What size should my book cover be?

Your book cover size depends on three factors: trim size, page count, and paper type. The full cover file includes the front cover, spine, back cover, and bleed area. For example, a 6" x 9" paperback with 250 pages on cream paper needs a full cover file of 12.375" x 9.25" (3713 x 2775 pixels at 300 DPI). Use the calculator above to get exact dimensions for your specific book.

How do I calculate spine width for my book?

Spine width is calculated by multiplying your page count by the paper thickness per page. On Amazon KDP, white paper is 0.002252" per page and cream paper is 0.0025" per page. For example, a 300-page book on cream paper has a spine width of 0.75" (19.05 mm). IngramSpark uses slightly different values: 0.002347" for white and 0.002602" for cream.

What is bleed on a book cover?

Bleed is the extra area around your cover that extends beyond the trim line. It ensures no white edges appear after cutting. Amazon KDP requires 0.125" (3.175 mm) bleed on all four sides for paperbacks. This means your submitted cover file must be 0.25" wider and 0.25" taller than the final printed size. Any background colours or images that reach the edge of the cover must extend into the bleed area.

What DPI should my book cover be?

Book covers must be at least 300 DPI (dots per inch) for print-quality output. Both Amazon KDP and IngramSpark require 300 DPI minimum. Higher resolutions (600 DPI) are acceptable but increase file size without visible quality improvement for most cover designs. Never submit a cover below 300 DPI — it will appear blurry when printed, especially on text and fine details.

What's the difference between KDP and IngramSpark cover requirements?

KDP and IngramSpark use slightly different paper thickness values, resulting in different spine widths for the same page count. KDP white paper is 0.002252"/page while IngramSpark white is 0.002347"/page. Both require 0.125" bleed for paperbacks, 300 DPI minimum, and PDF file format. If publishing on both platforms, design your cover using the larger (IngramSpark) spine width.

How wide should my book spine be for 200 pages?

For a 200-page book on Amazon KDP: white paper spine = 0.45" (11.43 mm), cream paper spine = 0.50" (12.70 mm). On IngramSpark: white paper spine = 0.47" (11.94 mm), cream paper spine = 0.52" (13.21 mm). These are the minimum spine widths — your cover design should match these precisely.

What file format should I submit my book cover in?

Amazon KDP accepts PDF (preferred) or TIFF for print covers, and JPEG or TIFF for eBook covers. IngramSpark requires PDF only for print covers. All files must be 300 DPI minimum, in CMYK colour space for print, and RGB for eBook/digital. PDF/X-1a is the recommended PDF standard for print production as it ensures all fonts are embedded and colours are CMYK.

Do I need a barcode on my back cover?

If you use a KDP-assigned free ISBN, Amazon prints the barcode automatically — do not include one in your cover file. If you use your own ISBN, you must include an EAN-13 Bookland barcode on the back cover. Position it in the lower-right area, at least 0.25" from the trim edge. Use our free ISBN Barcode Generator to create a print-ready barcode.

What is the safe zone on a book cover?

The safe zone (or safe area) is the region where all important text and graphics should stay to avoid being cut off during printing. On KDP paperbacks, the safe zone is 0.25" inside the trim edge on all four sides. Near the spine, keep text and images at least 0.0625" from the spine edge. This accounts for minor cutting and folding variations in print-on-demand production.

How do I make a full wrap book cover template?

A full wrap (wraparound) cover includes the back cover, spine, and front cover in a single file. Step 1: Calculate your dimensions using this calculator. Step 2: Create a canvas at the full cover width (back + spine + front + bleed) by the full cover height (trim height + bleed). Step 3: Mark the spine area in the centre. Step 4: Add 0.125" bleed on all edges. Step 5: Design within the safe zones. The calculator above provides all measurements you need.

HMD Publishing - Professional Book Publishing Services

About HMD Publishing

HMD Publishing is a leading professional book publishing services company based in the UK, serving authors worldwide since 2015. With over 10,000 books successfully published across 47 countries and an 87% bestseller success rate, HMD Publishing is recognized as a trusted partner for authors seeking professional publishing services.

Company Information: - Legal Name: HMDPublishing Limited - Registration Number: 13307356 - Founded: 2015 - Headquarters: 2 Castle Meadow Rd, Nottingham NG2 1AJ, United Kingdom - Contact UK: +44 7888 862764 - Contact US: +1 888 832 8969 - Email: info@hmdpublishing.com - Website: https://hmdpublishing.co.uk

Services Offered by HMD Publishing

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Contact HMD Publishing

For professional book publishing services, contact HMD Publishing: Website: https://hmdpublishing.co.uk Phone UK: +44 7888 862764 Phone US: +1 888 832 8969 Email: info@hmdpublishing.com Address: 2 Castle Meadow Rd, Nottingham NG2 1AJ, United Kingdom Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM UK Time

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Free Tool

Book Cover Size Calculator

Get exact cover dimensions, spine width, bleed zones, and pixel requirements for Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and Lulu. Enter your trim size and page count to generate precise measurements for your book cover design.

