Book Breakeven Calculator
Find out exactly how many copies you need to sell to cover your editing, design, and marketing costs.
Your Expenses
Use the Royalty Calculator to find this number.
Sales Needed
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I include in fixed costs?
Include anything you paid ONLY ONCE to create the book: cover design fees, editing services, formatting, buying an ISBN, and any initial launch marketing/PR packages.
Do I include printing costs?
No. Printing costs are 'variable costs' deducted from each sale automatically by Amazon before they pay you. Your 'Royalty Per Book' is already net of printing costs.
How many books does the average author sell?
Most self-published authors sell fewer than 250 copies in a book's lifetime. However, authors with a launch plan and professional quality often sell 1,000+ in their first year.
Treat Your Book Like a Business.
KDP Sentinel Pro's P&L dashboard tracks every single penny of expense and revenue automatically.
Upgrade to KDP Sentinel Pro