KDP trim size recommender
Free KDP cover calculator
KDP cover calculator: size the full wrap before you place art.
A cover that looked fine in the preview can still be sized from the wrong page count. Enter your final page count, trim, and paper type to get the spine, the full wrap, and the 300 DPI canvas to design in.
Checked:
✓Full wrap from your final page count✓Spine, bleed, and 300 DPI Canva pixels✓Cover size chart by trim and page count
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.
How the KDP cover size is calculated
A paperback cover is three panels in one file: back cover, spine, and front cover, plus 0.125 inches of bleed on the top, bottom, and outside edges. The front and back panels are exactly your trim size; only the spine changes between two books with the same trim.
Spine width is your final page count multiplied by the thickness of the paper you choose — white, cream, premium color, or standard color. That is why the same 300-page manuscript produces a different wrap on cream paper than on white paper, and why the calculator asks for the paper before it prints a number.
- Recalculate after every interior pagination change
- Do not place spine text below 80 pages
- Keep important text away from trim and fold lines
Cover size chart by trim and page count
The chart below the calculator gives the spine and the full wrap for every KDP trim at 100, 200, and 300 pages, on the paper type you selected, in inches and in 300 DPI pixels. Find the row that matches your trim and page count and copy the pixel size into Canva as a custom size instead of scaling a front cover up to fit.
Page count means the count after the interior is formatted, and KDP accepts 24 to 828 pages for a single paperback. When the page count moves, the spine moves with it, so re-check the row before you export the final cover PDF.
Common KDP cover errors and the fix
Almost every cover rejection traces back to one of four geometry mistakes. Check them before upload instead of after KDP returns the file.
| Message | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Cover size does not match | The wrap was built from a different trim or page count | Recalculate the wrap, then reopen the design at the new size |
| Spine text too close | Live text sits inside the 0.0625 in spine safety margin | Move spine text inward, or drop it under 80 pages |
| Bleed missing | Artwork stops at the trim edge on an outside edge | Extend the file 0.125 in on the top, bottom, and outside edges |
| Resolution too low | Images are below 300 DPI at the final size | Re-export the artwork at 300 DPI before upload |
Setting up your cover in Canva without rejections
Most authors design their book covers in Canva. To avoid KDP size mismatches, create a new design using Custom Size with the exact pixel dimensions displayed above (at 300 DPI), which already include the 0.125-inch trim bleed.
Keep all live text, barcodes, and essential artwork at least 0.25 inches inside the outer edge (the safe margin). When finished, export from Canva as 'PDF Print'.
- Copy the 300 DPI canvas pixels directly into Canva Custom Size
- Account for spine width changes if interior page count shifts by even 2 pages
- Export as PDF Print for press-ready 300 DPI resolution
Use the guide without creating a rejection
Download the SVG as a design guide, place it in your design file, and keep it on a non-printing layer. Export one continuous PDF containing back cover, spine, and front cover.
This calculator covers paperback geometry. Hardcover case wrap and dust jacket measurements use different rules.
Error code to fix: wrong cover size or spine
Many technical cover rejections are geometry problems, while artwork and content issues are separate. Recalculate from the formatted page count, then export one continuous wrap.
| Error or symptom | Likely cause | Next check | Fix in the source file | Re-test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cover size / wrap dimensions do not match | The wrap was built from a draft page count, so the spine and panel widths are wrong. | Recount the final formatted pages and recompute the wrap width for the trim and paper. | Rebuild the full wrap from the final page count, the chosen trim, the paper type, and 0.125 in bleed. | Compare the new wrap against the official cover calculator before uploading. |
| Spine text missing, clipped, or overflowing | The book has 79 pages or fewer, or text sits too close to the spine edge or outside the panel. | Confirm the page count is above 79 and measure text distance from each spine edge. | KDP prints spine text only when the book has more than 79 pages. Keep 0.0625 in from each spine edge and stay inside the spine panel. | Review the spine panel in the cover preview, then upload the corrected wrap. |
| Bleed or trim mismatch on the cover | Bleed was not added on the outside edges, or it was wrongly added to the spine-facing edges. | Measure the outside edges for the missing 0.125 in of bleed. | Add 0.125 in bleed on the top, bottom, and outside edges. Spine-facing edges do not receive extra outside bleed. | Recheck the bleed on all four outside edges, then re-upload. |
| Artwork shifted after a pagination change | The interior page count changed after the cover was built, moving the spine position. | Recount the interior and note where the spine now falls. | Recalculate the wrap after every interior page-count change. Do not reuse a cover built from a draft pagination. | Recompute and re-export the wrap, then confirm the spine matches the final interior. |
Calculation examples from the ShipMyBook cover engine
Each row below is generated live by ShipMyBook's production formula — final page count × paper factor (white 0.002252 in, cream 0.0025 in, premium color 0.002347 in, standard color 0.002252 in), plus 0.125 in bleed on every outer edge. The engine accepts numeric inputs from 24 to 828 pages, but KDP's valid range depends on trim, ink, and paper; these examples use supported combinations. No number is copied from a static table.
