Spine width, cover size and print file checker
Enter your book's size, paper and page count, and pick where you're printing. For each platform you get the spine width, the full cover size, a cover template for your designer, and whether that platform prints your book at all. Add your cover and interior PDFs and they're checked too: size, bleed, fonts, image resolution, text too close to the edge, and the barcode area.
Your files are checked in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to Bervet and nothing is kept. Free for members.
Cream is usual for novels; white for non-fiction and anything with pictures.
Every page in your print PDF, front matter and blanks included.
Your cover (optional)
Only have a PNG or JPG? Turn it into the print PDF.
Your interior (optional)
No file to hand? (the first 24 pages of the 6 × 9 paperback from The Signal by R. S. Breed).
Page layout
The same whichever platform prints it: the things a printed proof shows that an upload check doesn't. Worth a look, not rules: a book can do any of these on purpose.
Your cover with the guides on it
Trim (back and front cover)SpineSafe area: keep text inside Barcode areaHinge
The guides are centred on your file, so if the sizes differ you'll see where. This picture is drawn smaller to fit your screen; every check reads your original file at full resolution, and nothing in your file is changed.
Copy the report into an email to your cover designer or formatter: each problem says what to change.
Why the cover changes from printer to printer
A paperback cover is one wide image: back cover, spine and front cover side by side, with a little extra all round (the bleed) that's trimmed off. The spine's width depends on how many pages you have and how thick each platform's paper is, so the same book has a slightly different cover size at KDP, IngramSpark and Lulu. A hardcover's cover also wraps round the boards, and every platform's boards are a different size.
Keep your title, author name and any text a little way in from every edge and from the spine folds (the safe area), and leave the barcode corner clear unless you're adding your own. Make your barcode here.
What each platform asks for
From each platform's own guides and calculators. Each platform's date is when we last checked it. Just one platform? Its own calculator: Amazon KDP · IngramSpark · Barnes & Noble Press · Lulu · Bookvault · Draft2Digital Print .
Amazon KDP
Checked 4 October 2026
Paperback
| Trim sizes | 5 × 8, 5.06 × 7.81, 5.25 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5, 6 × 9, 6.14 × 9.21, 6.69 × 9.61, 7 × 10, 7.44 × 9.69, 7.5 × 9.25, 8 × 10, 8.25 × 6, 8.25 × 8.25, 8.5 × 8.5, 8.5 × 11, 8.27 × 11.69 in; custom sizes from 4 × 6 to 8.5 × 11.69 in |
|---|---|
| Paper and page counts | Black & white, white paper (24–828 pages); Black & white, cream paper (24–776 pages); Black & white, groundwood paper (24–812 pages); Standard colour, white paper (72–600 pages); Premium colour, white paper (24–828 pages). Some trims have lower limits. |
| Spine width | Page count × paper thickness per page: Black & white, white paper 0.002252 in, Black & white, cream paper 0.0025 in, Black & white, groundwood paper 0.00235 in, Standard colour, white paper 0.002252 in, Premium colour, white paper 0.002347 in. |
| Cover file | One file: back, spine and front, plus 0.125 in bleed on every outside edge. Keep text 0.125 in inside the trim. |
| Spine text | From 80 pages. |
| Barcode | 2 × 1.2 in. KDP adds one free if you leave this area blank; covers with art or text in the barcode area are rejected. |
| Interior PDF | Bleed 0.125 in on the outside, top and bottom; inside margin 0.375 in up to 150 pages, 0.5 in up to 300 pages, 0.625 in up to 500 pages, 0.75 in up to 700 pages, 0.875 in up to 828 pages; outside margins at least 0.25 in (0.375 in with bleed); images 300 ppi; fonts embedded. |
Hardcover
| Trim sizes | 5.5 × 8.5, 6 × 9, 6.14 × 9.21, 7 × 10, 8.25 × 11 in |
|---|---|
| Paper and page counts | Black & white, white paper (75–550 pages); Black & white, cream paper (75–550 pages); Premium colour, white paper (75–550 pages). Some trims have lower limits. |
| Spine width | Page count × paper thickness per page: Black & white, white paper 0.002252 in, Black & white, cream paper 0.0025 in, Premium colour, white paper 0.002347 in, plus 4.8 mm for the hardcover boards. |
| Cover file | One file wrapping the boards: 15 mm wrap round each edge, 10 mm hinge. |
| Spine text | From 80 pages. |
| Barcode | 2 × 1.2 in. You add your own, or KDP places one in a 2 x 1.2 in white box in the lower right of the back cover. |
| Interior PDF | Bleed 0.125 in on the outside, top and bottom; inside margin 0.375 in up to 150 pages, 0.5 in up to 300 pages, 0.625 in up to 500 pages, 0.75 in up to 550 pages; outside margins at least 0.25 in (0.375 in with bleed); images 300 ppi; fonts embedded. |
Where it's printed and sold
- Sold on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.es, Amazon.it, Amazon.nl, Amazon.pl, Amazon.se, Amazon.ie, Amazon.com.be, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.com.au.
