Free reference — no signup
KDP trim sizes: the complete chart
Every standard Amazon KDP trim size for paperback and hardcover — exact dimensions in inches and millimeters, the with-bleed upload size, whether it prints at the cheaper “regular” rate, and what each size is actually used for.
Paperback trim sizes (24–828 pages)
| Trim size | In millimeters | With bleed | Cost class | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5″ × 8″ | 127 × 203 mm | 5.125″ × 8.25″ | Regular | Compact fiction, poetry |
| 5.06″ × 7.81″ | 129 × 198 mm | 5.185″ × 8.06″ | Regular | UK-style fiction (197×129 mm) |
| 5.25″ × 8″ | 133 × 203 mm | 5.375″ × 8.25″ | Regular | Fiction, memoir |
| 5.5″ × 8.5″ | 140 × 216 mm | 5.625″ × 8.75″ | Regular | Fiction, memoir, self-help |
| 6″ × 9″ | 152 × 229 mm | 6.125″ × 9.25″ | Regular | The default: fiction & nonfiction |
| 6.14″ × 9.21″ | 156 × 234 mm | 6.265″ × 9.46″ | Large | Royal (234×156 mm) — nonfiction |
| 6.69″ × 9.61″ | 170 × 244 mm | 6.815″ × 9.86″ | Large | Textbooks, manuals |
| 7″ × 10″ | 178 × 254 mm | 7.125″ × 10.25″ | Large | Workbooks, cookbooks |
| 7.5″ × 9.25″ | 191 × 235 mm | 7.625″ × 9.50″ | Large | Children's books, photo-heavy |
| 8″ × 10″ | 203 × 254 mm | 8.125″ × 10.25″ | Large | Children's books, journals |
| 8.5″ × 11″ | 216 × 279 mm | 8.625″ × 11.25″ | Large | Workbooks, coloring books, planners |
Hardcover trim sizes (75–550 pages)
| Trim size | In millimeters | With bleed | Cost class | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5″ × 8.5″ | 140 × 216 mm | 5.625″ × 8.75″ | Regular | Fiction, memoir |
| 6″ × 9″ | 152 × 229 mm | 6.125″ × 9.25″ | Regular | The default hardcover choice |
| 6.14″ × 9.21″ | 156 × 234 mm | 6.265″ × 9.46″ | Large | Royal — nonfiction |
| 7″ × 10″ | 178 × 254 mm | 7.125″ × 10.25″ | Large | Cookbooks, workbooks |
| 8.25″ × 11″ | 210 × 279 mm | 8.375″ × 11.25″ | Large | Children's books, large format |
The two rules that matter:first, “large trim” (wider than 6.12″ or taller than 9″) raises your per-page printing cost — on a 300-page black-ink book that’s about $1.50 more per copy, every copy, forever. Second, your trim size changes your page count: the same manuscript that runs 320 pages at 5×8 fits in about 240 at 6×9, which also shrinks your spine and printing cost. Pick the trim before you format anything.
Bleed:if any image or background touches the page edge, format your interior at the with-bleed size above (width +0.125″, height +0.25″) and select “bleed” at upload. Text-only books should use the plain trim size with no bleed.
Picked your size? We’ll build the files.
publish.ai formats your manuscript at your chosen trim with correct margins and gutter, builds the cover wrap at exact spine width, and delivers the validated EPUB, PDFs, listing copy, and launch graphics. From $29.99, in minutes.
Common questions
What is the most common KDP trim size?＋
6×9 inches, by a wide margin — it suits both fiction and nonfiction, it's in the cheaper 'regular trim' printing class, and every printer and reviewer expects it. When in doubt, choose 6×9.
What trim size should a novel be?＋
5×8, 5.25×8, 5.5×8.5, or 6×9. Shorter novels often use smaller trims so the book feels thicker; longer novels use 6×9 to keep page count (and printing cost) down. All four are regular-trim, so they cost the same per page.
What does 'large trim' mean and why does it cost more?＋
Anything wider than 6.12″ or taller than 9″ counts as large trim. On Amazon.com that raises the black-ink per-page cost from $0.012 to $0.017 — about $1.50 more per copy on a 300-page book, straight out of your royalty.
What size is my book with bleed?＋
Add 0.125″ to the width and 0.25″ to the height: a 6×9 book with bleed uploads as 6.125×9.25. You only need bleed when images or backgrounds run to the page edge — text-only interiors should be no-bleed at the plain trim size.
What trim sizes work for children's books?＋
7.5×9.25, 8×10, or 8.5×8.5-style squares (via custom sizes) for paperback picture books — sizes that give illustrations room. KDP hardcover tops out at 8.25×11. Remember picture books almost always need bleed and premium color ink.
Can I use a custom trim size on KDP?＋
Yes — KDP accepts custom paperback trims from 4×6 up to 8.5×11.69, but custom sizes lose Expanded Distribution eligibility and some tooling assumes standard sizes. Stick to a standard trim unless you have a strong reason.
How many pages can my book have?＋
Paperbacks: 24–828 pages (black ink; standard color is 72–600). Hardcovers: 75–550 pages. If you're over the cap, a larger trim size shrinks your page count — moving from 5×8 to 6×9 cuts roughly a quarter of the pages.
Related: page count calculator, cover template generator, margins & bleed cheat sheet, royalty calculator.