How to format a book for a KDP paperback (novel and non-fiction)

The numbers below are worked out for a 300-page novel at 5.5 × 8.5 in, where KDP’s inside margin is 0.5 in. Non-fiction follows the same rules, with a few additions covered near the end.

What trim size and paper should a novel use?

Fiction is usually printed at 5 × 8, 5.25 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5 or 6 × 9 in, black and white on cream paper. A smaller trim means more pages for the same text, which makes a thicker, more substantial spine: our 300-page example has a 0.75 in spine on cream, enough for spine text (KDP prints it on books with more than 79 pages).

To see how many pages your manuscript will make before you pick, enter its word count in the word count to page count calculator and try each trim and font size: it shows the page count, the spine width and the Amazon.com printing cost.

A text-only novel doesn’t need bleed. Set your document’s page size to exactly 5.5 × 8.5 in.

What margins does KDP require?

KDP’s minimum inside margin (the gutter) depends on page count: for 300 pages it is 0.5 in. The outside, top and bottom need at least 0.25 in. Those are minimums; a comfortable novel page uses more:

Use mirrored margins, so the gutter is on the left of right-hand pages and on the right of left-hand pages. Try other page counts in the margins calculator.

Fonts and body text

• Pick a book serif designed for long reading (Garamond, Caslon, Baskerville or Literata-style faces) at 10.5–12 pt, with line spacing around 1.3–1.4.
• Justify the text with hyphenation on, and indent the first line of each paragraph instead of adding space between paragraphs. Don’t indent the first paragraph of a chapter or scene.
• Avoid a single line of a paragraph alone at the top or bottom of a page (widows and orphans).
• Use fonts licensed for print and embed them. KDP’s minimum text size is 7 pt, which matters for copyright lines and footnotes.

Front matter, chapters, back matter

A typical order: title page, copyright page, dedication, then the story. A table of contents is optional in print fiction (it’s expected in the Kindle edition).

• Chapter openers: start lower on the page, with the chapter number or title set larger than the text.
• Blank pages are fine, but KDP allows at most 4 in a row at the start or in the middle of a book and 10 at the end.
• Back matter can include acknowledgements, an author note and an “also by” page. No links, prices or placeholder text.

Page numbers and running heads

Odd page numbers go on right-hand pages, even on left-hand pages. Leave page numbers and running heads off blank pages and chapter openers. Running heads usually carry the author’s name on left pages and the title on right pages.

What changes for a non-fiction book?

• Trim and paper: 6 × 9 in on white paper is the common choice; 7 × 10 in or larger suits books with many figures or tables.
• Structure: a table of contents, consistent heading levels, and back matter such as notes, a bibliography or an index.
• Figures at 300 DPI at their printed size, with captions set as text. If any image runs to the page edge, the whole file needs bleed: every page grows by 0.125 in in width and 0.25 in in height.
• Margins, fonts, page numbers and the PDF export follow the same rules as a novel.

Exporting the PDF

• One page per PDF page (no spreads), every page at the trim size.
• Fonts embedded, transparency flattened; PDF/X-1a is the safest standard.
• No bookmarks, comments, links or crop marks. Under 650 MB.
• The final page count sets the spine: make the cover last, with the cover size calculator.
• The Kindle edition is a separate file, made from the manuscript rather than this PDF: see how to format a Kindle eBook.

kdpbook’s novel type typesets flowing text this way automatically. Already written? Import your manuscript (.docx, .doc, .pdf, .md or .txt) in the KDP formatting tool, and the publishing checklist covers the rest.