Book trim size chooser · Free · No sign-up

KDP Trim Size Chooser

Short answer

A KDP trim size chooser suggests a page size for a book and checks it against KDP’s page limits. KDP offers sixteen US paperback sizes, from 5 × 8 in to 8.5 × 11 in, and 6 × 9 in is the default. A size wider than 6.12 in or taller than 9 in is a large trim, which KDP prices differently.

It also shows page limits by paper.

5.5 × 8.5 inNovel or other fiction, 80,000 words, paperback, black ink, white paper: about 300 pages at this size13.97 × 21.59 cm · regular trim · 24 to 828 pages allowed

About 300 pages is inside KDP's 24 to 828 page range for this size and paper.

What kind of book?

Word count

Binding

Ink and paper

Suggested trim: 5.5 × 8.5 in
Size in cm: 13.97 × 21.59
Size class: Regular
Pages KDP allows: 24 to 828
Estimated pages: 300
Words a page: 307
Inside margin at that count: 0.5 in
Other common choices: 5 × 8 in, 5.25 × 8 in

Every KDP trim size for this binding and paper, with the pages your book would run to
Trim size	Size (cm)	Class	Pages KDP allows	Estimated pages	Words a page	Fit
5 × 8 in	12.70 × 20.32	Regular	24 to 828	362	248	Fits
5.06 × 7.81 in	12.85 × 19.84	Regular	24 to 828	368	244	Fits
5.25 × 8 in	13.34 × 20.32	Regular	24 to 828	342	265	Fits
5.5 × 8.5 in	13.97 × 21.59	Regular	24 to 828	300	307	Suggested
6 × 9 in	15.24 × 22.86	Regular	24 to 828	254	372	Fits
6.14 × 9.21 in	15.60 × 23.39	Large	24 to 828	242	393	Fits
6.69 × 9.61 in	16.99 × 24.41	Large	24 to 828	214	457	Fits
7 × 10 in	17.78 × 25.40	Large	24 to 828	196	505	Fits
7.44 × 9.69 in	18.90 × 24.61	Large	24 to 828	194	514	Fits
7.5 × 9.25 in	19.05 × 23.50	Large	24 to 828	202	492	Fits
8 × 10 in	20.32 × 25.40	Large	24 to 828	176	584	Fits
8.25 × 6 in	20.96 × 15.24	Large	24 to 800	306	304	Fits
8.25 × 8.25 in	20.96 × 20.96	Large	24 to 800	210	471	Fits
8.5 × 8.5 in	21.59 × 21.59	Large	24 to 590	200	501	Fits
8.5 × 11 in	21.59 × 27.94	Large	24 to 590	150	708	Fits
8.27 × 11.69 in (A4)	21.01 × 29.69	Large	24 to 780	146	734	Fits

The suggestion is a convention for novel or other fiction, not a KDP rule: KDP accepts any size in its table. Pages are an estimate from the book page count calculator's layout (Palatino 11 pt, single spaced), so a different font or margin moves them. KDP's own table is the final word.

The figures above are an example: put in your own. Worked out in this browser and kept there. Once you have a size, the KDP margin calculator sets the margins for it and the book spine width calculator sizes the spine.

Choose the kind of book, enter the word count, and pick the binding and the paper. The chooser suggests a trim size, shows KDP’s page limit for it and lists every size with the pages your manuscript would run to, so you can see the options before you typeset.

The trim size is the finished page size after the printer cuts the book, width by height. On KDP it also decides which page counts, papers and print costs are open to you.

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KDP's published figures
Works offline
Shows its working

Key facts

KDP trim size chooser at a glance
Detail	Answer
Price	Free, no sign-up, nothing to install
Paperback sizes covered	16 in KDP’s US list, 5 × 8 in to 8.5 × 11 in; default 6 × 9 in
Hardcover sizes covered	5: 5.5 × 8.5, 6 × 9, 6.14 × 9.21, 7 × 10 and 8.25 × 11 in; 75 to 550 pages
Large trim	Wider than 6.12 in (155.5 mm) or taller than 9 in (228.6 mm)
Page limit, 6 × 9 in	24 to 828 pages on black ink and white paper; 24 to 776 on cream; 72 to 600 in standard colour
Custom paperback size	Width 4 to 8.5 in, height 6 to 11.69 in
Where the figures come from	KDP’s “Set Trim Size, Bleed, and Margins” and “Print Options” help pages, read 2 November 2026
Where your numbers are kept	This browser only

How to choose a KDP trim size

Enter the book’s details, then read the suggestion and the table.

