How to Format a Book for Amazon KDP in 2026

Kindle eBook Requirements

eBooks are "reflowable," meaning the text adapts to different screen sizes. This requires simpler formatting:

Accepted File Formats:

• DOCX — Best for most authors (Word)
• EPUB — Professional standard
• KPF — Kindle Create export
• HTML/CSS — For advanced users

eBook Formatting Tips:

• Use heading styles (Heading 1, 2, 3) for chapters
• Don't use tabs for indentation—use paragraph settings
• Use page breaks for new chapters (Ctrl+Enter)
• Keep images under 5MB each, 72-300 DPI
• Test on Kindle Previewer before publishing

Print Book Requirements

Paperbacks require precise formatting since they're printed on physical pages:

File Format:

• PDF (print-ready) — Required for interior
• Must be PDF/X-1a:2001 compliant
• All fonts embedded
• 300 DPI minimum for images

Popular Trim Sizes for 2026:

Genre	Trim Size (inches)	Best For
Fiction/Novels	5" × 8" or 5.5" × 8.5"	Standard novel size
Non-Fiction	6" × 9"	Business, self-help
Workbooks	8.5" × 11"	Activity books, journals
Children's	8.5" × 8.5"	Picture books

KDP Margin Requirements

Margins prevent text from being cut off or hidden in the binding:

Page Count	Inside Margin (Gutter)	Outside Margin
24-150 pages	0.375" (9.5mm)	0.25" (6.4mm)
151-300 pages	0.5" (12.7mm)	0.25" (6.4mm)
301-500 pages	0.625" (15.9mm)	0.25" (6.4mm)
501+ pages	0.75" (19.1mm)	0.25" (6.4mm)

Top & Bottom margins: Minimum 0.25" (6.4mm)

💡 Tip: Add extra margin (0.5"+ each side) for a more premium, readable look.

Recommended Book Fonts

For Body Text (Serif fonts):

• Garamond — Classic, elegant, easy to read
• Georgia — Designed for screens, works well in print
• Palatino — Warm and readable
• Times New Roman — Universal, familiar
• Baskerville — Sophisticated, traditional

For Headings (Sans-serif or display):

• Helvetica/Arial — Clean and modern
• Futura — Contemporary look
• Montserrat — Popular modern choice

Font Size Guidelines:

• Body text: 10-12pt (11pt is most common)
• Chapter titles: 18-24pt
• Line spacing: 1.15-1.5

How to Format Chapters

Chapter Start Page:

• Start each chapter on a new page (Ctrl+Enter)
• Add extra space at the top (2-3 inches)
• Use consistent chapter title style
• Consider adding a drop cap for the first letter

Chapter Numbering Options:

• Chapter One — Spelled out (classic)
• Chapter 1 — Numeric (modern)
• 1 — Number only (minimalist)
• Just the title — No numbers (contemporary)

What to Include

Front Matter (before the story):

1. Half title page — Just the title (optional)
2. Title page — Title, subtitle, author name
3. Copyright page — Copyright, ISBN, disclaimer
4. Dedication — Personal dedication (optional)
5. Table of contents — Required for non-fiction
6. Foreword/Preface — Introduction (optional)

Back Matter (after the story):

1. Acknowledgments — Thank yous
2. About the Author — Bio and photo
3. Also By — Your other books
4. Connect — Website, social media
5. Review request — Ask for Amazon reviews

Creating Print-Ready Files

For eBooks:

1. Use Kindle Create (free) to convert DOCX to KPF
2. Or export as EPUB from Word/Scrivener
3. Preview in Kindle Previewer before upload

For Paperbacks:

1. Export as PDF from Word, InDesign, or Affinity Publisher
2. Ensure "Embed all fonts" is checked
3. Set to PDF/X-1a:2001 if available
4. Use 300 DPI for all images
5. Preview the PDF in KDP's online previewer