What DPI does KDP require?
DPI (dots per inch) measures image resolution at the size the image is printed. KDP asks for at least 300 DPI for every image in the interior and on the cover, and recommends no more than 600 DPI to keep files under 650 MB. A full-page image on an 8.5 × 11 in page with bleed needs 2,588 × 3,375 pixels.
Also called: dots per inch, image resolution, PPI
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The numbers
| Image | Printed size | Pixels at 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|
| Full page, 6 × 9 in, with bleed | 6.125 × 9.25 in | 1,838 × 2,775 |
| Full page, 8.5 × 8.5 in, with bleed | 8.625 × 8.75 in | 2,588 × 2,625 |
| Full page, 8.5 × 11 in, with bleed | 8.625 × 11.25 in | 2,588 × 3,375 |
| Full-wrap cover, 6 × 9 in, 200 pages, white paper | 12.7 × 9.25 in | 3,811 × 2,775 |
| Kindle eBook cover (front only) | not printed | 1,600 × 2,560 (ideal) |
DPI depends on the printed size
An image has a fixed number of pixels; its DPI is those pixels divided by the inches it covers on paper. A 1,200-pixel-wide image is 300 DPI when printed 4 in wide, and only 150 DPI when stretched to 8 in. The DPI value stored in the file's metadata doesn't change that.
Enlarging a small image adds pixels but not detail, so it can pass a DPI check and still print soft. Start from an image with enough pixels for its printed size, or use an upscaler that rebuilds detail and check the result at 100% zoom.
Kindle images
eBooks are measured in pixels. KDP recommends fixed-layout images of at least 300 ppi (pixels per inch) and a cover of ideally 1,600 × 2,560 pixels; see Kindle cover.
Example: an AI illustration in a picture book
A 1,024 × 1,024-pixel illustration placed as a full page in a picture book at 8.5 × 8.5 in with bleed (8.625 in wide) prints at about 119 DPI, well under 300. The page needs 2,588 × 2,625 pixels: about 2.5 times more in each direction.
Common mistakes
- Checking the DPI number in the file's metadata instead of pixels divided by printed inches.
- Upscaling a small image and calling it 300 DPI without checking the detail.
- Exporting the PDF with a small-file preset that downsamples images below 300 DPI.
- Using 72 ppi web images or screenshots in a print interior.
- Going far above 600 DPI, which makes files heavy without printing any sharper.
In kdpbook: kdpbook's preflight flags images that print under 300 DPI, in the interior and on the cover.