Cover Size & Spine Calculator
Get the exact full-wrap cover size for your paperback and download a blank template with bleed, trim, spine and safe-area guides.
Results
| Full cover (with bleed) | |
|---|---|
| Spine width | |
| Spine text | |
| Trim (front/back) | |
| Safe zones | |
| Barcode | Barcode area, KDP adds the barcode. Keep the lower right of the back cover clear. |
How to use
- Choose the same trim size, ink and paper and page count as your interior.
- Note the full cover size and spine width, or download the PDF or PNG template.
- Design your cover over the template, keeping text inside the green safe areas.
- Export one single-page PDF at the full cover size with fonts embedded.
Sources: Create a Paperback Cover, Paperback Submission Guidelines, Set Trim Size, Bleed, and Margins.
FAQ
How is the cover size calculated?
Cover width = 0.125" bleed + back cover width + spine width + front cover width + 0.125" bleed. Cover height = 0.125" + trim height + 0.125".
How is the spine width calculated?
Page count multiplied by the paper factor: 0.002252" for white paper, 0.0025" for cream paper and 0.002347" for premium colour. Standard colour uses 0.002252" as listed on the official cover page.
When can I put text on the spine?
KDP requires at least 79 pages for spine text, with at least 0.0625" between the text and the spine edges.
Where does the barcode go?
If you do not add your own barcode, KDP places one on the lower right of the back cover. Keep that area free of text and images.
Is the template a finished cover?
No. It is a guide. Place it as a bottom layer in your design program, design over it, then hide the guide before exporting your final cover PDF.