How to Publish with IngramSpark (2026 Guide for Indie Authors)

What does IngramSpark actually do?

IngramSpark prints your book on demand and lists it in Ingram’s catalogue, which bookstores, online retailers and libraries use to find and order books. When a store or library orders a copy, Ingram prints it and ships it, and you are paid a share of the revenue after the retailer’s discount and the printing cost.

It offers paperbacks and hardcovers in a range of trim sizes and paper options, and it can distribute ebooks too. It is worth being clear about what it does not do. Being listed does not mean a bookstore will put your book on a shelf. It means any store can order it, and any reader can ask for it.

IngramSpark is a distributor and printer, not a marketer. It will not promote your book, review your cover or tell you whether the story is ready. Treat it as the plumbing that makes your book orderable, and do the selling yourself.

Should you use IngramSpark, KDP or both?

Many indie authors use both. A common setup is KDP Print for Amazon, where setup is simple and the author pays no upfront cost, and IngramSpark for bookstores, libraries and other retailers. KDP is genuinely strong for Amazon sales and speed. IngramSpark is genuinely strong for reach into the wider book trade. Our full comparison is in the KDP vs IngramSpark guide.

To run both, you need your own ISBN for the print edition, because a free ISBN supplied by KDP can only be used on KDP. Use the same ISBN for the same edition wherever it is sold, and give each format (paperback, hardcover, ebook) its own ISBN. Do not enable KDP’s expanded distribution for an edition you are distributing through IngramSpark, so the two channels do not conflict.

If you only want Amazon, you do not need IngramSpark. If you want libraries and bookstores to be able to order your book through their usual suppliers, adding it is usually worth the extra effort. Some authors also use IngramSpark for hardcovers, which KDP has offered more recently than IngramSpark.

How do you set up a book on IngramSpark?

The process follows the same order for most titles. Check the current screens, as the layout changes over time.

• Create an account and complete your publisher and payment details.
• Enter your title details: title, author name, description, categories, keywords and ISBN.
• Choose your format, trim size, paper and binding.
• Upload your interior PDF and cover PDF, then let the system check them.
• Set your list price, wholesale discount and returns option for each market.
• Order a printed proof, check it carefully, then approve the book for distribution.

Your imprint name is tied to your ISBN. If you buy ISBNs in your own name or your own imprint, that name appears as the publisher in the catalogue. Decide on it before you buy ISBNs, because changing it later is awkward. Our ISBN guide covers where to buy them and what each format needs.

What files does IngramSpark need?

IngramSpark needs a print-ready interior PDF and a separate cover PDF, built to its specifications. Its file checks are stricter than many authors expect, so build the cover from IngramSpark’s own template for your exact trim size, page count and paper. The template sets the spine width and bleed. You can also estimate spine width in advance with our Book Spine Width Calculator, but always confirm against the official template.

Embed all fonts, use high-resolution images, and keep important text inside the safe margins. Allow for the inner (gutter) margin, which needs to be wider on thicker books so text does not vanish into the binding. If you are unsure, our Gutter Margin Calculator gives a sensible starting point.

Changing the page count changes the spine, so finish editing before you build the cover. Order a printed proof before approving the book. It is the only dependable way to catch problems with colour, margins, trimming and the spine. If you plan a hardcover, read our hardcover guide first, as cover files differ from paperbacks.

What wholesale discount should you set?

The wholesale discount is the share of the list price that goes to the retailer or wholesaler. Bookstores and libraries generally expect a discount of around 40% to 55%, and a lower discount makes stores much less likely to order. IngramSpark publishes its own guidance and limits, so check the current options when you set up.

Your earnings per copy are the list price, minus the wholesale discount, minus the printing cost. Printing cost depends on trim size, page count, paper and colour, so run the numbers before fixing the price. Our IngramSpark Printing Cost Calculator and Book Printing Cost Calculator help with this.

Many authors find that a long, black-and-white paperback leaves very little margin at a 55% discount unless the list price is set honestly for the market. Check your price against similar books in your genre. If the maths only works at a price readers will not pay, consider a shorter book, a smaller trim size or cheaper paper, rather than lowering the discount below what stores accept.

Should you accept returns?

Bookstores usually only stock books they can return if unsold, because it removes their risk. Making your book returnable increases the chance of being ordered, but you pay for returned copies, and a large return can wipe out the earnings from a batch of sales. Returns policies and terms can change, so read the current details.

If you are actively pitching bookstores, or arranging events and signings, returnable is usually necessary. If you mainly want your book available for readers and libraries to order, many authors choose non-returnable to avoid the risk.

A sensible middle path is to start non-returnable while your book has no bookstore interest, and switch if a store makes a real order or you start a proper campaign. Check the current rules on changing settings before you rely on this.

How do you get bookstores to order your book?

Being in the catalogue makes your book orderable, but you still have to give stores a reason. Start with local independent bookstores: introduce yourself in person, bring a copy, and offer an event, a signing or a local angle. A professional cover, a fair price and a sensible discount matter as much as the story. Our Bookstore Pitch Generator can help you draft a short pitch.

Libraries are often an easier first target than shops, because librarians order based on reader requests and reviews. See our guide to getting your book into libraries for the practical steps.

Readers can help too. A reader who asks a bookstore or library to order your book by its ISBN is often the easiest sale a store can make. Put the ISBN and the paperback details on your author website so it is simple to copy.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between IngramSpark and KDP?

KDP mainly sells your book on Amazon. IngramSpark makes your book orderable by bookstores, libraries and many other retailers through Ingram’s catalogue.

Can I use KDP and IngramSpark at the same time?

Yes. Many authors use KDP Print for Amazon and IngramSpark for everything else, using their own ISBN and switching off KDP expanded distribution for that edition.

What discount do bookstores need?

Bookstores generally expect a wholesale discount of around 40% to 55%. A lower discount makes them much less likely to order.

Do I need my own ISBN for IngramSpark?

Yes. IngramSpark needs an ISBN for each format, and a free ISBN from KDP cannot be reused elsewhere, so buy your own through your country’s ISBN agency.

Should my book be returnable?

If you want bookstores to stock it, usually yes. If you mainly want it orderable by readers and libraries, non-returnable avoids the cost of returns.