Free word count to pages calculator
KDP trim size recommender
Choose a KDP book size before margins and cover geometry.
Start from reading experience and content type, not the default in a design app. Then check whether the expected page count still feels practical.
✓Genre-aware starting point✓Page-count tradeoffs✓Direct cover-calculator handoff
KDP book size recommender
Common trim sizes and what they change
A 5 × 8 inch book feels compact and usually creates more pages. A 6 × 9 inch trim is a flexible starting point for general nonfiction and many novels. A 7 × 10 or 8.5 × 11 inch page gives workbooks, manuals, tables, and large print more breathing room.
Trim affects line length, page count, print cost, spine width, image placement, and the physical feel of the book. Choose it before fine typography, but expect to revisit the choice if pagination becomes uncomfortable.
| Book type | Starting trim | Main tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Novel or memoir | 5.5 × 8.5 in | Compact feel with more pages |
| General nonfiction | 6 × 9 in | Flexible line length and cost |
| Workbook or manual | 8.5 × 11 in | More writing and visual space |
| Large print | 7 × 10 in | Larger text without extreme page growth |
Confirm availability in the current KDP setup
Amazon changes supported combinations by marketplace, ink, paper, bleed, and format. Use this recommender for layout planning, then confirm the selected trim and production options in the current KDP help and title setup before export.
What this recommender does not decide
The table suggests a genre-based starting trim, not a KDP rule. Actual availability depends on marketplace, ink, paper, bleed, and page count, and KDP lists minimum and maximum page counts per trim. The recommender does not estimate the page count a manuscript will produce or compute cover dimensions. Use the word-count calculator to get a page range for the trim, then confirm the combination in KDP, then calculate the cover from the real exported page count.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common KDP book size?
Six by nine inches is a common trade format and a useful starting point, but the best choice depends on genre, page count, images, and desired reading experience.
Does trim size change printing cost?
It can. Trim changes page count and may change the production options available. Confirm the current calculator and marketplace terms before pricing the book.
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Chosen the trim? Calculate the real full wrap.
Use the final page count and paper type to determine spine and bleed dimensions.