- Paperbacks can also reach bookshops and libraries through Expanded Distribution. KDP print books aren't sold on Amazon.com.br, .in or .com.mx.
- Hardcovers aren't sold on Amazon.co.jp and can't use Expanded Distribution.
- KDP's own pages disagree on whether standard colour is offered on Amazon.co.jp; check before you rely on Japan.
Sources: trims, cover, hardcover, barcode, calculator
IngramSpark
Checked 4 October 2026
Paperback
| Trim sizes | 4 × 6, 4 × 7, 4.25 × 7, 4.37 × 7, 4.72 × 7.48, 5 × 7, 5 × 8, 5.06 × 7.81, 5.25 × 8, 5.5 × 7.5, 5.5 × 8.25, 5.5 × 8.38, 5.5 × 8.5, 5.83 × 8.27, 6 × 9, 6.14 × 9.21, 6.5 × 6.5, 6.625 × 10.25, 6.69 × 9.61, 7 × 10, 7.44 × 9.69, 7.5 × 9.25, 8 × 8, 8 × 10, 8 × 10.88, 8.25 × 10.75, 8.25 × 11, 8.268 × 11.693, 8.5 × 8.5, 8.5 × 9, 8.5 × 11, 11 × 8.5 in |
|---|---|
| Paper and page counts | Black & white, cream paper (18–1050 pages); Black & white, white paper (18–1200 pages); Black & white, groundwood paper (18–900 pages); Standard colour, white paper (18–1200 pages); Premium colour, white paper (18–900 pages). Some trims have lower limits. |
| Spine width | Measured from IngramSpark's own spine calculator for every page count; the checker uses the exact width for yours. |
| Cover file | One file: back, spine and front, plus 0.125 in bleed on every outside edge. Keep text 0.25 in inside the trim. |
| Spine text | From 48 pages. |
| Barcode | 1.75 × 1 in. IngramSpark adds one in the lower right of the back cover if you leave a 1.75 x 1 in space; its free template includes one you can move but not resize. |
| Interior PDF | Bleed 0.125 in on the outside, top and bottom; margins of 0.5 in recommended; images 300 ppi; fonts embedded. |
Hardcover
| Trim sizes | 5 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5, 5.83 × 8.27, 6 × 9, 6.14 × 9.21, 6.69 × 9.61, 7 × 10, 7.5 × 9.25, 8 × 8, 8 × 10, 8 × 10.88, 8.25 × 10.75, 8.5 × 8.5, 8.5 × 11, 11 × 8.5 in |
|---|---|
| Paper and page counts | Black & white, cream paper (18–1050 pages); Black & white, white paper (18–1200 pages); Black & white, groundwood paper (18–840 pages); Standard colour, white paper (18–1200 pages); Premium colour, white paper (18–840 pages). Some trims have lower limits. |
| Spine width | Measured from IngramSpark's own spine calculator for every page count (hardcover spines go up in 1/16 in steps); the checker uses the exact width for yours. |
| Cover file | One file wrapping the boards: 0.625 in wrap round each edge, 0.5 in hinge each side of the spine. |
| Dust jacket | Flaps 3.25 in, 0.125 in bleed; trims 5 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5, 6 × 9, 6.14 × 9.21 in. |
| Spine text | From 18 pages. |
| Barcode | 1.75 × 1 in. IngramSpark adds one in the lower right of the back cover if you leave a 1.75 x 1 in space. |
| Interior PDF | Bleed 0.125 in on the outside, top and bottom; margins of 0.5 in recommended; images 300 ppi; fonts embedded. |
Where it's printed and sold
- Printed in United States, United Kingdom, Australia. Ingram's own plants are in the US, UK and Australia. Partner printers ("Global Connect") in Spain, Italy, Germany, Turkey, India, China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brazil and South Africa print for bookshops in their own country, and a plant in Sharjah (UAE) prints paperbacks for the Middle East.