Choose the kind of book
Fiction, memoir, how-to, poetry, workbook, picture book or journal; it sets which sizes are suggested first.
Enter the word count
Use the manuscript’s count: the page estimates come from it. Picture books and journals are set by design, not word count.
Choose the binding
Paperback or hardcover; the two have different sizes and page ranges.
Choose the ink and paper
Black ink on white, cream or groundwood paper, or standard or premium colour; each has its own page limit.
Read the suggestion
The board gives the size, its class and the pages KDP allows, and the table shows every size with the estimated pages.
Check the next steps
Set the margins with the KDP margin calculator, the spine with the book spine width calculator, then the cover.

Who uses a trim size chooser

Anyone about to set up a paperback or hardcover for KDP who has not yet fixed the page size.

First-time self-publishers
A defensible size for a first novel or memoir, before any layout work.
Authors with a long manuscript
Which sizes keep the book within KDP’s page limit for the paper.
Workbook and journal makers
A larger size, with large-trim cost in view, and the paper’s page range.
Children’s book authors
Square and near-square sizes in paperback and hardcover.
Authors printing in more than one place
Which KDP sizes IngramSpark and Lulu also list.
Formatters
A quick check of a client’s chosen size against the paper and page count.

KDP page limits by trim size and paper

KDP does not give one page limit. It gives one for each size and each ink and paper together, and the ceiling falls as the page gets bigger because a bigger sheet makes a thicker book for the same count. Standard colour has a floor of 72 pages, not 24. The table is KDP’s own, as read on 2 November 2026, for the US store.

KDP paperback trim sizes and the page range for each ink and paper
Trim size	Class	Black, white	Black, cream	Black, groundwood	Standard colour	Premium colour
5 × 8 in	Regular	24–828	24–776	24–812	72–600	24–828
5.06 × 7.81 in	Regular	24–828	24–776	24–812	72–600	24–828
5.25 × 8 in	Regular	24–828	24–776	24–812	72–600	24–828
5.5 × 8.5 in	Regular	24–828	24–776	24–812	72–600	24–828
6 × 9 in	Regular	24–828	24–776	24–812	72–600	24–828
6.14 × 9.21 in	Large	24–828	24–776	24–812	72–600	24–828
6.69 × 9.61 in	Large	24–828	24–776	24–812	72–600	24–828
7 × 10 in	Large	24–828	24–776	24–812	72–600	24–828
7.44 × 9.69 in	Large	24–828	24–776	24–812	72–600	24–828
7.5 × 9.25 in	Large	24–828	24–776	24–812	72–600	24–828
8 × 10 in	Large	24–828	24–776	24–812	72–600	24–828
8.25 × 6 in	Large	24–800	24–750	24–784	72–600	24–800
8.25 × 8.25 in	Large	24–800	24–750	24–784	72–600	24–800
8.5 × 8.5 in	Large	24–590	24–550	24–578	72–600	24–590
8.5 × 11 in	Large	24–590	24–550	24–578	72–600	24–590
8.27 × 11.69 in (A4)	Large	24–780	24–730	24–764	not offered	24–590

Two details catch people. A 600-page novel fits on white paper at 6 × 9 in but not at 8.5 × 11 in, where black and white stops at 590. And the A4 size, 8.27 × 11.69 in, has no standard colour at all, so a colour workbook in A4 has to use premium colour.

What a large trim size is on KDP

KDP calls a paperback a large trim when it is wider than 6.12 in (155.5 mm) or taller than 9 in (228.6 mm). The rule is on either side, so a 6 × 9 in book is regular, a 6.14 × 9.21 in book is large by a hair on both, and a short but wide 8.25 × 6 in landscape book is large because it is wider than 6.12 in.

Large trims have different printing costs from regular ones. KDP’s help page says so but this chooser does not put a price on it: the cost depends on the page count, the paper and the store, and KDP’s own print cost calculator is the place to read it. What the chooser does is flag every large size, so you can see which choices carry that difference before you design the interior. Of the sixteen US paperback sizes, five are regular (5 × 8, 5.06 × 7.81, 5.25 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5 and 6 × 9 in) and eleven are large.

KDP’s Expanded Distribution chart (read 29 October 2026) also lists 8.25 × 6 in and 8.25 × 8.25 in as not eligible on any paper or ink. If you want your book in bookshops and libraries, not only on Amazon, choose a size that chart allows.

KDP hardcover trim sizes

KDP hardcovers are case laminate: the picture is printed on the board, with no dust jacket. There are five trim sizes, one page range for all of them, and fewer papers than paperback.

