Free tool for authors
KDP cover size calculator.
Get your exact paperback spine width and full wrap cover dimensions for Amazon KDP, with bleed, in inches, millimetres and pixels.
Your book
Uses Amazon KDP’s official paperback paper thickness and 0.125″ bleed. Formatting your interior changes the page count, so recheck before you send final files to your designer.
Your KDP cover size
| Trim size | – |
| Bleed on top, bottom and outside edges | – |
| Front and back cover panel (each) | – |
| Text on the spine | – |
How KDP cover size is calculated
A KDP paperback cover is one flat image: back cover, spine and front cover side by side, plus 0.125″ (3.2 mm) of bleed on the top, bottom and outside edges. Amazon publishes the formula:
- Cover width = bleed + back cover + spine + front cover + bleed
- Cover height = bleed + trim height + bleed
- Spine width = page count × paper thickness per page
| Paper and ink | Thickness per page |
|---|---|
| White paper, black ink | 0.002252″ (0.0572 mm) |
| Cream paper, black ink | 0.0025″ (0.0635 mm) |
| Premium color | 0.002347″ (0.0596 mm) |
| Standard color | 0.002252″ (0.0572 mm) |
Example: a 6 × 9″ novel with 320 pages on cream paper has a 0.8″ spine. Its full cover is 0.125 + 6 + 0.8 + 6 + 0.125 = 13.05″ wide and 9.25″ tall, or 3,915 × 2,775 pixels at 300 DPI.
Tips before you design your cover
- Lock your page count first. The spine width depends on the final formatted interior. Estimate it by uploading your manuscript to our book page count calculator, then recheck once formatting is done.
- Keep text away from the edges. Keep spine text at least 0.0625″ (1.6 mm) from each fold, and keep important front-cover text well inside the trim line.
- Export at 300 DPI as a single PDF with fonts embedded.
- Check KDP’s previewer after uploading; it flags anything in the bleed or over the spine edge.
KDP cover size questions
What size should my KDP paperback cover be?
Add the back cover, spine and front cover widths, then add 0.125″ of bleed on each side. For height, add 0.125″ to the top and bottom of your trim height. A 6 × 9″ book with 200 white pages needs a 12.70″ × 9.25″ cover.
How do I calculate the spine width for KDP?
Multiply your page count by the paper thickness: 0.002252″ for white paper, 0.0025″ for cream, 0.002347″ for premium color and 0.002252″ for standard color.
How many pages do I need for text on the spine?
KDP allows spine text on books with more than 79 pages, and its Cover Creator needs at least 80. Thinner spines must be left blank.
What resolution should my KDP cover be?
Use at least 300 DPI. The calculator shows the full cover size in pixels at 300 DPI, so you can set up your design file at the right size from the start.
Does this work for KDP hardcovers?
No. This calculator is for paperbacks. KDP hardcover covers use a different wrap and hinge allowance, so use the template KDP provides for your hardcover trim and page count.
Sources: Amazon KDP Help, Create a Paperback Cover. Figures checked October 2026.
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