How to Make a Puzzle Book to Sell on Amazon KDP (Step-by-Step)

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This guide first appeared on johnonody.com.

Puzzle books are one of the easiest kinds of book to publish on Amazon KDP. You don't need to write a story or hire an illustrator. You need a theme people already search for, clean puzzle pages, a cover that reads at thumbnail size, and a listing that matches what buyers type.

I publish word search, crossword and sudoku books on Amazon, including a Christmas word search, a horror word search, Bible scripture crosswords and sudoku for seniors. This guide is the process I actually use, step by step.

Quick answer: how to make a puzzle book to sell on Amazon

1. Pick a narrow theme that buyers already search for.
2. Check the competition on Amazon's first page of results.
3. Choose your trim size, paper and font size.
4. Build at least 50 puzzle pages plus an answer key.
5. Set the margins and bleed to KDP's rules.
6. Design a cover that's readable as a small thumbnail.
7. Write the title, subtitle, description and seven keyword boxes.
8. Price it with the royalty math in mind.
9. Upload, check the previewer and order a proof copy.

Step 1: Pick a puzzle niche buyers already search for

Broad terms are crowded. A narrow theme gives a buyer a reason to pick your book over the thousands of others. Here are US monthly searches from Mangools KWFinder (October 2026):

Search term	US searches a month
word search books	11,800
puzzle books	9,600
crossword puzzle books	8,400
large print word search	4,000

Those numbers tell you the category has buyers. Your book still needs an angle inside it:

• An audience: seniors, kids, nurses, teachers, new retirees.
• A theme: Bible verses, gardening, classic movies, a holiday, a sport.
• A format: large print, travel size, one puzzle per page.

The best ideas combine two of these: large print word search for seniors, Christmas word search for kids, Bible scripture crosswords, sudoku for seniors.

Step 2: Check the competition before you build anything

Search your idea on Amazon and study the first page of results:

• How many results are near-copies of your idea?
• Do the top books have hundreds of reviews, or only a few?
• Are the covers professional, or plain and hard to read?
• What do the 1-star and 2-star reviews complain about? Small print, repeated words, missing answer keys and puzzles that are too easy come up a lot. Those complaints are your product spec.

If page one is full of strong books with thousands of reviews, narrow the theme further. If the top results have weak covers or the same complaints over and over, that's your opening.

Step 3: Choose the format: trim size, paper and font

• Trim size: 8.5 x 11 inches is the common choice for activity books because it gives room to write. 6 x 9 inches works for travel-size books.
• Paper: white paper keeps grids crisp and pencil marks easy to see.
• Font size: if you call a book large print, use big type. Most large print readers expect 16-point text or larger, and many publishers use 18-point. KDP also has a Large Print checkbox on the paperback details page.

Step 4: Build the interior (the puzzle pages)

This is where most of the time goes. These are the rules I follow for my own books:

• At least 55 puzzles per book.
• Every word between 3 and 20 letters.
• No word repeats anywhere in the book.
• One theme from the first page to the last.
• An answer key at the back and a short how-to-play page at the front.

If a theme can't fill 55 puzzles without repeating words, I pick a different theme, lower the count to what the word list supports, or pair it with a second related theme.

My workflow is simple. I build the word lists in a spreadsheet, export them as a CSV file, and upload them to Book Bolt, which generates the word search or crossword grids and lays out the pages. That turns a 55-puzzle book from weeks of manual grid work into an afternoon.

Match the difficulty to the reader. Kids' books and senior books do better with fewer words per grid and bigger letters. Puzzle fans want harder grids.

Step 5: Set the margins and bleed to KDP's rules

KDP rejects files with text too close to the edge or the spine. For paperbacks, the inside (gutter) margin depends on your page count:

Page count	Inside (gutter) margin	Outside margin
24 to 150	0.375 in	at least 0.25 in (0.375 in with bleed)
151 to 300	0.5 in	at least 0.25 in (0.375 in with bleed)
301 to 500	0.625 in	at least 0.25 in (0.375 in with bleed)

If any design runs to the edge of the page, use bleed and add 0.125 inch to the outside edges. Most puzzle interiors don't need bleed, which keeps things simpler. These numbers come from KDP's trim size, bleed and margins help page.

