Book Planner & KDP Cost Estimator – Free Children's Book Calculator | Kidillus

Get your Book Plan PDF

Enter your email to download — we'll also send you free KDP tips & publishing guides (no spam, unsubscribe anytime).

Free SaaS Tool

Book Planner Pro

Calculate spine width, KDP print cost, royalties, illustration count & publishing timeline — all in one place. Trusted by self-publishing authors worldwide.

10,000+ authors
4.9 rating
Works for KDP & IngramSpark
100% Free
Book Details
Word Count Your manuscript word count
Word count: 0
Age Group
Format
Trim Size
Paper Type
Illustration Settings
Illustration Style
Illustration Density High How picture-heavy is the book?
Text heavyBalancedPicture heavy
Art Style Complexity Affects service cost estimate
Pricing & Marketplace
Marketplace
Your Selling Price Leave blank to skip royalty
Distribution
Advertisement
Total Pages
Illustrations
Est. Timeline
Your Royalty Per Sale
After KDP printing deduction
Kidillus Service Est.
Illustrations + cover + formatting
Royalty Calculation Breakdown
( $0.00 × 60% ) $0.00 = $0.00 per book sold
Spine Width
Print Cost
Book Weight
Safe Margins
Cover File Dimensions (with bleed)
Full Width
Full Height
Spine Width
Bleed0.125″ each side
Page Layout Breakdown
Front Matter4 pages
Story Content
Back Matter4 pages
Illustration Style
Art Complexity
Publishing Roadmap
1
Manuscript Editing
Finalize your story text before sending to illustrator.
2
Illustrations
Need 0 artworks. Hire Kidillus →
3
Cover & Layout Design
Professional KDP-ready files. Get Quote →
4
5
Proof Copy
Order a physical proof before going live.
6
Publish on KDP
Upload files, set price & go live on Amazon.
* All costs, royalties, and timelines are estimates. Printing costs are approximate KDP figures as of 2026. Kidillus service quote is indicative — get an exact quote here.
Get Quote
Paperback vs Hardcover
Paperback
Hardcover
Click "Compare Formats" to see Paperback vs Hardcover side by side

About the Kidillus Book Planner Pro

Planning a children's book is more than writing a story. Before you even send a word count to an illustrator, you need to know exactly how many pages your book will have, how wide the spine will be, how much it will cost to print on Amazon KDP, and how much royalty you'll earn per sale. The Kidillus Book Planner Pro calculates all of this instantly — for free.

Whether you're publishing a 24-page board book for toddlers, a 32-page full-color picture book for ages 3–7, or a longer chapter book, this tool handles every scenario. It supports Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and five different marketplaces with live currency conversion.

Why Spine Width Calculation Matters

The spine width is one of the most critical measurements in self-publishing. It is calculated from your total page count multiplied by the paper thickness — 0.002252 inches per page for standard color paper, 0.0025 inches for premium. If your cover design file uses the wrong spine width, Amazon will reject it outright. Our calculator gives you the exact figure including bleed allowance.

How KDP Royalties Are Calculated

Amazon KDP pays 60% of your list price for standard distribution, minus the printing cost. For example, a $12.99 book with a $3.65 printing cost earns you $4.14 per sale. If you enable Extended Distribution, the royalty rate drops to 40%. Our planner shows you the full formula so you can set a price that's profitable before you publish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best trim size for a children's picture book on Amazon KDP?

The most popular trim size is 8.5″ × 8.5″ for square picture books — it looks professional and is widely accepted. For portrait-style books, 8″ × 10″ is the standard. Both are supported by KDP for paperback and hardcover.

How is my Amazon KDP royalty calculated?

The formula is: (List Price × 60%) − Printing Cost = Your Royalty. For instance, a $12.99 book with $3.65 printing cost yields ($12.99 × 0.60) − $3.65 = $4.14 per sale. Our tool shows this breakdown automatically.

How many illustrations does a 32-page children's book need?

A standard 32-page picture book (ages 3–7) typically needs 14–16 double-page spreads or 24–28 single-page illustrations, depending on your layout style. Our tool calculates this based on your word count, age group, and illustration style selection.

What is the printing cost for a color children's book on KDP?

For Amazon KDP US, a 32-page standard color paperback costs approximately $3.65 to print. A premium color 32-page book costs around $3.87. Hardcover adds a base cost of $6.50 plus per-page charges. These figures are updated for 2026 and built into our calculator.

Can Kidillus illustrate and format my children's book?

Yes! Kidillus provides end-to-end children's book services — custom illustrations, cover design, KDP-formatted interior layout, and ISBN barcode generation. After generating your plan, click Get Quote to start your project.

Does this calculator work for IngramSpark?

Yes. The spine width, page count, and cover dimension calculations are identical for IngramSpark. The royalty calculation uses IngramSpark's 55% rate when you select that distribution option.

What Users Say about Book Planner

Real feedback from creators & authors.

No reviews found for this section. ✨

Thank you! Review saved. ❤️