How to prepare files for Amazon KDP

Three things to internalise: print covers are PDF/TIFF with bleed; interiors are PDF with bleed only if your design extends to the page edge; eBook covers are JPG and don’t need 300 DPI.

Related guides: adding bleed to print files, DPI requirements for print, Amazon print-ready specs, create printable posters.

Cover dimensions depend on three things: trim size (e.g., 6×9), page count (affects spine width), and paper type (white vs cream affects spine slightly). KDP’s Cover Calculator on their website gives you exact dimensions for your specific book — always use it before designing.

Standard 6×9 paperback at 200 pages:

• Trim size: 6 × 9 inches per side (so the front cover prints at 6×9)
• Spine width: ~0.43 inches at 200 pages (varies with page count)
• Bleed: 0.125" each side, all around
• Total file size: 12.5 × 9.25 inches (front + spine + back + bleed)
• At 300 DPI: 3,750 × 2,775 pixels

Use the KDP Cover Calculator at kdp.amazon.com/cover-calculator. Enter your trim size, page count, and paper type — get back the exact PDF dimensions to design at. Spine widths vary significantly with page count (a 100-page book has a 0.21" spine; a 400-page book has 0.85").

Designing the cover: the file is one continuous PDF spanning back cover + spine + front cover. Critical text and design elements (title, author name) should sit inside the safe zone (0.5" from trim edge) so they survive trim variation.

Interior pages are PDF only. KDP doesn’t accept Word documents, EPUB, or other formats for the print interior. If you wrote the manuscript in Word or Google Docs, export to PDF with these settings:

• Page size matches your KDP trim size (set in Word: Layout → Size → More Paper Sizes)
• Margins: minimum 0.5" outside, 0.875" inside (gutter for spine binding) — increases with page count
• Embed all fonts (PDF Save As → Options → Embed all fonts)
• Convert to PDF/A or PDF/X for KDP’s validation pipeline
• Verify 300 DPI in any embedded images (a Word doc with 72 DPI photos pasted in will fail KDP’s check)

Bleed for interior: only needed if your design has elements extending to the page edge (full-bleed photos, decorative borders touching the trim line). For text-only interiors, no bleed is needed and KDP prefers files without it.

Image-heavy interiors (children’s books, photo books, art books) need extra care: every embedded image must be 300 DPI. A photo dragged from a phone or web search is typically 72 DPI — running it through Ratio Ready’s DPI converter or AI upscaler before embedding in your manuscript ensures it passes KDP’s validation.

1. Pick your trim size first. 6×9 is the most common for paperbacks; 5.5×8.5 for novels; 8.5×11 for workbooks and journals; 7×10 for trade. The trim size affects every other decision downstream.
2. Run KDP’s Cover Calculator. Enter trim, page count, paper type. Get exact cover dimensions in inches. This step alone prevents 80% of cover rejections.
3. Design the cover at the calculator’s exact dimensions. Use Photoshop, Affinity, or Canva Pro’s print export. For raster covers (photographic), source images at 300 DPI minimum — Ratio Ready’s upscaler closes the gap if your source falls short.
4. Export the cover as PDF/X. Adobe Acrobat’s "Save As Other → PDF/X" or InDesign’s Export → PDF (Print) with PDF/X-1a:2001 preset. KDP validates against PDF/X strictly.
5. Prepare the interior PDF. Match the trim size exactly. Embed all fonts. Verify any images are 300 DPI. Export as PDF (PDF/X if available, regular PDF if not).
6. Upload to KDP and review the previewer. KDP’s pre-publish previewer renders your files exactly as they’ll print. Catch any layout issues here, not after publishing.
7. Order a proof copy. KDP lets you order a single physical proof at cost. Always do this before going live — colours, paper texture, and binding read differently in person than on screen.

For niche-specific KDP setup tips, see our guide for coloring book designers on KDP.