Do you have a creative side—or simply an interesting idea? Why not turn it into a coloring book?
The coloring book market has seen strong growth in recent years. The adult segment alone has reached a multi-billion-dollar scale, while the children’s segment continues to expand steadily. This makes it a beginner-friendly, low-cost business model: you can design your own books and sell them as physical copies or digital products.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to effectively create and sell coloring books on Amazon.
Here are the key steps to get started:
Step 1: Understand the Coloring Book Market
Before you start creating your book, it’s essential to understand the market. This space offers a wide range of opportunities—from cartoon-style coloring books for kids to adult-focused themes like mindfulness and stress relief.
Here are a few key insights to keep in mind:
- Popular categories include relaxation-focused books and seasonal or holiday-themed designs.
- Emerging trends include personalized coloring books (e.g., with names), short stories combined with coloring pages, and themes inspired by popular games.
- Over 70% of coloring book buyers are women.
- Millennials (born roughly between 1981–1996) are the most active buyers.
- Eco-friendly coloring books are gaining popularity.
- High-demand themes include abstract patterns, nature, animals, and pets.
The better you understand customer preferences and stay aligned with current trends, the easier it will be to create books that meet real demand—and stand out in a competitive market.
Step 2: Choose a Profitable Niche
Choosing the right niche helps you avoid getting lost among thousands of products on Amazon—and significantly increases your chances of making sales. A strong niche typically has high demand, manageable competition, and solid profit potential.
To evaluate a niche properly, you need to analyze factors like competition level, sales volume, and profit margins. A practical tool that simplifies this process is AMZScout.
Here’s how you can use AMZScout to find a profitable niche:
Install the AMZScout PRO AI Extension
After installing the extension, sign up with your email to access the free trial and unlock its core features.
If you’re serious about building a long-term Amazon business, this tool is a solid investment—it’s reliable and quite effective.
Search for a sample product
Go to Amazon and type in a keyword, for example: “coloring book by number.” Then click the AMZScout icon in your browser.
Review niche metrics
AMZScout will display key data such as average monthly sales, net profit, competition level, and average price.
For example, the niche “coloring book by number” averages around 475 sales per month, generating approximately $4,616 in revenue.
Check the Niche Score
Click on Niche Score to get an overall evaluation of strengths and weaknesses.
In this case, the niche scores 6/10—which indicates good demand, but also high competition, with many listings having hundreds of reviews.
Analyze market trends over time
Use Niche History to see whether sales are consistent or seasonal.
For instance, “coloring by number” books tend to sell slower in spring and summer, but perform better in fall and winter. If you enter this niche, you may want to diversify your product line to balance revenue during slower periods.
Use AI to analyze competitor strategies
Click on AI Analysis to understand how competitors price their products, optimize keywords, write descriptions, and build their brand.
You can also use AI Product Analysis on individual listings to get actionable improvement suggestions.
In short, choosing a niche is not just about picking something you like—it’s about identifying what the market actually needs, at the right time, and executing it the right way. Tools like AMZScout help you make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Step 3: Define Your Book’s Content and Theme
To attract buyers, your coloring book needs a clear and appealing theme. At one point, for example, coloring books inspired by the Twilight series became highly popular—simply because they tapped into an existing trend with strong audience demand.
Beyond the theme, you also need to match your illustration style to your target audience:
- For adults:
Use detailed, intricate designs that promote relaxation and mindfulness. - For children:
Focus on simple, playful illustrations that are easy to recognize and fun to color.
To stand out from competitors, consider adding unique elements such as:
- Personalization pages (e.g., allowing users to add their name)
- Small interactive prompts alongside each illustration
- Short stories that guide the theme throughout the book
These additions transform your book from a simple coloring product into a more engaging and memorable experience for the user.
Step 4: Design the Interior Artwork
The most critical part of any coloring book is the artwork itself. Here are some common ways to create your illustrations:
Create your own designs
If you have design skills, you can use tools like Adobe Illustrator, Procreate, or Affinity Designer to create original artwork from scratch.
Hire a freelancer
You can work with artists on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. Make sure to review their portfolio and ratings carefully to ensure quality before hiring.
Use ready-made assets
Websites like Creative Fabrica, Book Bird, or Vecteezy offer a wide range of pre-made illustrations at low cost. The downside is that other sellers may use the same assets, increasing competition.
Use AI to generate artwork
Many AI tools can quickly generate illustrations, but you’ll typically need a paid plan to produce images at scale.
Use beginner-friendly design tools
Platforms like Canva provide ready-to-use templates and drag-and-drop features, making them ideal if you’re just getting started.
No matter which approach you choose, make sure your artwork does not violate copyright—especially when it comes to well-known characters like those from Disney or other major brands.
