KDP margins, gutter and bleed calculator
KDP’s inside margin (gutter) grows with page count, from 0.375 in for 24–150 pages to 0.875 in for 701–828. Outside, top and bottom margins must be at least 0.25 in, or 0.375 in with bleed. Bleed adds 0.125 in to three edges of each page.
By kdpbook.io editorialUpdated ✓ Checked against KDP Help on
The gutter grows with the page count: thicker books curve more at the spine.
For a 6 × 9 in, 200-page book without bleed, KDP’s minimum margins are 0.5 in on the inside (gutter) and 0.25 in on the outside, top and bottom.
- PDF page size:
- 6 × 9 in = trim
- Live area:
- 5.25 × 8.5 in
- Pages used:
- 200 (151–300 band)
- Bleed:
- none
Cite this tool
kdpbook.io, “KDP margins, gutter and bleed calculator”, https://kdpbook.io/kdp/margins-and-bleed (checked against KDP Help on ).
Inside margin (gutter) by page count
The gutter is the margin on the binding side of each page: the left side of right-hand pages and the right side of left-hand pages.
| Page count | Minimum gutter |
|---|---|
| 24–150 pages | 0.375 in (9.6 mm) |
| 151–300 pages | 0.5 in (12.7 mm) |
| 301–500 pages | 0.625 in (15.9 mm) |
| 501–700 pages | 0.75 in (19.1 mm) |
| 701–828 pages | 0.875 in (22.3 mm) |
These are minimums. Most books read better with a little more: kdpbook adds extra space on top of KDP’s gutter for text-heavy books, and never goes below the minimum.
How to set KDP margins in Word and Google Docs
In Microsoft Word, open Layout › Margins › Custom Margins and set Multiple pages to Mirror margins, so the wide margin follows the binding on left and right pages. Enter KDP’s minimums: Inside = the gutter for your page count, Outside, Top and Bottom = 0.25 in, and leave the Gutter field at 0, because the Inside margin already is the gutter. Set the page size under Layout › Size › More Paper Sizes: the trim size, or the trim plus bleed (6.125 × 9.25 in for 6 × 9 in). Word measures from the edge of that larger page, so with bleed enter 0.5 in for Outside, Top and Bottom: KDP’s 0.375 in from the trim plus the 0.125 in bleed.
Google Docs has no mirror margins. In File › Page setup, use the inside (gutter) value for both the left and the right margin, or the outside value when it is larger: every page then clears KDP’s minimum on the binding side, whichever side it falls on.
| Page count | Word: Inside | Word: Outside, Top, Bottom | Google Docs: Left and Right |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24–150 pages | 0.375 in | 0.25 in (0.5 in with bleed) | 0.375 in (0.5 in with bleed) |
| 151–300 pages | 0.5 in | 0.25 in (0.5 in with bleed) | 0.5 in (0.5 in with bleed) |
| 301–500 pages | 0.625 in | 0.25 in (0.5 in with bleed) | 0.625 in (0.625 in with bleed) |
| 501–700 pages | 0.75 in | 0.25 in (0.5 in with bleed) | 0.75 in (0.75 in with bleed) |
| 701–828 pages | 0.875 in | 0.25 in (0.5 in with bleed) | 0.875 in (0.875 in with bleed) |
These are KDP’s minimums: most books look better with a little more room, especially at the gutter of thick books, and a margin may always be larger.
Outside margins
The outside, top and bottom margins are measured from the trim line. Without bleed they must be at least 0.25 in. With bleed, KDP asks for 0.375 in, because the page is trimmed from a slightly larger sheet and the cut can move a little.
Bleed
Bleed is extra artwork beyond the trim line, so nothing white shows at the edge after cutting. KDP bleed is 0.125 in (3.2 mm) on the top, bottom and outside edges, never on the gutter side. That makes the PDF page 0.125 in wider and 0.25 in taller than the trim:
- 6 × 9 in with bleed: 6.125 × 9.25 in
- 8.5 × 8.5 in with bleed: 8.625 × 8.75 in
Bleed requires a PDF manuscript, and if a single page bleeds the whole file must be set up with bleed. Images should be at least 300 DPI at their printed size, including the part in the bleed.
Check which sizes KDP offers in the trim size guide, and size your cover with the cover calculator.
How to use it
- 01
Choose the trim
The page size of your interior PDF starts from the trim size.
- 02
Enter the page count
It sets the minimum inside margin (gutter).
- 03
Turn on bleed if needed
Only when images or colors reach the edge of the page.
- 04
Set up your document
Use the PDF page size and keep text inside the live area.
Questions
What margins does KDP require?
An inside (gutter) margin of 0.375 in to 0.875 in depending on page count, and at least 0.25 in on the outside, top and bottom, or 0.375 in if the book has bleed.
What gutter does a 300-page KDP book need?
At least 0.5 in (12.7 mm) on the inside: KDP's minimum for 151 to 300 pages. From 301 pages it rises to 0.625 in. The outside, top and bottom margins stay at 0.25 in, or 0.375 in with bleed.
What is the interior PDF size of a 6 × 9 in book with bleed?
6.125 × 9.25 in. Bleed adds 0.125 in to the width (one outside edge) and 0.25 in to the height (top and bottom). Without bleed, the PDF page is the trim size, 6 × 9 in.
Do I need bleed?
Only if an image, a background color or a design element touches the edge of the page. If one page needs bleed, the whole interior PDF must be set up with bleed.
Why does the gutter depend on the page count?
Thicker books curve more at the binding, so text close to the spine becomes hard to read. KDP asks for a wider inside margin as the page count grows.
Are margins the same for hardcover?
KDP uses the same minimum margins for hardcover interiors. kdpbook adds a little extra gutter on hardcovers because case binding opens less flat.
Can text go into the bleed?
No. Only background art should extend into the bleed: it is cut off when the book is trimmed. Keep text and important details inside the margins.