- Bookshops, libraries and online stores through Ingram's network, Amazon and Barnes & Noble among them.
- Groundwood paper is printed only in the US and UK. Copies printed in Australia or by partner printers use 50# creme instead, which is a slightly different thickness.
- The partner printers in Germany and Japan don't print dust jackets.
- The partner printer in Italy prints hardcovers only at 6 × 9 and 6.14 × 9.21 in.
- Custom-size hardcovers are printed in the US only.
- The partner printers in Italy and Turkey don't print custom sizes.
- Landscape books aren't printed by the partner printers in Italy, Germany, India, Japan or Singapore.
- The Sharjah plant prints paperbacks only, so hardcovers for the Middle East come from elsewhere.
Sources: guide, paper, cover_sizes, barcode, spine_calculator
Barnes & Noble Press
Checked 4 October 2026
Paperback
| Trim sizes | 4 × 6, 4.25 × 7, 4.37 × 7, 5 × 8, 5.06 × 7.81, 5.25 × 8, 5.5 × 8.25, 5.5 × 8.5, 5.83 × 8.27, 6 × 9, 6.14 × 9.21, 7 × 10, 7.44 × 9.69, 7.5 × 9.25, 8 × 8, 8 × 10, 8.25 × 11, 8.268 × 11.693, 8.5 × 8.5, 8.5 × 11, 11 × 8.5 in |
|---|---|
| Paper and page counts | Black & white, cream paper (18–800 pages); Black & white, white paper (18–800 pages); Standard colour, white paper (18–800 pages); Premium colour, white paper (18–800 pages). Some trims have lower limits. |
| Spine width | Not published: the one-piece cover size is given when you upload. Separate front and back files need no spine width. |
| Cover file | Front and back as separate files, each trim + 0.125 in wide and + 0.25 in tall; or one file at the size B&N gives you. |
| Spine text | From 48 pages. |
| Barcode | B&N adds a barcode to the bottom right of every back cover, even if you include one. Keep that corner clear. |
| Interior PDF | Bleed 0.125 in on the outside, top and bottom; margins of 0.5 in recommended; images 300 ppi; fonts embedded. |
Hardcover
| Trim sizes | 5 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5, 5.83 × 8.27, 6 × 9, 6.14 × 9.21, 7 × 10, 7.5 × 9.25, 8 × 8, 8 × 10, 8.5 × 8.5, 8.5 × 11, 11 × 8.5 in |
|---|---|
| Paper and page counts | Black & white, cream paper (18–800 pages); Black & white, white paper (18–800 pages); Standard colour, white paper (18–800 pages); Premium colour, white paper (18–800 pages). Some trims have lower limits. |
| Spine width | Not published: the one-piece cover size is given when you upload. Separate front and back files need no spine width. |
| Cover file | Front and back as separate files at the sizes B&N lists for each trim. |
| Spine text | From 48 pages. |
| Barcode | B&N adds a barcode to the bottom right of every back cover. |
| Interior PDF | Bleed 0.125 in on the outside, top and bottom; margins of 0.5 in recommended; images 300 ppi; fonts embedded. |
Where it's printed and sold
- Sold on BN.com, the Barnes & Noble app.
