KDP Cover Size Guide
Complete reference for all Amazon KDP paperback trim sizes, bleed specifications, and paper types. Updated for 2026.
All 16 KDP Paperback Trim Sizes
Amazon KDP offers these trim sizes for paperback books. Sizes marked "Large" have higher printing costs per page.
| Trim Size | Inches | Millimeters | Cost Tier | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 × 8 | 5.0 × 8.0 | 127 × 203 | Standard | Mass-market novels, thrillers, romance |
| 5.06 × 7.81 | 5.06 × 7.81 | 129 × 198 | Standard | UK B-format novels |
| 5.25 × 8 | 5.25 × 8.0 | 133 × 203 | Standard | Novels, essays, literary fiction |
| 5.5 × 8.5 | 5.5 × 8.5 | 140 × 216 | Standard | Memoir, non-fiction, trade paperbacks |
| 6 × 9 Most Popular | 6.0 × 9.0 | 152 × 229 | Standard | Fiction, non-fiction, biographies, self-help |
| 6.14 × 9.21 | 6.14 × 9.21 | 156 × 234 | Large | Academic, professional, reference |
| 6.69 × 9.61 | 6.69 × 9.61 | 170 × 244 | Large | Trade non-fiction, illustrated books |
| 7 × 10 | 7.0 × 10.0 | 178 × 254 | Large | Textbooks, manuals, technical guides |
| 7.44 × 9.69 | 7.44 × 9.69 | 189 × 246 | Large | Large trade, professional |
| 7.5 × 9.25 | 7.5 × 9.25 | 191 × 235 | Large | Children's books, illustrated |
| 8 × 10 | 8.0 × 10.0 | 203 × 254 | Large | Children's, art books, cookbooks |
| 8.25 × 6 | 8.25 × 6.0 | 210 × 152 | Large | Landscape photo books, calendars |
| 8.25 × 8.25 | 8.25 × 8.25 | 210 × 210 | Large | Square art books, picture books |
| 8.5 × 8.5 | 8.5 × 8.5 | 216 × 216 | Large | Square art books, coloring books |
| 8.5 × 11 Popular | 8.5 × 11.0 | 216 × 279 | Large | Workbooks, coloring books, activity books |
| 8.27 × 11.69 | 8.27 × 11.69 | 210 × 297 | Large | A4 workbooks, manuals |
A "Large" trim size is any book wider than 6.12 inches or taller than 9 inches. Large sizes cost approximately $0.017/page for B&W vs $0.012/page for standard sizes.
Hardcover (Case Laminate) Trim Sizes
KDP hardcover (case laminate) is offered in 5 trim sizes, for books of 75 to 550 pages.
| Trim Size | Inches | Wrap | Hinge | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 × 8.5 | 5.5 × 8.5 | 0.591" | 0.394" | Memoir, non-fiction |
| 6 × 9 Most Popular | 6.0 × 9.0 | 0.591" | 0.394" | Fiction, non-fiction, self-help |
| 6.14 × 9.21 | 6.14 × 9.21 | 0.591" | 0.394" | Academic, professional |
| 7 × 10 | 7.0 × 10.0 | 0.591" | 0.394" | Textbooks, manuals |
| 8.25 × 11 | 8.25 × 11.0 | 0.591" | 0.394" | Workbooks, coffee table books |
Hardcover covers replace bleed with 0.591" (15 mm) of wrap that folds around the boards on all four outer edges. Each panel is 0.197" wider and 0.236" taller than the trim size, and the 0.394" (10 mm) hinge beside the spine, where the cover bends open, should be kept free of text. The total cover file is larger than a paperback for the same trim size.
Cover Specifications
Bleed
0.125 inches (3.2mm) on all four sides. All covers require bleed. Background images must extend past the trim line by this amount.
Safe Zone
0.25 inches (6.4mm) inside trim line. Keep all text and important elements within this boundary to prevent trimming.
Resolution
300 DPI minimum. All cover images must be at least 300 dots per inch. Higher is fine but stay under 600 DPI total file size limit of 650MB.
File Format
PDF (recommended). Single PDF containing back cover, spine, and front cover as one continuous image. KDP does not accept PNG for print covers.
Spine Text Minimum
79 pages. Books under 79 pages have spines too narrow for text. Use a plain color or extend the front/back cover artwork across the spine.
Barcode Area
~2 × 1.2 inches on back cover. KDP auto-places a barcode if you don't provide one. Leave this space clear in the lower-right of the back cover.
Paper Types
White Paper
Thickness factor: 0.002252"/page. Best for books with images and color content. Available for all ink types (B&W, standard color, premium color). Bright white gives high contrast for photos and graphics.
Cream Paper
Thickness factor: 0.0025"/page. Easier on the eyes for long reading. Traditional for novels and literary fiction. Only available with black ink. Slightly thicker than white — results in a wider spine at the same page count.
How to calculate your full cover dimensions
Your cover PDF must be exactly the right size. For paperback, the width includes bleed + back cover + spine + front cover + bleed. The height is bleed + trim height + bleed.
For hardcover (case laminate), the width is: wrap + back panel + spine + front panel + wrap, where each panel is the trim width plus 0.197". The height is: wrap + trim height + 0.236" + wrap. There is no separate bleed: the 0.591" wrap replaces it.
For example, a 6×9 paperback with 200 pages on white paper has a spine of 200 × 0.002252 = 0.4504 inches, so the total width = 0.125 + 6 + 0.4504 + 6 + 0.125 = 12.7004". The same book in hardcover has a spine of (200 × 0.002252) + 0.189 = 0.639 inches and a total width of 0.591 + 6.197 + 0.639 + 6.197 + 0.591 = 14.214".
Use our free spine calculator to compute these values instantly for any page count and trim size.
Choosing the right trim size
The best trim size depends on your genre and content type. For most fiction and general non-fiction, 6×9 is the industry standard and the most cost-effective. For compact mass-market style novels, 5×8 or 5.25×8 give a pocket-friendly feel. For workbooks, coloring books, and activity books, 8.5×11 provides full-page space. Children's picture books typically use 8×10 or the square 8.25×8.25 format.
Keep in mind that larger trim sizes cost more per page to print, which reduces your royalty margin. Check your genre's bestseller list on Amazon to see what sizes successful books in your category use.
Getting rejected by KDP? See our guide to the 8 most common cover rejection reasons — most of them come down to incorrect dimensions, which this size guide helps you avoid.
Design your cover with the right specs
CoverLab Pro supports all paperback and hardcover trim sizes and calculates every dimension — including wrap and hinge — automatically.
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