# What is a fixed-layout eBook on Kindle?

Source: https://kdpbook.io/glossary/fixed-layout · Updated 2026-09-28

**Fixed layout**: An eBook where every page keeps its exact design, like the print edition. Used for picture books, comics and illustrated books.

Checked against KDP Help on 2026-09-28.

A fixed-layout eBook keeps every page exactly as designed, with text and images locked in place, instead of letting the text reflow to the screen. KDP uses it for picture books, comics, manga and other books where words and art must stay together. Readers can't resize the text, so text under 4 mm on a 7-inch screen (2 mm in other books) needs text pop-ups.

Also called: FXL, fixed-format eBook, pre-paginated EPUB.

## The numbers

Fixed layout vs reflowable:

|  | Fixed layout | Reflowable |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Page design | locked, like a printed page | text reflows to the screen |
| Text size | set by the publisher | chosen by the reader |
| Typical books | picture books, comics, manga | novels, non-fiction |
| Small text | pop-ups under 4 mm (children's) or 2 mm (other) on a 7-inch screen | not an issue |
| Files KDP accepts | EPUB with fixed-layout metadata, KPF from Kindle Create | EPUB, DOCX, KPF and others |
| MOBI | not accepted since March 18, 2025 | not accepted since August 1, 2021 |

## When to use it

KDP recommends reflowable formats for the best reading experience, because readers can adjust the text. Fixed layout is for books where that would break the page: children's picture books, comics, graphic novels and manga. For comics, KDP offers Panel View (image pop-ups) and adds virtual panels when the publisher provides none.

KDP also lists puzzle books, blank journals and coloring books as content not suited to Kindle at all, fixed layout or not: they are print books.

## Tools

Kindle Kids' Book Creator and Kindle Comic Creator are no longer available (since March 18, 2025). KDP now points to Kindle Create for comics and kids' eBooks, or to an EPUB built with other tools that follows the Kindle Publishing Guidelines. Fixed-layout images should be JPEG, at least 300 ppi.

## Example: text size in a square picture book

A square picture book exported at 1,600 × 1,600 pixels per page is shown about 3.54 in wide on a 7-inch tablet. By our calculation, capital letters need to be about 72 pixels tall on the page image to reach 4 mm there (36 pixels for 2 mm in other books). Smaller text needs text pop-ups.

## Common mistakes

- Making a novel fixed layout: readers can't change the font size.
- Keeping small print-sized text without pop-ups.
- Uploading a MOBI file: KDP no longer accepts it.
- Publishing a coloring or puzzle book as an eBook.
- Reusing print pages with margins and bleed as they are, instead of pages sized for screens.

In kdpbook.io: kdpbook exports a Kindle EPUB in reflowable or fixed layout depending on the book type: fixed layout for picture books. Its comics, drawn in panels, are print only.