Ebooks vs Paperbacks… what actually sells more? 👀📚

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I’ve been getting this question a lot lately, and recently posted by

and I think there’s a big misconception around it.

Some people assume that physical books are fading out and everything is moving digital… but that’s not what I’m seeing at all. In my own numbers, I consistently get more paperback sales than ebooks—and that’s not by accident. It’s part of how I structure my strategy.

The truth is, people still want physical books. There’s something about holding a book, flipping through pages, highlighting, or even just having it sit on your shelf that makes it feel more valuable. It’s also easier to gift, and for a lot of readers, it creates a better overall experience.

And if you zoom out for a second, the market is showing us the same thing. Barnes & Noble is actively expanding again. They’re opening new stores, investing in high-traffic locations, and doubling down on the in-store experience—including a major new presence in downtown Chicago.

Companies don’t invest millions into retail space unless there’s real demand. That alone should tell you that physical books are far from dead—they’re actually gaining momentum again.

Now, let’s bring this back to KDP and how this affects your strategy.

With ebooks, your royalty is capped. You only earn 70% if your book is priced between $2.99 and $9.99. If you go outside that range, it drops to 35%. So you’re already working within tighter margins.

Paperbacks, on the other hand, give you more flexibility. You can price them higher, they feel more premium to the buyer, and you typically earn more per sale.

This is why I don’t focus my ads on ebooks.

A lot of people assume lower price = easier conversion, so they push traffic to the ebook. But even if it converts, you’re making less per sale.

Instead, I run ads to my paperback. That way I’m optimizing for:

Higher perceived value
Better profit per conversion
Stronger overall momentum across formats

The ebook is still there, but it’s not the main driver.

At the end of the day, ebooks are great for accessibility and reach—but paperbacks are often where the real revenue comes from if you position them correctly.

If you’re only focusing on digital, there’s a good chance you’re leaving money on the table.

Curious what you’re seeing—are your sales leaning more ebook or paperback right now? 👇

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