Step 6: Design a cover that sells as a thumbnail

Most buyers first see your cover at the size of a postage stamp in search results. So:

• Put the main search words in big, bold letters: "Large Print Word Search" or "Christmas Crosswords."
• Use high contrast. Thin script fonts disappear at small sizes.
• Show what's inside: a grid, a puzzle snippet or a clear icon for the theme.
• Match the audience: bright colors for kids, calm high-contrast colors for seniors.

The full cover (back, spine and front) has to match your page count, because the spine width depends on it. Use KDP's cover template for your exact trim size and page count, or a cover tool that sizes it for you.

Step 7: Write a listing that matches what buyers type

• Title and subtitle: say what it is in plain words. "Large Print Word Search for Seniors: 100 Easy Puzzles with Solutions" beats a clever title nobody searches for. Don't stuff the title with keyword lists, because KDP's metadata guidelines don't allow it.
• Seven keyword boxes: KDP gives you seven backend keyword slots. Use them for words that aren't already in your title: synonyms, the audience ("retirement gift"), and themes.
• Categories: pick the most specific ones that honestly fit.
• Description: short paragraphs covering what's inside (puzzle count, page size, print size, answer key) and who it's for.
• Accuracy: the book must match the listing. If you promise 100 puzzles, deliver 100.

Step 8: Price with the royalty math in mind

Since June 10, 2025, KDP paperbacks sold on Amazon.com earn a 50% royalty when priced at $9.98 or less and 60% at $9.99 or more, before the printing cost is subtracted. Printing cost goes up with page count, so a 120-page puzzle book needs a higher price than a 60-page one to earn the same.

Run your price through the royalty calculator while you set up the paperback in KDP, and compare it with what similar books on page one charge.

Step 9: Upload, preview and order a proof

Upload the interior PDF and the cover, then open KDP's online previewer and page through every spread. Look for grids cut off near the spine, blurry lines or a cover that doesn't line up.

Then order a printed proof copy before you publish. Holding the real book is the fastest way to catch a font that's too small or a grid that's too tight.

Mistakes that cost puzzle books sales

• Repeated words or repeated puzzles (buyers notice, and they say so in reviews).
• Tiny print in a book marketed to seniors.
• No answer key.
• Blurry, low-resolution grids.
• Titles stuffed with keywords.
• A listing that promises more than the book delivers.

The tool I use to build puzzle books faster

I use Book Bolt for my KDP puzzle books. I bought a lifetime license, and I use it to turn my word lists into word search and crossword pages, to size covers, and to research niches before I commit to a theme. I wrote a full Book Bolt review covering what it does well and where it falls short.

If you want to try it, my code ONODY20 takes 20% off.

Try Book Bolt (affiliate link): https://bookbolt.io/8008.html and use code ONODY20 at checkout.

You can also see my own puzzle books on my Amazon author page.

Frequently asked questions

Do puzzle books sell well on Amazon?

They can, when the theme is specific and the book is well made. Generic puzzle books compete with thousands of similar titles. Books aimed at a clear audience, such as seniors, kids, or a faith or hobby group, with readable print and an answer key have a much better chance.

How many puzzles should a puzzle book have?

KDP doesn't set a puzzle minimum (paperbacks need at least 24 pages). I use at least 55 puzzles per book so buyers feel they got a full book, and I never repeat a word.

What size should a puzzle book be on KDP?

8.5 x 11 inches is the most common size for activity books because it leaves room to write. 6 x 9 inches works for smaller, travel-friendly books.

Can I make a puzzle book for free?

Yes. You can build puzzles by hand or with free generators and publish on KDP with no upfront fee, because KDP prints each copy on demand. Paid tools like Book Bolt mostly save time when you make books in volume.

Find more free step-by-step guides at johnonody.com/digital-resources.