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KDP Formatting 101

A technical checklist for Amazon KDP interior trim sizes, bleed margins, gutter widths, and PDF export settings.

TL;DR

  1. Select industry standard dimensions like 6x9-inches for general non-fiction.
  2. Add extra inside margin to prevent text binding loss using gutter-width.
  3. Extend background images zero point one two five inches for bleed-margins.
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Trim Sizes and Page Geometry

    Standard Non-Fiction

    Industry standard dimensions for guides, reference books, and manuals.

    trim_size: 6 x 9 in // 15.24 x 22.86 cm
    Compact Trade

    Slightly smaller format ideal for concise pocket workbooks and fiction.

    trim_size: 5.5 x 8.5 in // 13.97 x 21.59 cm
    Large Workbook Format

    Spacious layout suited for technical diagrams and large print references.

    trim_size: 8.5 x 11 in // 21.59 x 27.94 cm

Margin and Gutter Rules

    Gutter Width (100-300 Pages)

    Extra inside margin required to account for physical binding curve.

    gutter: 0.500 in (12.7 mm)
    Gutter Width (300-500 Pages)

    Required inside offset for thick comprehensive compendiums.

    gutter: 0.625 in (15.9 mm)
    Outside Safe Margins

    Minimum distance from text to outer, top, and bottom cut edges.

    safe_margin: 0.375 in (9.5 mm) minimum
    Bleed Dimension Extension

    Extra boundary added to full-bleed interior page dimensions.

    page_width += 0.125 in | page_height += 0.250 in

Print Export Standards

    Color Space

    Standard print color encoding profile for monochrome or color interiors.

    profile: CMYK (Grayscale for Black & White)
    Resolution Target

    Minimum pixel density required for crisp text and line illustrations.

    target_dpi: 300_dpi_at_100_percent_scale
    Font Embedding

    Ensures all glyphs and typography render identically on Amazon presses.

    subset_fonts: embed_100_percent_of_characters

Tips

  1. Export your print-ready interior file strictly as pdf-x-1a to ensure embedded fonts and vector curves render cleanly.
  2. Keep all critical page numbers, headers, and body text inside the safe margin-boundary of 0.375 inches.

Warnings

  1. Never place text or line art within the 0.125-inch outer trim edge to prevent accidental blade-trimming cuts.
  2. Avoid uploading low-resolution images below three hundred dpi-resolution that produce blurry pixelated prints.

In Practice

FAQ