KDP paperback spec — summary
Only values confirmed on the official KDP help pages (checked 2026-10-08). Every KDP template here is checked automatically against them. KDP policies can change, so confirm on the official pages and in the KDP previewer before publishing.
- Bleed0.125 in
Top, bottom and outside edges only. With bleed the interior is 0.125 in wider and 0.25 in taller than the trim. Books with bleed must be uploaded as PDF.
Paperback submission guidelines ↗ - Cover size
Width = bleed + back + spine + front + bleed
Create a paperback cover ↗
Height = bleed + trim height + bleed (bleed 0.125 in) - Minimum pages24
24 pages. KDP rounds an odd count up to even.
Paperback submission guidelines ↗ - Cover safe area0.25 in
0.25 in inside the trim edge. Spine text at least 0.0625 in from the spine edges.
Create a paperback cover ↗ - Barcode area2 × 1.2 in
2 × 1.2 in at the lower right of the back cover, where KDP places the barcode. Keep it empty.
Low-content books ↗ - PDF basics650 MB
Embed all fonts, text at least 7 pt, lines at least 0.75 pt, images at least 300 dpi, under 650 MB, no crop marks, flatten transparency.
Save your manuscript file ↗
Spine width per page (inches)
| Paper | Inches per page | e.g. 120 pages |
|---|---|---|
| White | 0.002252 | 0.270 in |
| Cream | 0.0025 | 0.300 in |
| Groundwood | 0.00235 | 0.282 in |
| Premium color | 0.002347 | 0.282 in |
| Standard color | 0.002252 | 0.270 in |
Spine text
Only at 80 pages or more (KDP says both “at least 79” and “more than 79”, so we satisfy both). We also check that 7 pt text fits the spine width.
Minimum margins by page count (inches)
| Pages | Inside (gutter) | Outside (no bleed) | Outside (bleed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24-150 | 0.375 | 0.25 | 0.375 |
| 151-300 | 0.5 | 0.25 | 0.375 |
| 301-500 | 0.625 | 0.25 | 0.375 |
| 501-700 | 0.75 | 0.25 | 0.375 |
| 701-828 | 0.875 | 0.25 | 0.375 |
Page range by trim and paper
| Trim | White | Cream | Groundwood | Standard color | Premium color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 × 8.5 in | 24–828 | 24–776 | 24–812 | 72–600 | 24–828 |
| 6 × 9 in | 24–828 | 24–776 | 24–812 | 72–600 | 24–828 |
| 8 × 10 in | 24–828 | 24–776 | 24–812 | 72–600 | 24–828 |
| 8.5 × 8.5 in | 24–590 | 24–550 | 24–578 | 72–600 | 24–590 |
| 8.5 × 11 in | 24–590 | 24–550 | 24–578 | 72–600 | 24–590 |
Low-content books
Books made mostly of repeated pages to fill in. No free KDP ISBN and no Expanded Distribution. Puzzle and coloring books are generally not low-content in the official examples.
Listed as low-content: Notebooks, Planners, Diaries/Journals, Prompt journals, Log books
Generally not low-content: Novels, Nonfiction, Puzzle books, Coloring books, Photography, Manuals, Textbooks, Children's books
Unconfirmed (no number invented)
- Cover calculator URL: the help pages name the tool but not its address.
- Hardcover rules were not collected. This summary covers paperbacks only.
- Color paper spine factor: the submission page lists one value (0.002347); the cover page splits premium 0.002347 and standard 0.002252. We use the cover page values.
Official sources
- Paperback submission guidelineshttps://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201857950
- Create a paperback coverhttps://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201953020
- Set trim size, bleed and marginshttps://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GVBQ3CMEQW3W2VL6
- Low-content bookshttps://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GGE5T76TWKA85DJM
- Save your manuscript filehttps://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G202145060
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