KDP cover calculator with template.
Trim size, page count, paper: get the full cover size with bleed and spine, in inches, millimetres and pixels at 300 dpi, and download a template to design on.
KDP cover calculator: dimensions, bleed and safe zone
How the cover size adds up
The cover is a single surface made of bleed, back cover, spine, front cover and bleed. The height is bleed, trim height and bleed.
Example for 6 × 9 in with 200 pages on white paper: width 0.125 + 6 + 0.45 + 6 + 0.125 = 12.70 in (322.59 mm), height 0.125 + 9 + 0.125 = 9.25 in (234.95 mm).
Cover dimensions for common trim sizes
For the image size, work at 300 dpi: a 6 × 9 in cover with 200 pages is 3,810 × 2,775 pixels, a 5 × 8 in cover 3,210 × 2,475 pixels.
| Trim size | 200 pages | 300 pages |
|---|---|---|
| 5 × 8 in | 10.70 × 8.25 in (271.79 × 209.55 mm) | 10.93 × 8.25 in (277.51 × 209.55 mm) |
| 5.5 × 8.5 in | 11.70 × 8.75 in (297.19 × 222.25 mm) | 11.93 × 8.75 in (302.91 × 222.25 mm) |
| 6 × 9 in | 12.70 × 9.25 in (322.59 × 234.95 mm) | 12.93 × 9.25 in (328.31 × 234.95 mm) |
Full size including bleed, KDP paperback on white paper. As of October 2026, based on the paperback cover guidelines in KDP Help.
Setting guides in your layout program
Create the document at the full size and drag guides from left to right. Example for 6 × 9 in, 200 pages, white paper (full width 12.70 in):
- 0.125 in: trim line on the left, where the bleed ends.
- 6.125 in: edge of the back cover, where the spine begins.
- 6.575 in: edge of the spine, where the front cover begins.
- 12.575 in: trim line on the right. Another 0.125 in of bleed follows.
KDP and bookstores compared
The bleed is the same at both. The differences are in spine text and the barcode area.
| Amazon KDP | Bookstores (print on demand) | |
|---|---|---|
| Bleed | 0.125 in (3.2 mm), four sides | 0.125 in (3.2 mm), four sides |
| Spine width | factor per page | table, cover template generator |
| Spine text from | 79 pages | 48 pages |
| Text to trim line | at least 0.125 in (3.2 mm) | at least 0.125 in, 0.25 in (6 mm) recommended |
| Barcode area | 2 × 1.2 in (50.8 × 30.5 mm) | at least 1.75 × 1 in (44.5 × 25.4 mm) |
Sources: KDP Help, paperback cover (as of October 2026); print specifications for bookstore printing (as of August 2026). Where they differ, the printer's own template rules.
Common cover mistakes
- Designing without bleed: if the image stops at the trim line, a white edge can show after trimming.
- Placing important text too close to the trim edge.
- Printing in the barcode area. Without your own barcode, KDP places a white box at the bottom right of the back cover and covers whatever lies beneath.
- Calculating the size with an estimated page count and never adjusting it.
- Uploading the template itself. It is a measuring template, not a print file: hide it before you export.
Next step: barcode and cover
You create the barcode for the back cover in the ISBN barcode generator. The spine width alone comes from the book spine calculator.
How to use it
- Choose the trim size For example 6 × 9 in or 5 × 8 in, or enter your own size.
- Enter page count and paper The spine width follows from both, with the KDP factors.
- Download the template Design your cover on the SVG template: bleed, back, spine, front and the barcode area are marked.
At a glance
- Bleed: 0.125 in (3.2 mm) on top, bottom and the outside edge.
- 6 × 9 in, 200 pages, white paper: full cover 12.70 × 9.25 in.
- At 300 dpi that is about 3,810 × 2,775 pixels.
How it is calculated
- Full width = bleed + back + spine + front + bleed. Full height = bleed + height + bleed.
- Bleed is 0.125 in (3.2 mm) on top, bottom and outside.
- The spine follows from page count × paper factor, as in the spine calculator.
Source: Amazon KDP Help, paperback cover guidelines (kdp.amazon.com, retrieved October 2026).
Questions
What size is a 6 × 9 inch KDP cover?
For 200 pages on white paper: 12.70 in wide (0.125 + 6 + 0.45 + 6 + 0.125) and 9.25 in high.
Which resolution does the cover need?
At least 300 dpi. The calculator shows the pixel size at 300 dpi.
Where does the barcode go?
KDP places it on the back cover, bottom right. The template marks the area; keep it free of text.
Can I use the template in Canva, Affinity or Photoshop?
Yes. Place the SVG as the bottom layer, design over it and hide it before you export the PDF.
How much bleed does a book cover need?
0.125 in (3.2 mm) on all four outer edges, at KDP and for bookstores. The full height is therefore trim height + 0.25 in (6.4 mm), and the full width is two cover panels + spine + 0.25 in.
How far from the edge should text stay?
At least 0.125 in (3.2 mm) inside the trim line. For bookstore printing, 0.25 in (6 mm) is recommended. On KDP, keep frames and borders at least 0.25 in (6.4 mm) inside, otherwise they look uneven after trimming.
Which file format do I upload for a KDP cover?
One PDF in which back cover, spine and front cover form a single page. KDP recommends cover files up to 40 MB. For bookstores you build on the printer's cover template.
Do I need to recalculate the cover if the page count changes?
Yes. Every extra page makes the spine 0.002252 in (0.0572 mm) wider on KDP white paper, and with it the whole cover. Recalculate the size as soon as the layout is final.