Book Cover Size: Dimensions for Print and eBook

The most common book cover size is 6×9 inches — at 300 DPI, that is 1800×2700 pixels. This is the standard trim size for trade paperbacks and the one Amazon KDP and IngramSpark see most often from self-publishers.

But the right dimensions depend on your trim size, page count, and platform. Here is everything in one place.

Standard Trim Sizes at 300 DPI

300 DPI is the minimum for print-quality book covers. Every platform requiring print-ready files — KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu — enforces this. Use the pixel dimensions below as your canvas size.

These are front cover dimensions only. For a full-wrap (front + spine + back), you add the spine width and back cover width — covered in the Amazon KDP and spine calculation sections below.

Book Cover Size for Amazon KDP

Amazon KDP accepts two types of cover uploads: a front cover only (for paperbacks using KDP's cover creator or a simple front cover file) and a full-wrap cover (front + spine + back as a single flat PDF or JPEG).

Front Cover Only

Your front cover file must match the trim size at 300 DPI. For a 6×9 paperback, that is 1800×2700 pixels. Accepted formats are JPEG and TIFF. KDP rejects files below 300 DPI — if yours is at 72 DPI (screen resolution), you need to resize the canvas, not just upsample. See how to change image DPI for the right approach.

Add a 0.125-inch bleed on all sides if your design extends to the edge. For a 6×9 cover with bleed: (6 + 0.25) × (9 + 0.25) inches = 1875 × 2775 pixels at 300 DPI.

Full-Wrap Cover (Front + Spine + Back)

The full-wrap is one continuous image. The width = back cover + spine + front cover. The height = trim height (plus bleed if used).

For a 6×9 paperback with no bleed:

• Back cover: 1800 px
• Spine: calculated from page count (see below)
• Front cover: 1800 px
• Total width: 3600 px + spine width

KDP generates a cover template with exact pixel dimensions once you enter your trim size, page count, and paper type. Use that template — it eliminates guesswork.

eBook Cover Size

eBook covers are screen-only. No print resolution required. Amazon Kindle, Kobo, and Apple Books all have slightly different specs, but one size covers all of them.

Use 2560 × 1600 pixels for Kindle. This is Amazon's recommended size and covers most other platforms within acceptable crop margins. The 1.6:1 portrait ratio is standard for book covers across every eReader.

If you are publishing wide (Kindle + Kobo + Apple Books), create a 2400 × 1600 JPEG. It satisfies Kindle's minimum at the standard ratio and fits within Kobo's requirements.

For help understanding how JPEGs compare to PNGs for cover images, see JPG vs PNG.

IngramSpark Cover Requirements

IngramSpark distributes to bookstores, libraries, and online retailers globally. Their cover requirements are stricter than KDP.

Key requirements:

• Resolution: 300 DPI minimum (same as KDP)
• Format: PDF/X-1a is strongly preferred. JPEG accepted for some configurations.
• Color mode: CMYK for print (not RGB). This is the most common mistake — covers designed in RGB look different on press.
• Bleed: 0.125-inch bleed on all sides required for print
• Safe zone: Keep all text and key design elements 0.25 inches from the trim edge
• Full wrap required: IngramSpark always requires a single-file full-wrap cover (front + spine + back + bleed)

IngramSpark provides a cover template generator at their site — enter your trim size, page count, and paper type to get a dimensioned template. Use it.

How to Calculate Spine Width

The spine is the narrow strip connecting front and back covers. Its width depends on how many pages your book has and what paper type the printer uses.

KDP spine width formulas:

Examples for a 300-page book:

• White paper: 0.002347 × 300 = 0.7041 inches → 211 pixels at 300 DPI
• Cream paper: 0.002252 × 300 = 0.6756 inches → 203 pixels at 300 DPI

IngramSpark uses slightly different values depending on whether the book is black-and-white or color interior. Their template generator handles this automatically — enter your page count and let it calculate.

For a full-wrap 6×9 cover at 300 pages on white paper (no bleed):

• Back cover: 1800 px
• Spine: 211 px
• Front cover: 1800 px
• Total width: 3811 px
• Height: 2700 px

Round up on spine calculations — a spine that is 2 pixels too wide is better than one that is too narrow and clips your title text.

How to Resize a Book Cover

Whether you are scaling up a low-resolution file or adjusting an existing cover for a different trim size, the workflow is the same.

Using Pixotter's resize tool:

1. Go to Pixotter /resize/
2. Drop your cover image into the tool
3. Enter the target pixel dimensions from the table above (e.g., 1800 × 2700 for a 6×9 print cover)
4. Choose your output format — JPEG for KDP, PNG or JPEG for eBooks
5. Download

The tool runs entirely in your browser. Your cover image never leaves your device.

If your cover is larger than needed and you want to reduce file size without changing dimensions, use Pixotter /compress/ after resizing. For Amazon KDP, JPEG files must be under 40 MB — how to reduce image size explains your options if a high-resolution cover is hitting that limit.

For reference on screen vs. print resolutions and what numbers actually matter, see standard photo dimensions. If you're working with other document-sized images, see A4 size in pixels and US Letter size in pixels for their 300 DPI dimensions.

FAQ

What is the standard book cover size in pixels?

For a 6×9 trade paperback at 300 DPI, the standard size is 1800×2700 pixels. This is the most common trim size for self-published fiction and non-fiction. Other trim sizes use the same formula: width in inches × 300, height in inches × 300.

What DPI should a book cover be?

300 DPI for print. Both Amazon KDP and IngramSpark require a minimum of 300 DPI for print-ready covers. eBook covers are screen-only and do not have a DPI requirement — what matters is the pixel count. Amazon Kindle recommends 2560×1600 pixels for eBook covers.

Does Amazon KDP need a full-wrap cover or just the front?

KDP accepts front-cover-only files for standard paperback uploads. You only need a full-wrap (front + spine + back) if you want to customize the back cover and spine yourself. KDP's template generator provides the exact dimensions for your specific book.

What format should a book cover be — JPEG or PDF?

For Amazon KDP: JPEG or TIFF. For IngramSpark: PDF/X-1a is required for print distribution. If you are uploading an eBook cover to Kindle Direct Publishing, JPEG is preferred. Check each platform's current spec before final upload — requirements update periodically.

Why does my cover look blurry even at the right pixel size?

A 1800×2700 image that was created at 72 DPI and upsampled to 300 DPI will look blurry. Upsampling adds pixels but not detail. The fix is to design the cover at 300 DPI from the start, or source artwork at 300 DPI. If you are resizing from a smaller file, expect some softening — it cannot be fully corrected after the fact.

How do I calculate spine width for my book?

Multiply your page count by the paper-type multiplier: 0.002347 for white paper, 0.002252 for cream paper (both KDP values). The result is in inches — multiply by 300 to get pixels at 300 DPI. For a 250-page white paper book: 0.002347 × 250 = 0.587 inches = 176 pixels. Always use your platform's template generator to confirm — spine tolerances are tight.

Get your dimensions from the tables above, set them in Pixotter's resize tool, and your cover file will be submission-ready. No account needed, no file upload — your cover stays on your device.