Pro tip:
You can use ChatGPT to generate high-quality illustration-style images for your coloring book. It’s a fast and reliable way to create consistent artwork without needing advanced design skills.
Step 5: Design a Cover That Attracts Buyers
Your book cover is the first thing customers see—and it plays a major role in whether they click on your listing or scroll past it. A clean, visually appealing cover that clearly reflects your theme can significantly boost your conversion rate.
Here are three simple tips to design an effective cover:
- Keep it clear:
Use a clean layout with a strong title and a clear focal image. Avoid cluttering the design with too many elements. - Match your niche:
Your cover should instantly communicate the theme and appeal to your target audience. - Make the text readable:
Choose simple, bold fonts that remain easy to read—even on small mobile screens.
For example, Harry Potter coloring books perform well because their covers use iconic visuals tied to the franchise—instantly signaling the magical theme and triggering familiarity among fans.
Also, don’t hesitate to update your cover over time. If you receive feedback or want to test a new style, changing your cover can improve performance. A strong cover is one that evolves with your market.
Step 6: Format Your Book According to Amazon KDP Requirements
If you plan to publish your coloring book on Amazon through KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), proper formatting is essential. Failing to meet their requirements can delay approval—or worse, affect the final print quality.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind:
- Page count:
Amazon requires a minimum of 24 pages for printed books. Most coloring books typically range from 30 to 60 pages. Keep in mind that the more pages you add, the higher your print-on-demand cost—directly impacting your pricing and profit margins. - File format:
The most commonly used format is PDF. Make sure your file is set to 300 DPI resolution to ensure sharp, high-quality prints without blurriness. - Book size:
The recommended size is 8.5 x 11 inches (close to A4). However, you can choose other sizes as long as you follow KDP’s guidelines for margins and bleed settings.
You can use tools like Canva or Atticus to design and format your book. Both are beginner-friendly and make it easy to adjust layouts and page dimensions.
Getting the formatting right not only speeds up the approval process but also ensures a better experience for customers when they receive the printed book.
Step 7: Publish Your Book on Amazon KDP
Once everything is ready, you can publish your coloring book on Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Here’s how to do it step by step:
1. Log in to your KDP account
If you don’t have one yet, sign up and complete your personal or business information.
2. Enter your book details
Click “Create” and choose “Paperback” (since coloring books are print products, not eBooks). Then fill in the following:
Language:
Select the primary language of your book (usually English).
Title:
Choose a clear, compelling title that reflects your theme.
Author:
Use your name or a pen name. You can also credit the illustrator if needed.
Description:
Write a short, engaging description that highlights the theme and why customers should buy your book.
Keywords:
Add up to 7 keywords to improve your visibility in Amazon search results.
Copyright:
Select “This is my own content” to confirm ownership.
Categories:
Choose up to 2 relevant categories to help customers find your book more easily.
Print settings:
Select paper type, interior color (black & white or color), cover finish (matte or glossy), and other options.
3. Set your price
Choose a price that is competitive but still profitable. A good approach is to benchmark against similar books in your niche.
4. Select your marketplaces
Choose where you want your book to be available (e.g., Amazon US, Canada, UK, Australia, etc.).
5. Publish your book
Click “Save,” then “Publish.”
Your book is typically reviewed and goes live within 72 hours.
Once published, your coloring book is available to millions of potential customers worldwide. In the next step, we’ll look at how to promote your book and maximize sales.
Step 8: Promote Your Coloring Book
Once your book is published, the next step is getting it in front of potential buyers. No matter how good your content is, without a solid marketing strategy, it will be difficult to generate sales. Here are some effective ways to promote your book:
- Leverage social media (priority)
Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook are ideal for sharing visual content. Post sample pages, coloring videos, or even run small giveaways to build a community around your product. - Collaborate with influencers
Look for creators who have an audience that matches your target market. You can ask them to review your book, host a giveaway, or simply feature it in their content. This helps build trust and accelerates your reach. - Run Amazon PPC ads (higher risk)
Use Amazon’s advertising system to place your book in front of customers searching for relevant keywords. This is one of the fastest ways to reach buyers with clear intent.
Effective marketing isn’t just about creativity—it’s about consistency. Test different approaches, but most importantly, stay visible.
Customers need to see you repeatedly before they remember your brand.
Final Thoughts
Selling coloring books can be both creative and rewarding—but real success requires a clear strategy.
It all starts with choosing the right product. Your book needs to match current market demand. Using tools like AMZScout allows you to make data-driven decisions, helping you identify profitable niches with real potential.
When you plan correctly from the beginning, your path to long-term growth becomes much more stable. And that’s the true foundation of sustainable success.