KDP Book Cover Requirements (Size, DPI, Format)

Amazon KDP requires book covers to be a minimum of 300 DPI, saved as a JPEG or TIFF file, with dimensions that match your chosen trim size. For eBooks, the ideal cover is 2,560 x 1,600 pixels (a 1.6:1 height-to-width ratio). For paperbacks and hardcovers, your cover dimensions depend on your page count, trim size, and paper type. Get any of these wrong and KDP will reject your upload.

KDP eBook Cover Specs

The eBook cover is simpler because it's just a front cover. No spine, no back. Here are the exact specs Amazon wants:

• Ideal size: 2,560 x 1,600 pixels
• Minimum size: 625 x 1,000 pixels
• Maximum size: 10,000 pixels on the longest side
• Aspect ratio: 1.6:1 (height to width)
• Resolution: 300 DPI recommended (72 DPI minimum, but it'll look terrible on tablets)
• Format: JPEG or TIFF
• Color space: RGB (not CMYK)
• Max file size: 50 MB

Always go with 2,560 x 1,600 pixels. There's no reason to submit a smaller file. Larger images look sharper on high-res devices like the iPad and Fire HD, and Amazon compresses them anyway. You want to start with the best quality possible.

KDP Paperback and Hardcover Cover Specs

Print covers are more complex because you're designing a full wraparound: front, spine, and back, all in one file. The dimensions aren't fixed. They change based on three variables:

• Trim size: The finished page size of your book (e.g., 6" x 9")
• Page count: This determines spine width
• Paper type: White paper is thicker than cream paper, so the spine width differs

The hard specs that stay constant:

• Resolution: 300 DPI (no exceptions for print)
• Format: PDF (not JPEG or TIFF like eBooks)
• Color space: CMYK for color interiors, RGB or CMYK for black-and-white interiors
• Bleed: 0.125" on all sides if your cover extends to the edge

Don't try to calculate your cover dimensions by hand. Amazon provides a Cover Calculator tool inside KDP that generates a PNG template based on your exact trim size, page count, and paper choice. Use it. You can also download a ready-made template from the KDP cover creation tool that shows bleed lines, trim lines, and the safe zone.

Spine Width Calculation

For white paper, multiply your page count by 0.002252". For cream paper, multiply by 0.0025". A 200-page book on white paper gives you a spine width of about 0.45". On cream paper, that same book has a spine of 0.50". These fractions matter. If your spine text doesn't sit within the calculated spine area, KDP will flag it.

Books under 79 pages (paperback) can't have spine text at all. The spine is too thin and the text will wrap onto the front or back cover.

Common Mistakes That Get Covers Rejected

I've seen the same errors come up over and over:

• Wrong file format. JPEG for print covers won't work. Print requires PDF.
• Low resolution. Anything under 300 DPI for print will get flagged. For eBooks at 72 DPI, it'll technically upload but look blurry on most devices.
• Text too close to the edge. Keep all text and important imagery at least 0.25" from the trim line. Amazon calls this the "safe zone."
• Barcode placement. Amazon automatically places a barcode on the back cover. If you've put critical text or design elements in the lower-right of the back cover, the barcode will cover them.
• Mismatched trim size. Your cover dimensions must match your interior's trim size exactly. A 5.5" x 8.5" interior paired with a 6" x 9" cover template will fail.
• CMYK vs. RGB confusion. Submitting an RGB file for a color print cover can cause unexpected color shifts. Reds look duller, blues shift. Use CMYK for print.

Designing for Clicks, Not Just Compliance

Meeting KDP book cover requirements is the bare minimum. Your cover also needs to sell. And selling starts with the thumbnail. On Amazon search results, your cover appears at roughly 160 x 250 pixels. That's tiny. So the title text needs to be large enough to read at thumbnail size, and the imagery needs to communicate genre instantly.

A common mistake: authors design covers that look great at full size on a 27-inch monitor, then wonder why nobody clicks. Shrink your cover to thumbnail size before you finalize anything. If you can't read the title or get a sense of genre in two seconds, redesign it.

Your cover gets people to click, but your title, subtitle, and description close the sale. If you want to make sure your listing's text is pulling its weight, the Listing Optimizer on PublishRank can analyze your metadata and flag areas where you're leaving conversions on the table.

Tools for Creating KDP-Compliant Covers

You don't need Photoshop, though it remains the gold standard. Here are solid options at every budget:

• Canva (free/paid): Has KDP book cover templates. Easy to use, limited on CMYK export unless you're on Pro.
• Adobe InDesign or Photoshop: Full control over DPI, color profiles, and bleed. The professional choice.
• Affinity Publisher: One-time purchase, handles CMYK and PDF/X output well. Great Photoshop alternative.
• KDP's built-in Cover Creator: Free but limited. Fine for simple, text-driven covers. Not recommended if you want something competitive.
• Book Bolt or Creative Fabrica: Templates and tools built specifically for KDP authors.

If you hire a designer, give them your exact trim size, page count, paper type, and whether you want bleed. Better yet, send them the template from Amazon's Cover Calculator. A good designer will ask for this information. If they don't, that's a red flag.