KDP Cover Dimensions Calculator
Calculate precise paperback and hardcover dimensions for Amazon KDP
Paperback
Hardcover
Black & White (White Paper)
Black & White (Cream Paper)
Premium Color
Standard Color
Inches (in)
Millimeters (mm)
Calculated Dimensions
Full Cover Width:
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Full Cover Height:
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Spine Width:
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Spine Safe Area:
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*Dimensions include required bleeds. Use these values for your document setup in Canva, Photoshop, or InDesign.
Understanding KDP Cover Dimensions
Creating a professional book cover for Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) requires more than just great artwork. You must account for the physical thickness of the paper (the spine) and the "bleed" area that gets trimmed during the manufacturing process.
The Importance of Page Count and Paper Type
The width of your book's spine is determined by two primary factors: the number of pages and the thickness of the paper. KDP uses different paper stocks, each with a specific "multiplier":
- White Paper: 0.002252 inches per page
- Cream Paper: 0.0025 inches per page
- Standard Color: 0.002252 inches per page
- Premium Color: 0.002347 inches per page
The Bleed Factor
For paperbacks, Amazon requires a bleed of 0.125″ (3.2 mm) on all outside edges. This ensures that your background art extends to the very edge of the book after it is trimmed. Hardcover books require a much larger margin (0.563″) because the cover material must wrap around the heavy cardboard casing.
Example Calculation: 6″ x 9″ Paperback
If you are publishing a 200-page paperback on white paper with a 6″x9″ trim size:
- Spine Width: 200 x 0.002252 = 0.45″
- Total Width: Bleed (0.125) + Back Cover (6.0) + Spine (0.45) + Front Cover (6.0) + Bleed (0.125) = 12.70″
- Total Height: Bleed (0.125) + Trim Height (9.0) + Bleed (0.125) = 9.25″
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Text in the Gutter: Keep all important text and images at least 0.25″ away from the trim edges.
- Spine Text: KDP only allows text on the spine for books with 80 pages or more.
- Barcode Placement: Leave a 2″ wide by 1.2″ high space on the bottom right of your back cover for the KDP-generated barcode if you aren't providing your own.