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.)

Apple iBookstore

Apple iBookstore

70% of list price regardless of eBook price.

Apple iBookstore

Barnes & Noble

70% of list price regardless of eBook price.

Blio

Blio

45% of list price regardless of eBook price.

CoreSource

CoreSource

50% of list price regardless of eBook price.

Follett

Follett

50% of list price regardless of eBook price.

Freading

Freading

52% of the revenue received by Freading regardless of eBook price.

Gardners

Gardners

Gardners pays out 55% of the revenue it receives less taxes regardless of eBook price.

Google Play

Google Play

70% of list price regardless of eBook price

Kobo

Kobo

70% of list price for eBooks priced between $1.99 & $12.99.
45% of list price for eBooks priced between below $1.99 & above $12.99.

OverDrive

OverDrive

50% of list price regardless of eBook price.

Scribd

Scribd

50% of the list price, up to a maximum of $15.00, for every Sale by Full Read for each Participating eBook.

Wheelers

Wheelers

70% of list price regardless of eBook price.