KDP book cover dimensions: the complete sizing guide for self-publishers
September 18, 2026
Every KDP paperback cover needs three numbers: the full-wrap width in pixels, the full-wrap height in pixels, and 300 DPI resolution. Get any one wrong and KDP rejects the file. This guide gives you the exact dimensions for every common trim size and shows you how to calculate spine width for your actual page count.
Front cover vs. full wrap: what KDP actually needs
KDP print covers are a single flat file: back cover, spine, and front cover joined side by side, with bleed on all four edges. KDP does not accept a front cover alone for paperback print. You build the whole wrap, or you use their Cover Creator tool (which limits your design options considerably).
For Kindle eBooks, the rules are simpler. KDP accepts a JPEG or TIFF with a 1.6:1 height-to-width ratio. A 2,560 x 1,600-pixel file at 72 DPI meets the minimum; submitting at 300 DPI is better practice for future use.
This guide focuses on print, where the full-wrap requirement catches most people.
The full-wrap dimension formula
Your full-wrap cover width (in pixels):
(front cover width + spine width + back cover width + 0.25 inches bleed) x 300
Your full-wrap cover height (in pixels):
(trim height + 0.25 inches bleed) x 300
The 0.25 inches gives you 0.125 inches of bleed on each side. KDP requires bleed on all four edges of the full wrap.
How to calculate spine width
Spine width depends on your page count and the paper type you selected in KDP. The formula:
- Cream paper: pages x 0.002252 inches
- White paper: pages x 0.0025 inches
A 200-page book on cream paper has a spine of 0.4504 inches. A 300-page book: 0.676 inches. Plug that number into the formula above to get your exact full-wrap width.
KDP also warns that spines narrower than 0.0625 inches may not display text correctly. Most books under 80 pages on standard trim sizes fall near this threshold.
If your cover file is already built but the dimensions are off, Scaler handles the resize. Pick your trim size, set the pixel target, and export a print-ready file. Three exports are free.
Common KDP trim sizes and full-wrap dimensions at 300 DPI
The table below shows full-wrap pixel dimensions for a 200-page, cream-paper book at 300 DPI. For each additional page on cream paper, add about 0.675 pixels to the full-wrap width.
| Trim size | Full-wrap width (px) | Full-wrap height (px) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 x 8 in | 3,210 | 2,475 |
| 5.5 x 8.5 in | 3,510 | 2,625 |
| 6 x 9 in | 3,810 | 2,775 |
| 6.14 x 9.21 in | 3,894 | 2,838 |
| 7 x 10 in | 4,410 | 3,075 |
| 8 x 10 in | 5,010 | 3,075 |
| 8.5 x 11 in | 5,310 | 3,375 |
All figures assume 200 cream-paper pages, 300 DPI, and 0.125-inch bleed on all sides.
DPI and color requirements
KDP requires a minimum of 300 DPI at the finished trim size. "At trim size" is the key phrase. A 1,800 x 2,700-pixel file is exactly 300 DPI at a 6 x 9 inch trim. That same file is only 150 DPI if you scale it to 12 x 18 inches. The pixel figures in the table already account for 300 DPI at each trim dimension listed.
Color: KDP accepts sRGB for most markets. CMYK files are accepted but converted to sRGB internally. If you're working in a standard design app, sRGB is the safer default.
Safe zone: where not to put important elements
Beyond the bleed, KDP defines a safe zone of 0.25 inches inside all trim edges. Keep text, author names, logos, and any element you cannot afford to crop well inside this boundary. The bleed area (the outer 0.125 inches on each edge) will be trimmed during production.
Keep the center 0.0625 inches of the spine clear of important text and graphics. Binding shifts slightly and elements placed at the exact spine center can end up noticeably off-center in the finished book.
Resizing a cover file to the right dimensions
If your designer sent a front cover at 72 DPI, or a JPEG at half the pixel count you need, you have to bring it to spec before assembling the full wrap.
Starting from a vector source (AI, PDF, EPS) gives you a clean result at any pixel dimension. Starting from a raster file, the goal is to reach the exact pixel target from the table above; Photoshop's bicubic smoother or a dedicated resize tool produces sharper results than letting KDP scale it on upload.
Scaler loads KDP cover presets directly. Paste your current file, pick the trim size and page count, and download a print-ready JPEG or PNG at exactly the right dimensions. The first three exports are free, no account needed.
Frequently asked questions
What if my page count changes after I upload the cover? Recalculate the spine width and upload a revised cover via your KDP dashboard. The cover locks when your book goes live, but KDP allows you to replace it at any time.
Can I submit a cover at higher than 300 DPI? Yes. KDP accepts higher resolution files. The file size limit is 40 MB, which is a practical ceiling, but higher DPI is not penalized.
What is the maximum cover file size for KDP? 40 MB. A correctly sized 300 DPI full-wrap cover for most trim sizes comes in well under this limit as a JPEG at quality 90 or higher.
Does my Kindle eBook cover need bleed? No. Bleed is a print production requirement. Kindle eBook covers display on screen and do not need bleed.
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