KDP trim sizes, in inches and centimeters
Paperback accepts any custom size in a wide range, not just the named presets. Hardcover is a strict whitelist of five. Here's every size KDP allows, which bindings each one supports, and what it's commonly used for.
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All 18 named KDP trim presets
| Name | Inches | Centimeters | Category | Paperback | Hardcover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket (mass market) | 4.25 × 6.87 | 10.80 × 17.45 | Fiction | ✓ | ✗ |
| Compact novel | 5 × 8 | 12.70 × 20.32 | Fiction | ✓ | ✗ |
| UK B-format | 5.06 × 7.81 | 12.85 × 19.84 | Fiction | ✓ | ✗ |
| Novel | 5.25 × 8 | 13.34 × 20.32 | Fiction | ✓ | ✗ |
| Digest | 5.5 × 8.5 | 13.97 × 21.59 | Fiction | ✓ | ✓ |
| A5 | 5.83 × 8.27 | 14.80 × 21.01 | Fiction | ✓ | ✗ |
| US trade | 6 × 9 | 15.24 × 22.86 | Nonfiction | ✓ | ✓ |
| Royal | 6.14 × 9.21 | 15.60 × 23.39 | Nonfiction | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pinched crown | 6.69 × 9.61 | 16.99 × 24.41 | Nonfiction | ✓ | ✗ |
| Workbook | 7 × 10 | 17.78 × 25.40 | Textbook | ✓ | ✓ |
| Crown quarto | 7.44 × 9.69 | 18.90 × 24.61 | Textbook | ✓ | ✗ |
| Textbook | 7.5 × 9.25 | 19.05 × 23.50 | Textbook | ✓ | ✗ |
| Large workbook | 8 × 10 | 20.32 × 25.40 | Textbook | ✓ | ✗ |
| Square | 8.25 × 8.25 | 20.96 × 20.96 | Visual | ✓ | ✗ |
| Large square | 8.5 × 8.5 | 21.59 × 21.59 | Visual | ✓ | ✗ |
| Executive | 8.25 × 11 | 20.96 × 27.94 | Textbook | ✓ | ✓ |
| A4 | 8.27 × 11.69 | 21.01 × 29.70 | Textbook | ✓ | ✗ |
| US letter | 8.5 × 11 | 21.59 × 27.94 | Textbook | ✓ | ✗ |
These are named presets, not the only sizes allowed. Any custom paperback trim inside KDP's allowed range (below) works, whether or not it has a name.
What's actually allowed, beyond the named presets
Paperback: any custom trim in range
KDP paperback accepts any width from 4in to 8.5in and any height from 6in to 11.69in, in any combination. The 18 presets above are the sizes authors ask for by name; a manuscript with unusual proportions, like a tall narrow poetry collection, can still use a custom size inside that range.
Hardcover: exactly five trims, no exceptions
KDP hardcover is a fixed whitelist: 5.5×8.5, 6×9, 6.14×9.21, 7×10, and 8.25×11 inches. There is no custom hardcover option. Pick a paperback size outside that list and design a cover for it, and KDP simply won't offer a hardcover edition for that book, no matter how well the interior is formatted.
Picking a size that matches genre expectations
Trim size isn't just a technical constraint; readers have expectations by genre. A thriller in an 8.5×11in textbook trim looks wrong on a shelf next to other thrillers, even if every KDP rule is satisfied. 5.25×8in or 5.5×8.5in for fiction and 6×9in for nonfiction are defaults for a reason: they match what readers expect to hold.
Common questions about KDP trim sizes
What trim sizes does KDP allow for paperback?
Any custom size from 4in x 6in up to 8.5in x 11.69in, not just the named presets. Most fiction ships at 5.25x8in or 5.5x8.5in; most nonfiction at 6x9in.
What trim sizes does KDP allow for hardcover?
Exactly five: 5.5x8.5in, 6x9in, 6.14x9.21in, 7x10in, and 8.25x11in. No custom hardcover trims exist; a size outside this list simply won't have a hardcover option at checkout.
What is the standard trim size for a novel?
5.25in x 8in or 5.5in x 8.5in are the most common for fiction and memoir. Nonfiction more often uses 6in x 9in.
What is 6x9 in centimeters?
6in x 9in is 15.24cm x 22.86cm. The full table above covers every KDP-allowed size in both units.