Kindle Formatting: DIY vs. Professional Services
Key Takeaways
- Kindle Create is the best free option for simple text-based books
- Vellum (Mac only) and Atticus are the industry standards for DIY professional results
- Hire a pro if your book has complex tables, math formulas, or intricate layout requirements
- Bad formatting is the #1 cause of 'Return' requests on Amazon Kindle
The Importance of Interior Design
A reader might buy your book for the cover, but they'll keep reading (and leave a good review) because of the interior. Wicked margins, inconsistent fonts, and broken images will kill your sales.
Category 1: The DIY Route
DIY formatting has come a long way. You no longer need to know HTML/CSS.
- Kindle Create (Free): Amazon's official tool. Good for novels, but limited in 'flair'.
- Vellum ($249): The 'Gold Standard' for Mac users. Beautiful, easy, but expensive.
- Atticus ($147): The best option for Windows users. Works in the browser and handles both ebooks and print.
Category 2: Professional Services
You can hire a formatter on platforms like Reedsy or Fiverr. Expect to pay $100–$500 depending on complexity.
When to hire a pro:
- Non-fiction with many diagrams or footnotes.
- Children's picture books with fixed layouts.
- Poetry collections where line breaks are critical.
- You have more money than time.
Formatter's Rule
Always test your final file on the 'Kindle Previewer' (official app) before publishing.
My Recommendation
For most fiction authors, **Atticus** is the best bang for your buck. It pays for itself after just two books and gives you complete control over future updates (like adding a 'New Release' link to your back matter).
Technical Production Lead
Has formatted over 1,000 Kindle books using every tool on the market. Obsessed with clean typography and 'widow/orphan' control.
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