KDP hardcover trim sizes and page range
Trim size	Class	Size (cm)	Pages
5.5 × 8.5 in	Regular	13.97 × 21.59	75–550
6 × 9 in	Regular	15.24 × 22.86	75–550
6.14 × 9.21 in	Large	15.60 × 23.39	75–550
7 × 10 in	Large	17.78 × 25.40	75–550
8.25 × 11 in	Large	20.96 × 27.94	75–550

The paper choices are white, cream and premium colour. Groundwood and standard colour are paperback-only, and the chooser says so if you pick them with Hardcover. The 8.25 × 11 in hardcover has no paperback twin, so a book you want in both bindings at one size has four sizes to choose from: 5.5 × 8.5, 6 × 9, 6.14 × 9.21 and 7 × 10 in.

Custom trim sizes and the default

KDP’s default is 6 × 9 in. If none of the listed sizes suits the book, a paperback can have a custom trim, with a width of 4 to 8.5 in (10.16 to 21.59 cm) and a height of 6 to 11.69 in (15.24 to 29.69 cm). Hardcover has no custom size.

A custom size is a real option, with two costs. The listed sizes have a known page range for each paper, and the table above does not cover a custom size, so check the range KDP shows when you enter yours. A custom size is also less likely to match another printer, so a later move to IngramSpark or Lulu means resizing the file. Unless the book needs the shape, a listed size is the simpler choice.

The Japanese store has its own list of paperback trims (for example 5.83 × 8.27 in, A5, and 4.13 × 6.81 in). This chooser covers the US list.

Which size for which kind of book

No platform sets a trim size for a kind of book, so the first column of the chooser is a convention, not a rule: the sizes below are the ones this page puts first for each kind, best first. A size that is over its page limit for the paper you chose is skipped.

Sizes this chooser suggests for each kind of book, in order
Kind of book	Paperback sizes suggested
Novel or other fiction	5.5 × 8.5 in, 5 × 8 in, 5.25 × 8 in, 6 × 9 in
Memoir or narrative non-fiction	6 × 9 in, 5.5 × 8.5 in, 5 × 8 in
How-to or business book	6 × 9 in, 5.5 × 8.5 in, 7 × 10 in
Poetry	5 × 8 in, 5.5 × 8.5 in, 6 × 9 in
Workbook or textbook	8.5 × 11 in, 7 × 10 in, 8 × 10 in, 6 × 9 in
Children's picture book	8.5 × 8.5 in, 8.25 × 8.25 in, 8 × 10 in, 7 × 10 in
Journal, planner or notebook	6 × 9 in, 8.5 × 11 in, 5.5 × 8.5 in, 8 × 10 in

The reasoning is about the reader’s hand and the text. Fiction runs long and is read in one sitting, so a narrower page keeps the book slim. A workbook needs room to write, so it goes big. A picture book is square or near it. For these last three the page count is something you design, so the chooser does not choose the size from the word count.

Which sizes IngramSpark and Lulu also print

Many authors print through KDP and also through IngramSpark, which supplies bookshops, or through Lulu. A size that only KDP prints is a size you cannot take with you. The table says which of KDP’s sixteen sizes the other two also list as standard trims.

Which KDP paperback sizes IngramSpark and Lulu also print
Trim size	KDP	IngramSpark	Lulu
5 × 8 in	Yes	Yes	Yes (Novella)
5.06 × 7.81 in	Yes	Yes	No
5.25 × 8 in	Yes	Yes	No
5.5 × 8.5 in	Yes	Yes	Yes (Digest)
6 × 9 in	Yes	Yes	Yes (US Trade)
6.14 × 9.21 in	Yes	Yes	Yes (Royal)
6.69 × 9.61 in	Yes	Yes	No
7 × 10 in	Yes	Yes	Yes (Executive)
7.44 × 9.69 in	Yes	Yes	Yes (Crown Quarto, 9.68 in tall)
7.5 × 9.25 in	Yes	Yes	No
8 × 10 in	Yes	Yes	No
8.25 × 6 in	Yes	No	No
8.25 × 8.25 in	Yes	No	No
8.5 × 8.5 in	Yes	Yes	Yes (Square)
8.5 × 11 in	Yes	Yes	Yes (US Letter)
8.27 × 11.69 in (A4)	Yes	Yes	Yes (A4)

From IngramSpark’s file creation guide (dated 24 August 2026) and Lulu’s book creation guide (December 2025); both change, and sizes can need different paper or binding, so check the printer’s own page before you commit. 5.5 × 8.5 and 6 × 9 in are on all three, as are 5 × 8, 7 × 10 and 8.5 × 11 in. Bleed is also not the same everywhere: KDP and IngramSpark add it on three sides, Lulu on all four, so one interior file with bleed does not suit both. The KDP margin calculator covers the KDP side.

What this chooser does not do

This chooser applies the trim sizes, page ranges and large-trim rule KDP publishes. It does not replace KDP’s own pages for the book you upload.

