KDP or IngramSpark for your first book?

Both print your book one copy at a time when someone orders it, so neither needs you to buy stock. The difference is where your book is sold and how strict the file rules are.

Quick answer

Start with Amazon KDP if you mainly want to sell on Amazon: it's free and simpler. Add IngramSpark if you want bookstores and libraries to order your book, or want a dust jacket hardcover. Many authors use both, with their own ISBN, and build files to IngramSpark's stricter rules.

Want the answer for your book? Upload it and SparkPrep checks it against your printer's own rules.Scan my book free

Side by side for a first-time author

	Amazon KDP	IngramSpark
Sells on	Amazon	Thousands of stores and libraries through Ingram's catalog (and Amazon)
Ease for beginners	Easier	More options, more rules
File rules	Looser margins, no published ink number	0.5" margins, 240% ink limit, PDF/X-1a preferred
Hardcover	Printed case only	Printed case or cloth with dust jacket
Free ISBN	Yes, KDP-only	No: use your own ISBN

Our honest advice

Just want your book on Amazon, fast? KDP.
Want local bookstores, libraries or events to stock it? Add IngramSpark. Stores order through Ingram.
Planning both? Buy your own ISBNs so the same edition has the same number everywhere, and build the interior to IngramSpark's rules from the start. Here's why.

Three questions to decide

Where will your readers buy it?

If your readers find books on Amazon (most genre fiction, most self-help), KDP alone may be all you need. If you're planning readings, local bookstores, school visits or library copies, those buyers order through Ingram, so you'll want IngramSpark.

How much setup are you ready for?

KDP walks you through one book at a time with fewer choices. IngramSpark asks more questions (discounts, returns, paper types) and checks files harder. If this is your very first book and you're nervous, start with KDP and add IngramSpark once it's live.

What kind of book is it?

A paperback novel works anywhere. A hardcover with a dust jacket needs IngramSpark. A full-color picture book works on both, but check each printer's color paper and ink rules before you design.

Using both without trouble

Format the interior with at least 0.5" margins on every side (bigger inside for thick books).
Keep color under 240% total ink; save black and white as grayscale.
Make two covers, one from each printer's template, because the spine width differs.
Use the same ISBN for the same format on both, if it's your own ISBN.
Preflight each set of files for its printer before uploading.

SparkPrep checks your files against KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press or Lulu, each with that printer's own numbers, and re-fits your cover from one printer to another. See the full KDP vs IngramSpark rules table.

Find out what's wrong with your files before the printer does

SparkPrep checks your cover and every interior page against the exact rules Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press and Lulu use, tells you each problem in plain English, and can fix it for you.

Scan my book free See how SparkPrep works

The scan is free and shows how many problems your files have. To see every problem and where it is, the audit is $1.99 ($3.99 after January 1). The Advanced Audit checks every page, up to 300, for $9.99.

Questions people ask

Should I use KDP or IngramSpark for my first book?

KDP is the simpler start if you mainly sell on Amazon. Add IngramSpark if you want bookstores and libraries to be able to order it.

Can I use both KDP and IngramSpark?

Yes. Many authors do. Build the interior to IngramSpark's stricter rules and make a separate cover for each printer.

More on this site

Your first print book, step by stepA plain-English roadmap for first-time self-publishers: from finished manuscript to a printed book on Amazon KDP or IngramSpark in 10 steps.What it costs to make a book print-readyFreelancer, package, DIY and SparkPrep costs, with sources.How long it takes to self-publishA realistic week-by-week timeline, and where the time really goes.Self-publishing words to knowBleed, gutter, DPI, CMYK, PDF/X-1a and 17 more, one line each.10 first-book mistakesThe ten traps, why they happen and how to sidestep each one.

Free help from SparkPrep

Book Preflight, ExplainedWhat book preflight is, who needs it and what gets checked before KDP or IngramSpark prints your book.Print File FixesStep-by-step fixes for bleed, margins, fonts, transparency, picture quality, color and spine problems.Print Cover SizesFull cover size charts, spine widths, barcode space and hardcover rules for KDP and IngramSpark.Rejection Messages DecodedWhat KDP and IngramSpark rejection messages really mean, in plain English, and what to do next.Free book toolsCover calculator, spine width, margins, DPI checker and page count, on sparkprep.legenddary.com.

Last updated 2026-11-01. Written by Joshua Davis, founder of SparkPrep. Numbers come from each printer's own published guides; always double-check your printer's current rules before you upload.