This article details the royalty structures for ebooks and audiobooks on Kobo Writing Life, outlining different percentages based on pricing tiers and content type. It also explains how royalties are calculated for library sales and how all earnings contribute to your total payment threshold.
Table of contents
eBook royalties
For original works, you will receive 70% of the list price for the book (the price the customer pays, not including taxes) for each copy of the book that is sold, provided the price is greater than or equal to:
- $2.99 USD
- £1.99 GBP
- $2.99 CAD
- $2.99 AUD
- €1.99 EUR
- $2.99 NZD
- $15.99 HKD
- ¥299JPY
- 2.99 CHF
- R$7.99 BRL
- $39.99 MXN
- $70 TWD
- R29.99 ZAR
- ₱99.99 PHP
- ₹149.99 INR
For original works priced below this threshold, you will receive 45% of the list price.
For books that are a part of the public domain, you will receive 20% of the list price.
Audiobook royalties
For Audio works, you will receive 32% of the list price for subscription token purchases. For a-la-carte purchases, you will receive 45% of the list price, provided the list price is greater than, or equal to:
- $2.99 USD in the US;
- £1.99 GBP in the UK;
- $2.99 CAD in Canada;
- $2.99 AUD in Australia;
- €1.99 EUR in the European Union;
- $2.99 NZD in New Zealand;
- $15.99 HKD in Hong Kong;
- ¥299 JPY in Japan;
- 2.99 CHF in Switzerland;
- R$7.99 BRL in Brazil;
- $39.99 MXN in Mexico;
- $70 TWD in Taiwan;
- R29.99 ZAR in South Africa;
- ₱99.99 PHP in the Philippines;
- ₹149.99 INR in India
For original works priced below this threshold, you will receive 35% of the list price.
Overdrive royalties
For library sales, you will receive 50% of your library price when a library purchases your book.
We also offer Cost Per Checkout model in addition to our regular one book/one checkout model. When a library purchases your title for the full price, they can lend it out multiple times. However, they can also pay 10% of your library price to allow it to be checked out just once, which is what you're seeing. Usually this happens when a reader has specifically asked for your book.
This gives the library more options, and it allows them to accommodate reader requests easily—if they get enough requests, they will typically buy the book.
Your total earnings
Sales from your ebooks and audiobooks in all countries are amalgamated to reach the payment threshold. This includes your earnings made through regular à la carte sales, Kobo Plus minutes read, library sales, and sales made through our global distribution partners.