These are ShipMyBook calculation examples, not Amazon template output. Always compare the final numbers against KDP's official cover calculator before you upload.
| Trim, pages, and paper | Spine | Full wrap (W × H) | 300 DPI canvas (px) | Spine text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 × 9 in, 100 pages, white paper | 0.225 in | 12.475 × 9.250 in | 3743 × 2775 px | Allowed |
| 6 × 9 in, 79 pages, white paper | 0.178 in | 12.428 × 9.250 in | 3728 × 2775 px | Not allowed (fewer than 80 pages) |
| 6 × 9 in, 80 pages, white paper | 0.180 in | 12.430 × 9.250 in | 3729 × 2775 px | Allowed |
| 5.5 × 8.5 in, 200 pages, cream paper | 0.500 in | 11.750 × 8.750 in | 3525 × 2625 px | Allowed |
| 5 × 8 in, 300 pages, white paper | 0.676 in | 10.926 × 8.250 in | 3278 × 2475 px | Allowed |
| 6 × 9 in, 400 pages, premium color | 0.939 in | 13.189 × 9.250 in | 3957 × 2775 px | Allowed |
| 8.5 × 11 in, 600 pages, standard color | 1.351 in | 18.601 × 11.250 in | 5580 × 3375 px | Allowed |
| 5.5 × 8.5 in, 24 pages, white paper | 0.054 in | 11.304 × 8.750 in | 3391 × 2625 px | Not allowed (fewer than 80 pages) |
| 6 × 9 in, 150 pages, cream paper | 0.375 in | 12.625 × 9.250 in | 3788 × 2775 px | Allowed |
| 6 × 9 in, 250 pages, standard color | 0.563 in | 12.813 × 9.250 in | 3844 × 2775 px | Allowed |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my KDP cover size?
Multiply your final page count by the paper thickness factor to get the spine, then set the full wrap width to (trim width × 2) + spine + 0.25 in of bleed. The calculator does that from your trim, page count, and paper type, and shows the answer in inches and 300 DPI pixels.
What is the spine width for a 100-page book?
It depends on the paper. Cream paper is thicker than white paper, so the same 100 pages gives a wider spine on cream. Select your paper type in the calculator to read the exact spine for 100 pages.
Does a KDP cover need bleed?
Yes. KDP requires 0.125 inches of bleed on the top, bottom, and each outside edge of a paperback cover. The two edges that meet the spine do not take outside bleed.
How do I create a KDP cover in Canva?
Use the 300 DPI pixel dimensions from this calculator. In Canva, click 'Create a design' then 'Custom size', switch units to px, enter the width and height, and paste your design. Export as PDF Print at 300 DPI.
How is the KDP paperback spine width calculated?
The calculator multiplies your final page count by the paper-specific factor, the same way KDP's cover calculator does. Confirm the result against KDP's own calculator before uploading.
Can I put text on a 79-page spine?
No. KDP prints spine text only when a book has more than 79 pages, so the practical minimum is 80 pages. Shorter books ship with a blank spine even if you designed one.
What file should I send for a paperback cover?
One continuous PDF holding the back cover, spine, and front cover, exported with 300 DPI images and 0.125 inches of bleed. A single front panel is not a cover file, however high its resolution.
Should I add a barcode to the back cover?
No. Leave the bottom-right area of the back cover clear: KDP prints its own barcode there, and a second barcode reads as a conflict during review.
KDP says my cover size is wrong. What do I recalculate?
Recalculate the full wrap from the final formatted page count, trim, paper, and 0.125 in bleed. Do not use a draft page count. Spine text needs more than 79 pages.
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Calculate the wrap from your final page count, paper type, and trim size. Download a free guide, then check the interior and cover together before upload.