# What is premium color on KDP?

Source: https://kdpbook.io/glossary/premium-color · Updated 2026-09-28

**Premium color**: KDP's high-quality color interior, suited to full-page illustrations. Available for paperbacks and hardcovers.

Checked against KDP Help on 2026-09-28.

Premium color is KDP's high-quality color interior, printed on heavier 60–71 lb (88–105 GSM) white paper and meant for image-heavy books such as picture books, cookbooks and photo books. It works for paperbacks and hardcovers. On Amazon.com it costs $3.60 flat up to 40 pages, then $1.00 + $0.065 per page on regular trims.

Also called: premium color ink, premium color interior.

## The numbers

Amazon.com printing cost, premium color:

| Binding | Regular trim | Large trim |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Paperback | $3.60 flat for 24–40 pages, then $1.00 + $0.065 per page | $4.20 flat for 24–40 pages, then $1.00 + $0.08 per page |
| Hardcover | $5.65 + $0.065 per page | $5.65 + $0.08 per page |

Sample premium color books on Amazon.com:

| Book | Printing cost | Minimum list price |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 32-page picture book, 8.5 × 8.5 in | $4.20 | $8.40 |
| 40-page picture book, 8 × 10 in | $4.20 | $8.40 |
| 120-page cookbook, 8.5 × 11 in | $10.60 | $17.67 |
| 80-page hardcover, 8.25 × 11 in | $12.05 | $20.08 |

## Premium color vs standard color

KDP also offers standard color, which costs $0.0255 per page instead of $0.065 on regular trims but needs at least 72 pages and is paperback only. KDP positions premium color for image-heavy interiors where sharpness matters, and standard color for longer books with fewer images.

Up to 40 pages, a premium color paperback pays one flat fee, so 24, 32 and 40 pages cost the same to print.

## Limits

- Paperback: 24–828 pages on most trims (590 maximum at 8.5 in wide and in A4).
- Hardcover: 75–550 pages.
- Also sold on Amazon.com.au, where standard color isn't.
- Locked after publishing: you can't switch between premium color, standard color and black and white later.

## Example: a 32-page picture book

A 32-page picture book at 8.5 × 8.5 in (a large trim) costs $4.20 to print on Amazon.com, with a minimum list price of $8.40. At $9.99, the royalty is 60% × $9.99 − $4.20 = $1.79 per copy.

The same book at 120 pages would cost $10.60, because every page past 40 is charged.

## Common mistakes

- Choosing premium color for a text-heavy workbook where standard color would do.
- Planning a hardcover picture book under 75 pages.
- Assuming you can switch a published color book to black and white to cut costs.
- Forgetting that 8.5 × 8.5 in and 8 × 10 in are large trims, with higher rates.