Getting your KDP formatting wrong means upload rejections and wasted time. KDP format is strict about margins — here's exactly what Amazon requires for 5x8 and 6x9 paperback book formatting.
KDP Format Basics
According to Amazon KDP's official formatting guidelines, minimum margins depend on your page count:
- Outside, top, and bottom margins: At least 0.25 inches for no-bleed interiors (0.375 inches with bleed)
- Inside (gutter) margins: Vary based on page count
Gutter Margin Requirements
The inside margin (gutter) must be larger to account for the book's binding:
- Under 150 pages: 0.375 inches minimum
- 150-400 pages: 0.5 inches minimum
- 400-700 pages: 0.75 inches minimum
- Over 700 pages: 0.875 inches minimum
Pro tip: Use slightly larger margins than the minimum. This gives your text room to breathe and makes the book more comfortable to read.
Bleed vs No-Bleed
- No-bleed: For text-only interiors. Content stays within the margins.
- Bleed: For images or design elements that extend to the edge of the page. Requires an extra 0.125 inches on outside edges.
Most fiction and non-fiction books use no-bleed interiors.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting to increase the gutter for longer books
- Using the same margins for left and right pages (they should mirror)
- Not accounting for bleed when using full-page images
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