- US only, and not in Barnes & Noble bookshops. Author copies ship within the US only.
Lulu
Checked 4 October 2026
Paperback
| Trim sizes | 4.25 × 6.875, 5 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5, 5.83 × 8.27, 6 × 9, 6.14 × 9.21, 7 × 10, 7.44 × 9.68, 7.5 × 7.5, 8.27 × 11.69, 8.5 × 8.5, 8.5 × 11, 9 × 7, 11 × 8.5, 11.69 × 8.27 in |
|---|---|
| Paper and page counts | Black & white, cream paper (32–800 pages); Black & white, white paper (32–800 pages); Standard colour, white paper (32–800 pages); Premium colour, white paper (32–800 pages). Some trims have lower limits. |
| Spine width | Page count ÷ pages per inch + 0.06 in: 444 PPI. |
| Cover file | One file: back, spine and front, plus 0.125 in bleed on every outside edge. Keep text 0.5 in inside the trim. |
| Spine text | From 100 pages. |
| Barcode | 2 × 1.2 in. If you upload your own cover, you add the barcode (Lulu gives you one to download). Lulu's cover tool adds it for you. |
| Interior PDF | Bleed 0.125 in on the outside, top and bottom and the inside; inside margin 0.5 in up to 60 pages, 0.625 in up to 150 pages, 1 in up to 400 pages, 1.125 in up to 600 pages, 1.25 in up to 800 pages; keep text 0.5 in from the edges; images 300 ppi; fonts embedded. |
Hardcover
| Trim sizes | 4.25 × 6.875, 5 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5, 5.83 × 8.27, 6 × 9, 6.14 × 9.21, 7 × 10, 7.44 × 9.68, 7.5 × 7.5, 8.27 × 11.69, 8.5 × 8.5, 8.5 × 11, 9 × 7, 11 × 8.5, 11.69 × 8.27 in |
|---|---|
| Paper and page counts | Black & white, cream paper (24–800 pages); Black & white, white paper (24–800 pages); Standard colour, white paper (24–800 pages); Premium colour, white paper (24–800 pages). Some trims have lower limits. |
| Spine width | Set in steps by page count (a table, not a formula); the checker uses it. |
| Cover file | One file wrapping the boards: 0.625 in wrap round each edge, 0.438 in hinge. |
| Dust jacket | Flaps 3.375 in, 0.25 in bleed; trims 5.5 × 8.5, 5.83 × 8.27, 6 × 9, 6.14 × 9.21, 8.27 × 11.69, 8.5 × 11 in. |
| Spine text | From 100 pages. |
| Barcode | 2 × 1.2 in. If you upload your own cover, you add the barcode. |
| Interior PDF | Bleed 0.125 in on the outside, top and bottom and the inside; keep text 0.5 in from the edges; images 300 ppi; fonts embedded. |
Where it's printed and sold
- Printed in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, India, Australia. Lulu picks the printer nearest the reader; you can't choose.
- Amazon and Ingram's network, when the format is eligible for retail distribution.
- Amazon doesn't list Lulu's printed-cover (casewrap) hardcovers; other stores get them through Ingram.
- Lulu's dust-jacket hardcovers can be sold in stores only at 5.5 × 8.5, 6 × 9 and 6.14 × 9.21 in.
- Amazon doesn't list Lulu books printed in premium colour.
