The KDP Select Global Fund hit $66.9 million in May 2026. The per-page rate for that month was $0.004888 per KENPC page read.
That means a 300-page book read cover to cover earned about $1.47 per borrow. A reader who abandons your thriller at page 80 earns you roughly $0.39.
Why this matters
KU earnings are not a fixed royalty. They are calculated fresh every month by dividing the total fund by total pages read across all enrolled titles. If a lot of new titles enter KDP Select, rates drop even if the fund grows.
The 2026 trend has been encouraging. The fund grew from $62.2M in January to $66.9M by May, and the per-page rate climbed from $0.0042 to $0.0049.
Real earnings scenarios
A new author with one 280-page romance generating 500 pages read per day earns roughly $73/month. A mid-tier thriller author with a 5-book series at 10,000 pages per day earns around $1,466/month.
The compounding effect of series readthrough is the primary reason successful KU authors prioritize series over standalones.
Should you enroll in KDP Select?
It depends on your price, your genre, and how much of your book subscribers actually finish. At $0.99-$1.99 pricing, KU typically outperforms the 35% royalty option. At $4.99+, the 70% royalty on direct sales usually wins.
For a full breakdown including monthly rate data for 2026 and strategies to maximize your KU income, see the complete Kindle Unlimited author pay guide on iWrity.
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