Pick a trim size first. Use bleed only if images reach the page edge; then add 0.125 in to the width and 0.25 in to the height. Margins: at least 0.25 in outside (0.375 in with bleed), and an inside margin from 0.375 in that grows with page count. Images at 300 DPI, fonts at 7 pt or larger and embedded.
Trim size
Trim size is the finished size of the book: width × height. 6 × 9 in is the most common in the US for novels and non-fiction. KDP offers about sixteen paperback sizes; these are the most used.
| Trim | Type | B&W white | B&W cream | Standard color | Premium color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 × 8 in | Regular | 24–828 | 24–776 | 72–600 | 24–828 |
| 5.5 × 8.5 in | Regular | 24–828 | 24–776 | 72–600 | 24–828 |
| 6 × 9 in | Regular | 24–828 | 24–776 | 72–600 | 24–828 |
| 6.14 × 9.21 in | Large | 24–828 | 24–776 | 72–600 | 24–828 |
| 7 × 10 in | Large | 24–828 | 24–776 | 72–600 | 24–828 |
| 8 × 10 in | Large | 24–828 | 24–776 | 72–600 | 24–828 |
| 8.25 × 8.25 in | Large | 24–800 | 24–750 | 72–600 | 24–800 |
| 8.5 × 8.5 in | Large | 24–590 | 24–550 | 72–600 | 24–590 |
| 8.5 × 11 in | Large | 24–590 | 24–550 | 72–600 | 24–590 |
A trim wider than 6.12 in or taller than 9 in is a large trim. Large trims cost more to print per page. Pick the trim before you set margins, because everything else is measured from it.
Ink and paper
KDP paperbacks are printed in one of these combinations:
- Black ink, white paper: the default for non-fiction, coloring and activity books.
- Black ink, cream paper: traditional for fiction. Slightly thicker per page, so the spine is wider.
- Black ink, groundwood paper: a lighter, lower-cost paper KDP added for black-and-white books.
- Standard color, white paper: cheaper color for books with some color pages. Needs at least 72 pages.
- Premium color, white paper: richer color for picture books and illustrated books.
The ink type is locked once the book is published, because it's tied to the ISBN. Choose deliberately.
Bleed: when you need it
When KDP trims a printed book, it cuts 0.125 in from the top, bottom and outside edge of every page. If an image is meant to reach the edge, it has to extend past the cut line, or a thin white strip may show. That extension is bleed.
- No bleed: text-only books and pages where art stays inside a white border. The PDF page size equals the trim size.
- Bleed: any page where art or color touches the edge. The PDF page size is the trim plus 0.125 in on the width and 0.25 in on the height. Bleed books must be uploaded as PDF.
| Trim size | PDF page size with bleed |
|---|---|
| 5 × 8 in | 5.125 × 8.25 in |
| 5.5 × 8.5 in | 5.625 × 8.75 in |
| 6 × 9 in | 6.125 × 9.25 in |
| 7 × 10 in | 7.125 × 10.25 in |
| 8 × 10 in | 8.125 × 10.25 in |
| 8.5 × 8.5 in | 8.625 × 8.75 in |
| 8.5 × 11 in | 8.625 × 11.25 in |
Covers always need bleed, whatever the interior does.
Margins by page count
Every page has an inside margin (the gutter, toward the spine) and three outside margins. The gutter grows with page count because thicker books curve more into the binding.
| Page count | Inside (gutter) | Outside, no bleed | Outside, with bleed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24–150 | 0.375 in | 0.25 in | 0.375 in |
| 151–300 | 0.5 in | 0.25 in | 0.375 in |
| 301–500 | 0.625 in | 0.25 in | 0.375 in |
| 501–700 | 0.75 in | 0.25 in | 0.375 in |
| 701–828 | 0.875 in | 0.25 in | 0.375 in |
Top, bottom and outside margins can differ from each other as long as each meets the minimum. Work out yours with the margin and bleed calculator.
Spine and cover size
Spine width is the page count times the thickness of one page: 0.002252 in for white paper, 0.0025 in for cream and 0.002347 in for premium color. The full cover is bleed + back + spine + front + bleed wide, and bleed + trim height + bleed tall.
KDP only prints spine text on books with more than 79 pages, and it needs at least 0.0625 in of space between the text and each edge of the spine. Try it in the spine width calculator or the cover size calculator.
Images, fonts and the PDF
- Images at least 300 DPI at their printed size. KDP suggests no more than 600 DPI to keep the file under 650 MB.
- Fonts at least 7 pt, embedded in the PDF.
- Lines at least 0.75 pt thick; gray fills at least 10% on black-ink books.
- Transparency and layers flattened.
- No crop marks, trim marks, comments, bookmarks or placeholder text.
- Page count even. KDP rounds up and adds a blank page if it isn't.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common KDP trim size?
6 × 9 in for novels and non-fiction in the US. Coloring and activity books usually use 8.5 × 11 in, and picture books often use 8.5 × 8.5 in.
Do I need bleed for a novel?
No. A text-only interior doesn't need bleed. Set the PDF page size to the trim size and keep at least 0.25 in outside margins.
How much bleed does KDP need?
0.125 in on the top, bottom and outside edges. Add 0.125 in to the page width and 0.25 in to the height.
Why did KDP reject my margins?
Usually because the inside margin is too small for the page count, or because text or images sit inside the outside-margin zone. Check the table above against your final page count.
- KDP Help: Set trim size, bleed and margins
- KDP Help: Paperback submission guidelines
- KDP Help: Print options (ink and paper)
- KDP Help: Create a paperback cover
Checked against KDP's help pages on 6 November 2026. KDP changes its rules from time to time, so confirm anything important on KDP's own pages before you publish. Bookhatch is not affiliated with Amazon.