Journals, planners, log books and notebooks are some of the most popular products made from PLR and printable packs. Many sellers eventually want to put them on Amazon as paperbacks through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).
KDP treats these as “low-content books,” and they follow a slightly different set of rules from a regular book. Here’s what KDP’s help pages say, and what to check before you upload.
What KDP counts as a low-content book
KDP describes low-content books as books with minimal or no interior content that are generally repetitive and designed to be filled in by the user. Its examples include:
- Notebooks and journals, including prompt journals
- Planners
- Log books
- Coupon books
- Score card templates and crafting templates
- Blank sheet music
KDP lists puzzle books and coloring books as generally not low-content, along with novels, nonfiction, manuals, textbooks and children’s books. It also notes there can be exceptions.
That distinction matters if you work from PLR. A PLR word-search pack or coloring pack is a regular book in KDP’s eyes, while a PLR gratitude journal interior is likely low-content.
The low-content checkbox
When you set up the title, you need to tick the Low-content box under Categories. KDP warns that if you don’t, your book will be rejected. This is easy to miss when you are used to publishing regular titles.
ISBN rules are different
Low-content books don’t need an ISBN, and they are not eligible for KDP’s free ISBN. You have two choices:
- Use your own ISBN that you have bought
- Publish without an ISBN
You can’t change this choice after publishing. KDP says you would need to unpublish and republish the book to switch.
What you give up without an ISBN
Publishing without an ISBN is cheaper, but KDP lists a few trade-offs:
- The Read Sample (“Look Inside”) and the back cover thumbnail are not currently supported for books published without an ISBN.
- KDP places its own barcode on the lower right of the back cover in a 2″ by 1.2″ white box. Keep that area clear of text and images, or the book can be rejected.
KDP suggests A+ Content as a way to show buyers interior pages when Look Inside isn’t available. For a journal or planner, interior previews often decide the sale, so plan those images early.
Other limits to know
KDP also lists these limits for low-content books, regardless of ISBN choice:
- Expanded Distribution isn’t supported.
- You can’t create a series.
- There’s no Release Date option.
The help page covers paperback and hardcover. If you want an ebook version of a planner, look at a fillable or hyperlinked PDF sold on your own store instead. Our guide to making a hyperlinked digital planner covers that route.
Using PLR interiors on KDP
Before you upload a PLR journal or planner interior, run through these checks:
- Read the license. Some PLR printable packs allow print-on-demand or KDP use and some don’t. If KDP or Amazon isn’t mentioned, ask the seller and keep their reply.
- Make it yours. Many buyers may hold the same interior. Change the layout, prompts, cover and title so your book isn’t one of many near-identical copies.
- Check fonts and graphics. The pack’s license may not cover every font or clip art file inside it. See our fonts and images checklist.
- Size the file to a KDP trim size. PLR printables are often made for US Letter home printing. A 6″ x 9″ or 8.5″ x 11″ paperback needs its own interior file with proper margins.
- Plan your publishing pace. KDP now caps how many new titles you can add each week. Our news post on KDP’s weekly title limits explains the details.
For the wider set of rules that apply to any PLR-based book on Amazon, including content guidelines and AI disclosure, see our KDP checklist for PLR ebooks.
The bottom line
Low-content books can be a good fit for planner and journal packs, but the setup is different: tick the low-content box, decide on your ISBN before you publish, leave room for the barcode, and plan interior previews. Check KDP’s current help pages before you publish, since rules can change.
Sources
Featured image: Photo: StockSnap (CC0)