Paperback formatting for Amazon KDP has specific technical requirements that, if missed, will cause your file to be rejected or result in a printed book that looks amateurish. Here's the complete, accurate guide to getting your paperback interior formatted correctly.
Choosing Your Trim Size First
Before formatting, decide on your trim size — the physical dimensions of your printed book. For nonfiction business books, 6" x 9" is the standard. It's professional, widely available through Amazon's print network, and what readers expect for this genre.
Margin Requirements
KDP's required minimum margins vary based on page count:
| Page Count | Min. Inside (Gutter) | Min. Outside | Min. Top/Bottom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 150 pages | 0.375" | 0.25" | 0.25" |
| 151–300 pages | 0.5" | 0.25" | 0.25" |
| 301–500 pages | 0.625" | 0.25" | 0.25" |
| 500+ pages | 0.75" | 0.25" | 0.25" |
Professional books typically use more generous margins than the minimum: 0.75-1" inside gutter, 0.5-0.75" outside, 0.75-1" top and bottom. The extra white space improves readability and gives the book a more premium feel.
Font Size and Leading
For 6x9" trim: 11pt body text with 13.5-14pt leading (line spacing). Use a professional serif font (Garamond, Palatino, Minion) for body text. Do not use Times New Roman — it signals desktop publishing rather than professional typesetting.
File Format Requirements
KDP accepts your interior file as a PDF (recommended), DOC/DOCX, or RTF. For professional results, always submit as PDF with embedded fonts. This ensures your formatting appears exactly as designed, regardless of what version of Word or other software Amazon's systems use.
Bleed Settings
If any element of your interior (images, color backgrounds, decorative elements) extends to the edge of the page, you need bleed: 0.125" on all edges, with a "safe zone" keeping all text and critical content 0.25" from the cut edge. If your interior has no elements extending to the edge, set bleed to 0.
The KDP Interior Review Tool
After uploading your interior file, always use KDP's online previewer before ordering a proof copy. Check: page numbering is correct, headers/footers appear as expected, no pages are blank that shouldn't be, and fonts are rendering correctly.
Order a Proof Copy Before Publishing
This step is non-negotiable: order at least one printed proof copy from KDP ($2-5 + shipping) before making your book available for sale. Issues that look fine on screen — low-resolution images, color changes, marginally too-small text — become obvious and embarrassing in print. You cannot undo a published book's formatting errors without a new edition.
Read our full guide on book formatting for Kindle and print and book cover dimensions. Need professional formatting help? Contact our publishing team.