Adult coloring books are staging a comeback, and KDP publishers should take note—is this nostalgia fuel or a legit cash cow?
After peaking in 2015 ($12M in sales, NPD BookScan), they dipped, but 2024 saw a 15% sales bump (Publishers Weekly), with titles like “Stress Relief Mandalas” hitting BSRs under 10,000. Gen X and Millennials, craving analog escapes, drive this—45% of buyers cite relaxation (2024 Nielsen).
Low-content creators can ride this wave to royalties—here’s why it’s hot and how to craft a bestseller, step-by-step.
Nostalgia’s part of it—80s kids now 40+ fondly recall crayons—but it’s more. Mental health spending ($57B, 2023) ties coloring to therapy; studies show 30 minutes cuts stress 20% (APA, 2023). KDP’s top 100 includes 12 coloring books, averaging 80 pages, $8.99—$3 royalty per sale (Book Bolt, 2024). Sell 50 monthly, that’s $150—scale to 10 titles, and you’re at $1,500. Trends lean intricate: mandalas, botanicals, NSFW
designs. This isn’t a fad; it’s a profit play.
Here’s your bestseller blueprint:
Niche It: Pick “Retro Video Game Coloring” or “Mindful Sea Creatures”—Google Trends shows “retro” and “mindful” spiking in 2025.
Design Smart: Use Canva or Affinity Designer—50 pages of line art (300 DPI, 8.5x11). Source free vectors from Pixabay, tweak, or hire an artist on Fiverr ($50).
Cover Pop: Bold title (“Color Your Calm”), vibrant stock photo, matte finish—export PNG via Canva.
List Sharp: Upload to KDP, price at $8.99. Keywords: “adult coloring stress relief” (500 searches, Magnet data). Description: “50 intricate designs to unwind.”
Market Fast: Run $5/day Amazon Ads, bid $0.25 on “coloring therapy”—test 14 days.
Nostalgia’s the hook, utility’s the closer—your coloring book’s a $3-ticket to peace. Cash in before the herd catches on.