 and 8.5 x 11.
| Ink | Page count | Regular trim | Large trim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | under 110 | 2.30 flat | 2.84 flat |
| Black | 110 and up | 1.00 + 0.012 per page | 1.00 + 0.017 per page |
| Standard color | 72 to 600 | 1.00 + 0.0255 per page | 1.00 + 0.0402 per page |
| Premium color | up to 40 | 3.60 flat | 4.20 flat |
| Premium color | 42 and up | 1.00 + 0.065 per page | 1.00 + 0.08 per page |
All amounts are in US dollars. Other marketplaces have their own tables.
Two things in that table catch people out:
- Every page is charged at the color rate. A 200-page book with ten color photos pays the color rate on all 200 pages.
- Standard color starts at 72 pages. A 32-page picture book can't use it. For a short book, the choice is premium color or black ink.
Worked example: a 32-page picture book
Size 8.5 x 8.5, which is a large trim. Paperback royalty is 60 percent of the list price at 9.99 dollars and above, minus printing.
| 32 pages, 8.5 x 8.5 | Premium color | Black ink |
|---|---|---|
| Printing cost | 4.20 | 2.84 |
| You keep at a 9.99 list price | 1.79 | 3.15 |
| You keep at a 12.99 list price | 3.59 | 4.95 |
A picture book almost always needs color, so the real decision is the price. At 9.99 the book earns under two dollars a copy. Most color picture books of this length are priced higher for that reason.
Worked example: a 100-page illustrated guide
Size 8.5 x 11, large trim.
| 100 pages, 8.5 x 11 | Premium color | Standard color | Black ink |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printing cost | 9.00 | 5.02 | 2.84 |
| You keep at a 14.99 list price | not allowed | 3.97 | 6.15 |
| You keep at a 19.99 list price | 2.99 | 6.97 | 9.15 |
KDP won't accept a list price where the royalty share is less than the printing cost. In premium color this book can't be listed under 15 dollars, and at exactly 15 it earns nothing. Standard color makes it workable. Black ink earns the most per copy, if the pictures still do their job in grayscale.
To run your own numbers, the paperback royalty calculator takes page count, ink type and trim size and shows the printing cost, the lowest allowed price and what you keep per sale.
How to choose
- Children's picture book, 24 to 40 pages. Premium color. The flat rate keeps the cost fixed, so add pages freely up to 40 and price the book above 9.99.
- Illustrated nonfiction, cookbook or travel book, 72 pages or more. Start with standard color. Order a proof and look at the photos. If they look flat on the lighter paper, compare the premium cost before deciding.
- A long book with a few pictures. Black ink, with the pictures converted to grayscale. Paying the color rate on every page for a few images rarely makes sense.
- Coloring books, workbooks, journals. Black ink.
- Hardcover. Premium color or black ink only.
Making pictures work in black and white
If the numbers push you to black ink, prepare the images for it. Don't leave the conversion to the printer.
- Convert each image to grayscale yourself and look at it. Colors that are easy to tell apart, such as red and green, can turn into the same gray.
- Raise the contrast. Print comes out darker and flatter than a screen.
- Keep images at 300 DPI at the size they print.
- Choose white paper. Cream paper dulls pictures.
- Order a proof and check the darkest images. If shadow detail has filled in, lighten those images and upload again.
The choice is locked after you publish
KDP locks the ink type once the book is live. You can't switch a published book between standard color, premium color and black and white. Offering a second version means setting up a separate book.
So decide before you publish, and order a proof in the ink you chose. A proof costs the printing cost plus shipping, which is cheap next to republishing a book.
FAQ
Is KDP standard color good enough for a children's picture book?
Most picture books can't use it, because standard color needs at least 72 pages. For longer illustrated books it is worth ordering a proof. The paper is lighter than premium color paper, and how much that matters depends on the artwork.
Can I have color on only a few pages of a KDP book?
No. The ink type applies to the whole book, and every page is charged at that rate. A book printed in color pays the color page rate even on pages with only black text.
Does bleed or cover finish change the printing cost?
No. KDP's printing cost depends on the ink type, the page count, the trim size and the marketplace. Bleed and the choice of a matte or glossy cover don't change it.
Can I change from color to black and white after publishing?
No. The ink type is locked at publication. To offer a black and white version you publish a second book. On a black ink book you can still switch between white and cream paper.
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