Free KDP cover calculator
AI cover design guide
An AI cover is not automatically a problem. An unchecked cover is.
The AI cover debate in publishing communities usually begins and ends at disclosure. The practical problem is different: covers that fail resolution, geometry, or typography — regardless of how they were made.
Checked:
✓KDP: disclosure rules focus on content, not tools✓AI covers get flagged on quality signals✓Geometry and DPI are tool-agnostic
Paperback cover dimensions
Spine width0.450 in11.44 mm
Full cover size12.700 × 9.250 in322.59 × 234.95 mm
Canvas (300 DPI · Canva)3810 × 2775 px300 DPI · Canva custom size
Spine text
Eligible: more than 79 pages. Keep at least 0.0625 in from each spine edge.
Reference chart: every KDP trim at 100, 200, and 300 pages
Paper: Black & white · white paper
| Trim size | Pages | Spine | Full wrap (in) | 300 DPI canvas (px) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5" × 8" | 100 | 0.225 in | 10.475 × 8.250 in | 3143 × 2475 px |
| 5" × 8" | 200 | 0.450 in | 10.700 × 8.250 in | 3210 × 2475 px |
| 5" × 8" | 300 | 0.676 in | 10.926 × 8.250 in | 3278 × 2475 px |
| 5.25" × 8" | 100 | 0.225 in | 10.975 × 8.250 in | 3293 × 2475 px |
| 5.25" × 8" | 200 | 0.450 in | 11.200 × 8.250 in | 3360 × 2475 px |
| 5.25" × 8" | 300 | 0.676 in | 11.426 × 8.250 in | 3428 × 2475 px |
| 5.5" × 8.5" | 100 | 0.225 in | 11.475 × 8.750 in | 3443 × 2625 px |
| 5.5" × 8.5" | 200 | 0.450 in | 11.700 × 8.750 in | 3510 × 2625 px |
| 5.5" × 8.5" | 300 | 0.676 in | 11.926 × 8.750 in | 3578 × 2625 px |
| 6" × 9" | 100 | 0.225 in | 12.475 × 9.250 in | 3743 × 2775 px |
| 6" × 9" | 200 | 0.450 in | 12.700 × 9.250 in | 3810 × 2775 px |
| 6" × 9" | 300 | 0.676 in | 12.926 × 9.250 in | 3878 × 2775 px |
| 6.14" × 9.21" | 100 | 0.225 in | 12.755 × 9.460 in | 3827 × 2838 px |
| 6.14" × 9.21" | 200 | 0.450 in | 12.980 × 9.460 in | 3894 × 2838 px |
| 6.14" × 9.21" | 300 | 0.676 in | 13.206 × 9.460 in | 3962 × 2838 px |
| 7" × 10" | 100 | 0.225 in | 14.475 × 10.250 in | 4343 × 3075 px |
| 7" × 10" | 200 | 0.450 in | 14.700 × 10.250 in | 4410 × 3075 px |
| 7" × 10" | 300 | 0.676 in | 14.926 × 10.250 in | 4478 × 3075 px |
| 8" × 10" | 100 | 0.225 in | 16.475 × 10.250 in | 4943 × 3075 px |
| 8" × 10" | 200 | 0.450 in | 16.700 × 10.250 in | 5010 × 3075 px |
| 8" × 10" | 300 | 0.676 in | 16.926 × 10.250 in | 5078 × 3075 px |
| 8.5" × 11" | 100 | 0.225 in | 17.475 × 11.250 in | 5243 × 3375 px |
| 8.5" × 11" | 200 | 0.450 in | 17.700 × 11.250 in | 5310 × 3375 px |
| 8.5" × 11" | 300 | 0.676 in | 17.926 × 11.250 in | 5378 × 3375 px |
| 8.5" × 8.5" | 100 | 0.225 in | 17.475 × 8.750 in | 5243 × 2625 px |
| 8.5" × 8.5" | 200 | 0.450 in | 17.700 × 8.750 in | 5310 × 2625 px |
| 8.5" × 8.5" | 300 | 0.676 in | 17.926 × 8.750 in | 5378 × 2625 px |
Paperback calculation uses KDP's published 0.125 in bleed and current paper thickness factors. Always confirm the final page count after interior formatting.
What the rules actually say
Amazon's disclosure requirements address AI-generated content in books and marketplaces; cover art by itself is evaluated on visibility and accuracy like any other visual asset. What gets flagged in practice is not 'AI use' — it's typographic mangling, odd artifacts, and covers that misrepresent the book's content.
Publishing community threads about AI covers converge on the same complaints: hands, lettering, and overall 'generic' look. Those pass or fail a free visual audit, not a policy question.
- Title legibility at thumbnail size is #1
- Aspect ratio and bleed must match the print trim
- If the art is AI, disclose per marketplace guidance
The checks every cover needs — AI or not
Bleed-safe geometry, 300 DPI minimum, spine width matching page count, and legibility at 100px. Free tools handle these: the cover calculator checks trim and spine, the file checker audits the actual file resolution.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell an AI-created cover on KDP?
Yes, provided the cover truthfully represents the book and you follow applicable disclosure guidance. What reviewers reject is dishonest or low-quality imagery, not the tool chain.
Do I have to tell Amazon the cover is AI?
Review Amazon's current AI-content policy at upload; when in doubt, accurate metadata and honest labeling are the safe path. The question is about disclosure, and the answer is always 'when in doubt, disclose'.
Why does my AI cover look wrong at small sizes?
Most AI output is generated at banner-friendly sizes. Run the cover file checker for DPI and the calculator for geometry before upload — small-size legibility is a spec issue, fixable in one pass.
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Check the cover's DPI, bleed, and spine geometry free — before the thumbnail decides your book's fate.