Book trim sizes for paperbacks and hardcovers
The most common trim size for paperbacks in the US is 6 × 9 in, with 5.5 × 8.5 in and 5 × 8 in for novels and memoirs; mass-market paperbacks are about 4.25 × 6.87 in, and workbooks 8.5 × 11 in. In the UK the standard paperback formats are A-format (110 × 178 mm), B-format (129 × 198 mm) and Demy (138 × 216 mm). The cover is bigger than the trim: back, spine and front side by side, plus bleed, with a spine set by the page count and paper.
Book trim sizes: dimensions and pixels
| Size | Inches | Millimeters | Pixels at 300 ppi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass-market paperback | 4.25 × 6.87 in | 107.95 × 174.5 mm | 1,275 × 2,061 px |
| Digest | 5 × 8 in | 127 × 203.2 mm | 1,500 × 2,400 px |
| 5.25 × 8 in | 5.25 × 8 in | 133.35 × 203.2 mm | 1,575 × 2,400 px |
| 5.5 × 8.5 in | 5.5 × 8.5 in | 139.7 × 215.9 mm | 1,650 × 2,550 px |
| US trade | 6 × 9 in | 152.4 × 228.6 mm | 1,800 × 2,700 px |
| 7 × 10 in | 7 × 10 in | 177.8 × 254 mm | 2,100 × 3,000 px |
| Square (children’s) | 8.5 × 8.5 in | 215.9 × 215.9 mm | 2,550 × 2,550 px |
| Workbook | 8.5 × 11 in | 215.9 × 279.4 mm | 2,550 × 3,300 px |
| UK A-format | 4.33 × 7.01 in | 110 × 178 mm | 1,299 × 2,102 px |
| UK B-format | 5.08 × 7.8 in | 129 × 198 mm | 1,524 × 2,339 px |
| UK Demy | 5.43 × 8.5 in | 138 × 216 mm | 1,630 × 2,551 px |
| UK Royal | 6.14 × 9.21 in | 156 × 234 mm | 1,843 × 2,764 px |
Choosing a trim size
Readers expect certain sizes for certain books: 5 × 8 to 5.5 × 8.5 in for fiction, 6 × 9 in for non-fiction and memoir, 7 × 10 or 8.5 × 11 in for textbooks and workbooks, and squares for picture books. A larger trim means fewer pages, which lowers the printing cost per copy, but a novel at 8.5 × 11 in looks like a manual.
Print-on-demand platforms each support their own list of trims and paper types, and not every size is available in hardcover or with every paper. Check your printer’s list before you start the interior, because changing the trim later means reflowing the whole book.
The cover is a different size
A paperback cover is one flat piece: back cover, spine and front cover side by side, with 0.125 in (3 mm) of bleed around the outside. A 6 × 9 in book with a 0.5 in spine needs a cover of 12.75 × 9.25 in including bleed. The spine width comes from the page count multiplied by the thickness of the paper, which differs between white, cream and color paper and between printers, so get the exact figure from your printer’s cover calculator or template. Hardcovers add board wraps and hinges, and need their own template.
For an ebook, the cover is a single front image; Amazon KDP recommends 2560 × 1600 pixels (height × width), a 1.6 : 1 shape.
Questions
- What is the most popular book size?
- 6 × 9 in is the most common trim for US paperbacks, especially non-fiction. For novels, 5 × 8, 5.25 × 8 and 5.5 × 8.5 in are all common. In the UK, B-format (129 × 198 mm) is the standard paperback.
- What is 6 × 9 in pixels?
- 1800 × 2700 pixels at 300 ppi. That’s the size of one page or the front cover alone; the full paperback cover is wider, with the spine and back cover added.
- What is the difference between trim size and cover size?
- Trim size is the size of the finished book’s pages. The cover is the back, spine and front laid flat, plus bleed, so it is more than twice as wide as the trim.
- What size is a mass-market paperback?
- About 4.25 × 6.87 in (108 × 175 mm), the small pocket format used for genre fiction in airports and supermarkets.
If the printer sends the file back
Terms on this page: Trim size, Bleed, Proof.
Work at these sizes: Low Tide paperback cover (a self-initiated concept piece).
More print sizes, or all of them on one page:
Cards, paper and stationery: Business card · Postcard · Paper · Envelope · Letterhead · Greeting card · Presentation folder
Flyers, brochures and handouts: Flyer · Brochure · Rack card · Door hanger · Menu · Table tent · Bookmark
Stickers, labels and tags: Sticker · Label · Hang tag
Bottle, can and jar labels: Wine label · Beer label · Water bottle label · Candle label · Jar label
Boxes and packaging: Mailer box · Shipping box · Tuck box · Stand-up pouch · Pizza box
Posters, books and calendars: Poster · Calendar
Signs, billboards and vehicles: Banner · Yard sign · Car magnet · Billboard
T-shirts and apparel: T-shirt
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