Publishing a book on Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is one of the easiest ways to get your writing out to readers. But there’s always one question that pops up right after you hit “Publish” – How long does Amazon take to approve books?
Well, the answer is not just a single number of hours. It depends on what type of book you are publishing, whether it’s an eBook or a paperback, and sometimes even the quality of your formatting. Let’s break it down step by step in plain and simple words.
The usual approval time for eBooks
If you are publishing a Kindle eBook, Amazon usually takes between 24 to 72 hours to approve and make your book live. In most cases, you’ll see it approved in less than 24 hours. Sometimes, if everything is perfectly formatted and there are no errors, it might even get approved within 12 hours.
But don’t panic if it takes longer. Amazon manually reviews some books more carefully, especially if the title or keywords look suspicious, or if the formatting isn’t smooth.
Approval time for paperbacks
Paperbacks take slightly longer compared to Kindle eBooks. Amazon usually approves them within 72 hours, but printing and distribution checks may cause a small delay. Since Amazon needs to make sure your paperback is print-ready (margins, bleed settings, cover size, etc.), the process is a bit more technical than with digital books.
Why sometimes approval takes longer
There are situations where Amazon may take more than the usual time:
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If the book cover or title includes sensitive words (Amazon double-checks such content).
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If you have formatting mistakes like broken links, missing fonts, or blank pages.
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If Amazon suspects duplicate or plagiarized content.
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If your book is in a niche that is under stricter review (like medical or financial advice).
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High publishing traffic during holiday seasons (for example, November–December) can also slow things down.
Amazon’s review process in simple words
When you upload your book to KDP, Amazon doesn’t just push it live immediately. Here’s what happens behind the scenes:
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Automated check – Their system scans your manuscript and cover to see if everything matches the requirements.
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Manual review – A human reviewer sometimes looks at your book to make sure it doesn’t violate policies.
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Approval or rejection – If everything is fine, your book goes live. If not, you get an email telling you what to fix.
A small tip for faster approval
If you want your book to get approved quickly, double-check your formatting before uploading. Use Amazon’s preview tool, make sure the cover size matches the template, and avoid suspicious keywords like “best seller” in your title. A clean upload usually means faster approval.
Comparison table for quick view
| Book Type | Usual Approval Time | Possible Delay Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| Kindle eBook | 12 – 72 hours | Formatting errors, sensitive content |
| Paperback | 24 – 72 hours | Print settings, cover size issues |
| Hardcover (via KDP Beta) | 48 – 96 hours | More detailed print checks |
Real-life example
Let’s say Sarah uploads her first Kindle eBook at 8 pm on Monday. She checks her email Tuesday morning, and the book is already live – that’s less than 12 hours. But when she later publishes a paperback version of the same book, it takes until Thursday evening to go live. Nothing is wrong – it’s just that paperbacks need extra checking.
Can Amazon reject a book?
Yes, Amazon can reject a book during the approval stage. Common reasons include:
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Violating copyright rules.
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Poor formatting that makes the book unreadable.
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Cover image that doesn’t meet size or quality requirements.
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Using misleading or inappropriate titles.
If your book is rejected, Amazon will send you an email with the exact reason, and you can re-upload after fixing the issue.
Does faster approval mean better ranking?
Not at all. Approval speed has nothing to do with how your book performs on Amazon. What matters is your keywords, description, cover design, and of course, how readers respond to your book once it’s live.
Some common myths
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Myth 1: All books go live in 24 hours. → Not true. Some may take 72 hours or more.
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Myth 2: Changing the price delays approval. → Price changes are usually updated within 24 hours.
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Myth 3: Approval guarantees sales. → Getting approved is just the start; marketing is what brings readers.
How to know if your book is approved
You’ll get an email from Amazon KDP that says, “Your book is live.” You can also log into your KDP dashboard and see the status change from “In Review” to “Live.”
Practical checklist before submitting your book
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✅ Manuscript formatted correctly (no random spaces or blank pages).
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✅ Cover image matches Amazon’s size template.
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✅ Metadata (title, subtitle, description) free from spammy keywords.
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✅ Previewed in both Kindle and print preview tools.
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✅ Copyright page included (if needed).
Doing this can help you avoid unnecessary delays.
FAQs about Amazon book approval
Q1: How long does Amazon take to approve an eBook?
Usually between 12 to 72 hours. Most often, less than 24 hours.
Q2: How long does Amazon take to approve a paperback?
Typically within 72 hours, but sometimes up to 96 hours if extra review is needed.
Q3: Can I speed up the approval process?
You can’t force Amazon to go faster, but uploading a clean, well-formatted file helps avoid delays.
Q4: What happens if my book is rejected?
You’ll get an email explaining the reason. Fix the issue and re-upload.
Q5: Will my book appear worldwide immediately?
In most cases yes, but sometimes it takes longer for certain regions to update.
Q6: Do holiday seasons affect approval time?
Yes, during busy months like November and December, reviews can take a little longer.
Final thoughts
So, how long does Amazon take to approve books? On average, eBooks are approved in less than 24 hours, while paperbacks may take 2–3 days. It might feel like forever when you’re excited to see your work live, but patience is part of the process. As long as your book is formatted correctly and follows Amazon’s guidelines, you’ll get that “Congratulations, your book is live!” email soon enough 🎉.
Publishing on Amazon is more about consistency than speed. Once your first book is approved, the process feels much easier for your future uploads.