Sources: guide, spine, settings, distribution
Bookvault
Checked 4 October 2026
Paperback
| Trim sizes | 127 × 203, 132 × 197, 129 × 198, 138 × 216, 148 × 210, 152 × 229, 156 × 234, 170 × 244, 210 × 210, 210 × 297, 216 × 279 mm; custom sizes from 105 × 148 to 297 × 297 mm |
|---|---|
| Paper and page counts | 70gsm Cream (up to 1071 pages); White 80gsm Bond (up to 1071 pages); 80gsm Premium Cream (up to 833 pages); White 100gsm Coated (up to 1052 pages); White 115gsm Coated (up to 1052 pages); White 150gsm Coated (up to 869 pages); White 170gsm Premium Bond (up to 600 pages). Some trims have lower limits. |
| Spine width | Page count × thickness per page (70gsm Cream 0.056 mm, White 80gsm Bond 0.055 mm, 80gsm Premium Cream 0.072 mm, White 100gsm Coated 0.046 mm, White 115gsm Coated 0.057 mm, White 150gsm Coated 0.069 mm, White 170gsm Premium Bond 0.1 mm). |
| Cover file | One file: back, spine and front, plus 3 mm bleed on every outside edge. |
| Barcode | 38.1 × 25.4 mm. Bookvault's US, Canadian and Australian printers need a barcode; if your cover has none, it adds a 38.1 x 25.4 mm one, 6.35 mm from the bottom and the spine. In the UK it adds none if you untick the option. |
| Interior PDF | Bleed 3 mm on every edge; images 300 ppi; fonts embedded. |
Hardcover
| Trim sizes | 127 × 203, 132 × 197, 129 × 198, 138 × 216, 148 × 210, 152 × 229, 156 × 234, 170 × 244, 210 × 210, 210 × 297, 216 × 279 mm |
|---|---|
| Paper and page counts | 70gsm Cream (up to 1071 pages); White 80gsm Bond (up to 1071 pages); 80gsm Premium Cream (up to 833 pages); White 100gsm Coated (up to 1052 pages); White 115gsm Coated (up to 1052 pages); White 150gsm Coated (up to 869 pages); White 170gsm Premium Bond (up to 600 pages). Some trims have lower limits. |
| Spine width | Page count × thickness per page (70gsm Cream 0.056 mm, White 80gsm Bond 0.055 mm, 80gsm Premium Cream 0.072 mm, White 100gsm Coated 0.046 mm, White 115gsm Coated 0.057 mm, White 150gsm Coated 0.069 mm, White 170gsm Premium Bond 0.1 mm), plus 3 mm for the boards. |
| Cover file | One file wrapping the boards: 20 mm wrap round each edge. |
| Barcode | 38.1 × 25.4 mm. As for paperbacks. |
| Interior PDF | Bleed 3 mm on every edge; images 300 ppi; fonts embedded. |
Where it's printed and sold
- Printed in United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia. Bookvault prints in the UK itself and through partners in the US, Canada and Australia. An order a partner can't make is printed in the UK.
- Amazon (UK, US, Canada and most of Europe), the Great British Bookshop and retailers supplied by Gardners.
- Hardcovers aren't printed in Australia yet.
- 170gsm paper isn't printed in Australia.
- The Canadian printer uses only 70gsm cream and 80gsm bond, so this paper is printed elsewhere.
- Landscape books are printed in the UK only.
Sources: calculator, bleed, barcode, pages
Draft2Digital Print
Checked 4 October 2026
Paperback
| Trim sizes | 5 × 8, 5.25 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5, 6 × 9, 7.5 × 9.25, 8.5 × 11 in |
|---|---|
| Paper and page counts | Black & white, cream paper (32–1050 pages); Black & white, white paper (32–1050 pages). Some trims have lower limits. |
| Spine width | Given in its own cover template, inside its publishing flow. |
| Cover file | Built on its own template. |
| Barcode | Draft2Digital places the barcode for you. |
| Interior PDF | Bleed 0.125 in on the outside, top and bottom. |
Where it's printed and sold
- Amazon and the stores Ingram supplies, Barnes & Noble and independent bookshops among them.
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