What the trim size chooser does and does not do
It does	It does not
Suggest a size for the kind of book, the word count, the binding and the paper	Know what your readers or your genre shelf expect: the suggestion is a convention
Show KDP’s page range for every size on the paper you chose	Cover the Japanese store, other countries’ limits or a custom size
Estimate the pages the manuscript runs to at each size	Typeset the book: a different font, size or margin changes the estimate
Flag large trims	Give a print cost or a royalty: KDP’s own calculator does that
Say which sizes are hardcover only or not offered on a paper	Check Expanded Distribution for your title: KDP’s chart is the source

This chooser, KDP's help page or a typical guide article

Three ways to choose a KDP trim size, and what each leaves out.

Trim size chooser compared with KDP’s help page and a typical guide article
	This chooser	KDP’s help page	A typical guide article
Cost	Free, no sign-up	Free	Free, often with an upsell
Suggests a size for your book	Yes	No	A general list
Page limit on the paper you chose	Yes, for every size	A table of five papers to read	Rarely
Pages your manuscript would run to at each size	Yes	No	No
Large trims flagged	Yes	Yes	Sometimes
Hardcover handled	Yes	In another section	Sometimes
Which sizes IngramSpark and Lulu also print	Yes	No	Rarely
Says what is a rule and what is a suggestion	Yes	n/a	Rarely

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Frequently asked questions

What are the trim sizes for KDP?

KDP’s US paperback list has sixteen sizes: 5 × 8, 5.06 × 7.81, 5.25 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5, 6 × 9, 6.14 × 9.21, 6.69 × 9.61, 7 × 10, 7.44 × 9.69, 7.5 × 9.25, 8 × 10, 8.25 × 6, 8.25 × 8.25, 8.5 × 8.5, 8.5 × 11 and 8.27 × 11.69 in. A custom size is also allowed.

What is the default trim size on KDP?

KDP’s default is 6 × 9 in (15.24 × 22.86 cm), the size that appears in the Print Options section until you change it. It is a regular trim, with a page range of 24 to 828 on black ink and white paper.

What trim size is best for a novel?

There is no KDP rule, but 5.5 × 8.5 in, 5 × 8 in and 6 × 9 in are the usual choices for fiction. They are regular trims, so they avoid the large-trim print cost. An 80,000-word novel runs to about 300 pages at 5.5 × 8.5 in, comfortably inside KDP’s limit.

What is a large trim size on KDP?

KDP counts a paperback as a large trim when it is wider than 6.12 in (155.5 mm) or taller than 9 in (228.6 mm). Large trims have different printing costs from regular ones. 6.14 × 9.21 in and everything bigger is large; 5 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5 and 6 × 9 in are regular.

What is the maximum page count for a KDP paperback?

It depends on the size and paper. Most sizes allow up to 828 pages on black ink and white paper, 776 on cream and 812 on groundwood. 8.5 × 11 and 8.5 × 8.5 in stop at 590 on white, and standard colour runs from 72 to 600 pages. Hardcover is 75 to 550.

Can I use a custom trim size on KDP?

Yes, for paperback. The width can be 4 to 8.5 in (10.16 to 21.59 cm) and the height 6 to 11.69 in (15.24 to 29.69 cm). Hardcover has five fixed sizes and no custom option. A custom size also needs resizing if you later print elsewhere, so use a listed size unless the book needs the shape.

What trim sizes does KDP hardcover offer?

Five: 5.5 × 8.5, 6 × 9, 6.14 × 9.21, 7 × 10 and 8.25 × 11 in, with a page range of 75 to 550. Hardcover comes in white paper, cream paper or premium colour; it has no groundwood or standard colour, and no dust jacket.

Does trim size affect print cost on KDP?

Yes. KDP prices large trims (wider than 6.12 in or taller than 9 in) differently from regular ones, and the page count, paper and ink also change the cost. This chooser flags large sizes but does not price them: KDP’s print cost calculator gives the figure for your book.

Related guides

Longer answers to the questions behind the numbers.

All guides

KDP Trim Size Chooser

Key facts

How to choose a KDP trim size

Choose the kind of book

Enter the word count

Choose the binding

Choose the ink and paper

Read the suggestion

Check the next steps

Who uses a trim size chooser

First-time self-publishers

Authors with a long manuscript

Workbook and journal makers

Children’s book authors

Authors printing in more than one place

Formatters

KDP page limits by trim size and paper

What a large trim size is on KDP

KDP hardcover trim sizes

Custom trim sizes and the default

Which size for which kind of book

Which sizes IngramSpark and Lulu also print

What this chooser does not do

This chooser, KDP's help page or a typical guide article

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