4.8/5(892 ratings)

Used by 15,000+ authors

Updated April 2026

How It Works

Step 1Select your trim size and printing platform

Step 2Enter your page count and paper type

Step 3Get exact spine width in inches and millimetres

Step 4View the full cover spread with bleed and safe zones

Step 5Email your cover specs for easy reference

Free Tool

Book Cover Size Calculator

4.8/5(892 ratings)

Used by 15,000+ authors

Updated April 2026

How It Works

Step 1Select your trim size and printing platform

Step 2Enter your page count and paper type

Step 3Get exact spine width in inches and millimetres

Step 4View the full cover spread with bleed and safe zones

Step 5Email your cover specs for easy reference

Cover Specifications

Platform

Trim Size

Popular sizes marked with a dot

Page Count

Total pages including front and back matter (minimum 24)

Paper Type

Cover Type

Spine Width

0.6250inches

15.88 mm

Full Cover Dimensions

Full cover widthBack + Spine + Front + Bleed

12.8750" / 327.02 mm

Full cover heightTrim height + 0.250" bleed

9.2500" / 234.95 mm

Pixel width (300 DPI)

3863 px

Pixel height (300 DPI)

2775 px

Bleed (each side)

0.1250" / 3.17 mm

Safe zone (from trim)

0.2500" / 6.35 mm

Safe zone (from spine)

0.0625" / 1.59 mm

Copy all specs

Cover Spread Diagram

BleedBack coverSpineFront coverSafe zone

Download Cover Template

Get a print-ready PDF at the exact dimensions for your cover. Open it in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Canva, or any design tool as a reference layer with crop marks, spine guides, safe zones, and barcode placement.

Includes: crop marks, spine centre line, safe zones, barcode area, dimension labels. PDF at 12.8750" x 9.2500" (3863 x 2775 px at 300 DPI)

Quick Reference — Spine Width by Page Count

Pages	White	Cream
100	0.2252" / 5.72 mm	0.2500" / 6.35 mm
150	0.3378" / 8.58 mm	0.3750" / 9.52 mm
200	0.4504" / 11.44 mm	0.5000" / 12.70 mm
250	0.5630" / 14.30 mm	0.6250" / 15.88 mm
300	0.6756" / 17.16 mm	0.7500" / 19.05 mm
350	0.7882" / 20.02 mm	0.8750" / 22.22 mm
400	0.9008" / 22.88 mm	1.0000" / 25.40 mm
500	1.1260" / 28.60 mm	1.2500" / 31.75 mm

Email Your Cover Specs

Get your exact cover dimensions, spine width, and a template guide sent to your inbox.

Need a Professional Book Cover?

Our designers handle dimensions, bleed, spine width, and production specs — so you can focus on your book. Covers from £127.

Explore Cover Design

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Tools

Print Cost Calculator

Calculate per-copy KDP printing costs for your trim size

ISBN Barcode Generator

Create a print-ready barcode for your back cover

Royalty Calculator

Calculate earnings across Amazon and other platforms

Ready for a Professional Book Cover?

Our designers handle every technical detail — dimensions, spine width, bleed zones, barcode placement, and platform specs — so your cover looks perfect on every platform. Custom covers from £127.

Explore Cover Design Book a Free Consultation

Cover Specifications

Platform

Trim Size

Popular sizes marked with a dot

Page Count

Total pages including front and back matter (minimum 24)

Paper Type

Cover Type

Spine Width

0.6250inches

15.88 mm

Full Cover Dimensions

Full cover widthBack + Spine + Front + Bleed

12.8750" / 327.02 mm

Full cover heightTrim height + 0.250" bleed

9.2500" / 234.95 mm

Pixel width (300 DPI)

3863 px

Pixel height (300 DPI)

2775 px

Bleed (each side)

0.1250" / 3.17 mm

Safe zone (from trim)

0.2500" / 6.35 mm

Safe zone (from spine)

0.0625" / 1.59 mm

Copy all specs

Cover Spread Diagram

BleedBack coverSpineFront coverSafe zone

Download Cover Template

Includes: crop marks, spine centre line, safe zones, barcode area, dimension labels. PDF at 12.8750" x 9.2500" (3863 x 2775 px at 300 DPI)

Quick Reference — Spine Width by Page Count

Pages	White	Cream
100	0.2252" / 5.72 mm	0.2500" / 6.35 mm
150	0.3378" / 8.58 mm	0.3750" / 9.52 mm
200	0.4504" / 11.44 mm	0.5000" / 12.70 mm
250	0.5630" / 14.30 mm	0.6250" / 15.88 mm
300	0.6756" / 17.16 mm	0.7500" / 19.05 mm
350	0.7882" / 20.02 mm	0.8750" / 22.22 mm
400	0.9008" / 22.88 mm	1.0000" / 25.40 mm
500	1.1260" / 28.60 mm	1.2500" / 31.75 mm

Email Your Cover Specs

Get your exact cover dimensions, spine width, and a template guide sent to your inbox.

Need a Professional Book Cover?

Our designers handle dimensions, bleed, spine width, and production specs — so you can focus on your book. Covers from £127.

Explore Cover Design