Getting your book cover dimensions right is essential for a professional-looking book. Amazon KDP has specific requirements, and getting them wrong means rejected uploads and wasted time. This guide covers everything you need to know.
Available Trim Sizes
KDP offers various trim sizes (the finished book dimensions). Here are the most popular:
| Trim Size | Common Use | Size (inches) |
|---|---|---|
| 5" × 8" | Fiction, novels | 5 × 8 |
| 5.5" × 8.5" | Fiction, general | 5.5 × 8.5 |
| 6" × 9" | Non-fiction, textbooks | 6 × 9 |
| 8.5" × 11" | Workbooks, journals | 8.5 × 11 |
Full Cover Dimensions
Your cover file includes the front cover + spine + back cover, plus bleed on all edges. The formula is:
Full Width = Bleed + Back Cover + Spine + Front Cover + Bleed
Full Height = Bleed + Trim Height + Bleed
Example: 6" × 9" Book with 200 Pages
- Bleed: 0.125" on each side
- Back cover width: 6"
- Spine width: ~0.45" (for 200 pages)
- Front cover width: 6"
Full cover width: 0.125 + 6 + 0.45 + 6 + 0.125 = 12.7 inches
Full cover height: 0.125 + 9 + 0.125 = 9.25 inches
Understanding Bleed
Bleed is the extra area around your cover that gets trimmed off during printing. KDP requires 0.125" (3.2mm) bleed on all sides.
⚠️ Important
Extend your background images and colors into the bleed area. Don't place important text or images near the edges—keep them at least 0.25" from the trim line.
Calculating Spine Width
Spine width depends on your page count and paper type:
| Paper Type | Formula |
|---|---|
| White paper | Page count × 0.002252" |
| Cream paper | Page count × 0.0025" |
Calculate Your Exact Dimensions
Use our free tools to get precise measurements for your book.
Cover Dimensions Calculator →Resolution Requirements
- Minimum: 300 DPI (dots per inch)
- Color space: RGB or CMYK
- Format: PDF (preferred) or high-quality JPEG
- Max file size: 650 MB
5 Common Cover Mistakes
1. Ignoring the Safe Zone
Keep all text and important elements at least 0.25" away from trim edges. Text near edges may get cut off.
2. Wrong Spine Calculation
Always recalculate spine width when you change page count. Use our Spine Width Calculator.
3. Low Resolution Images
Covers should be 300 DPI. Images from the web are usually 72 DPI and will look blurry when printed.
4. Not Including Barcode Space
Amazon adds a barcode to your back cover. Leave a 2" × 1.2" white rectangle in the bottom right corner.
5. Wrong Color Mode
While RGB works, colors may look slightly different when printed. For most accuracy, design in CMYK.
📚 Related Tools & Guides
• Cover Dimensions Calculator
• Spine Width Calculator
• Complete Guide to KDP Royalties