KDP Cover Calculator
Work out the spine width and the full wrap-around cover size for an Amazon KDP paperback. Pick a trim size, a paper type and a page count — the numbers update as you type. No signup.
0.002 in per page
Dimensions are estimates; confirm trim-specific page limits with KDP.
Free paperback template download
PDF at the calculated physical size, or a PNG with 300 DPI metadata. No login, upload or credits. This is a design guide, not a finished cover or Amazon approval.
Local downloads: listed paperback trims, even page counts, 24–300 pages (standard color: 72–300; A4 unavailable).
Hardcover, groundwood, custom trim, other page counts or reading directions: get the matching PDF/PNG from Amazon's free template generator. Hardcover uses different boards, hinges and wrap; it is not a paperback enlargement.
KDP only prints spine text above 79 pages. At 60 pages the spine stays blank.
Our cover wizard builds a print-ready PDF at exactly these dimensions — and can read the true size straight out of an official KDP template file.
Paperback cover sizes by page count and paper
Should I choose white or cream paper for my KDP paperback?
Black-ink interiors can use white or cream paper. Both standard and premium color interiors use white paper. KDP describes white paper as providing higher contrast for images and graphics; cream has a warmer tone.
For a black-and-white novel, nonfiction book or coloring book, KDP does not prescribe a genre-specific white-versus-cream choice in its print-options guide. For a color interior, choose a color ink option and white paper. Check a printed proof before deciding; paper weight varies by printing location. This calculator covers the four listed options, not groundwood.
At the same page count cream makes a wider spine: 120 pages × 0.0025 = 0.30000 inches, versus 0.27024 inches on white.
Sources: KDP print options and official paperback spine formulas. Compare your final KDP cover template, Previewer and proof copy; these estimates are not publishing approval.
How wide is the spine for a 120-page paperback on white paper?
0.27024 inches. The table uses the same per-page constants as the calculator. Page counts are interior pages, not sheets. KDP rounds odd manuscript page counts up to an even number, so the 75-page row uses 76. Standard color starts at 72 pages. Trim-dependent limits still apply.
| Manuscript → print pages | Black & white interior, white paper | Black & white interior, cream paper | Standard colour interior | Premium colour interior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 0.05405 | 0.06000 | Not available (min. 72) | 0.05633 |
| 50 | 0.11260 | 0.12500 | Not available (min. 72) | 0.11735 |
| 75 → 76 | 0.17115 | 0.19000 | 0.17115 | 0.17837 |
| 100 | 0.22520 | 0.25000 | 0.22520 | 0.23470 |
| 120 | 0.27024 | 0.30000 | 0.27024 | 0.28164 |
| 150 | 0.33780 | 0.37500 | 0.33780 | 0.35205 |
| 200 | 0.45040 | 0.50000 | 0.45040 | 0.46940 |
| 300 | 0.67560 | 0.75000 | 0.67560 | 0.70410 |
How the math works
A paperback cover is one flat image containing the back, the spine and the front. Two numbers decide its size.
Spine width = page count × the per-page thickness of the paper you chose. This is the number that moves: change the page count or switch paper and the spine changes with it.
Full cover width = back panel + spine + front panel + 0.125 in of bleed on each outer edge, so (2 × trim width) + spine + 0.25 in.
Full cover height = trim height + 0.125 in top + 0.125 in bottom.
Upload at 300 DPI. Multiply the inch dimensions by 300 for the pixel size your file needs to be.
Paper thickness and page limits
Paperback caliper by interior type. The local guide cap is not Amazon's maximum page count.
| Interior & paper | Per page | Local guide limit |
|---|---|---|
| Black & white interior, white paper | 0.002252 in | 300 |
| Black & white interior, cream paper | 0.0025 in | 300 |
| Standard colour interior | 0.002252 in | 300 |
| Premium colour interior | 0.002347 in | 300 |
Minimum 24 pages, or 72 for standard color. The table lists generic estimates, not every trim-specific limit. Spine text is printed only above 79 pages.
Frequently asked questions
How wide is the spine for a 120-page paperback on white paper?
0.27024 inches: 120 interior pages multiplied by 0.002252 inches per page. Recalculate when paper or final page count changes.
Can I use cream paper for a color interior?
No. KDP lists standard and premium color interiors on white paper. Cream is an option for black-ink interiors. Standard color starts at 72 pages; check the official trim table for other limits.
How do I calculate the spine width for a KDP paperback?
Multiply the page count by the per-page thickness of your paper. KDP uses 0.002252 in per page for white paper, 0.0025 in for cream, 0.002347 in for premium colour and 0.002252 in for standard colour. A 120-page white-paper book has a spine of 120 x 0.002252 = 0.27024 in.
What size should my full KDP cover file be?
The wrap-around file covers the back, the spine and the front in one image. Width = (2 x trim width) + spine width + 0.25 in of bleed. Height = trim height + 0.25 in of bleed. KDP expects 300 DPI, so multiply both by 300 to get pixels.
How much bleed does KDP require on a cover?
0.125 in on the top, bottom and the two outer edges. There is no bleed between panels, because the spine sits inside the same image.
When does KDP print text on the spine?
Only above 79 pages. Below that the spine is too narrow to print on reliably, so KDP leaves it blank even if your artwork contains text there.
What is the maximum page count for a KDP paperback?
The maximum depends on trim, ink and paper, so a paper-only maximum is not enough. Standard color starts at 72 pages; other listed paperback types start at 24. This local download tool intentionally supports a subset up to 300 pages. Use the official KDP print-options table for the final binding limits.
Why does my cover keep getting rejected by KDP?
Almost always because the file no longer matches the book. Changing the page count or the paper type changes the spine, which changes the whole wrap width — so a cover that passed yesterday fails today. Recalculate whenever either one changes.
Now make the cover
Knowing the size is the easy half. Our AI book cover generator generates artwork and exports a wrap PDF draft at these dimensions — and it can read the true size directly out of an official KDP template file, so you never hand-enter it. Making a colouring book? The coloring book maker lets you use a character reference for individual pages and review each result before arranging the book. Check the exported draft against the official template and Previewer.