Your interior PDF is what KDP prints and ships to buyers. If it has formatting errors — wrong margins, missing font embedding, incorrect dimensions, blurry images — the book either gets rejected during review or looks unprofessional in print.
This guide covers the exact formatting specifications and process for producing a print-ready KDP interior.
Before You Start: Decide Your Trim Size
Your interior must be designed at the exact dimensions of your chosen trim size. Decide this before formatting:
| Trim size | Common for |
|---|---|
| 5"×8" | Compact journals, fiction |
| 6"×9" | Standard journals, non-fiction, most books |
| 8.5"×11" | Large print, activity books, full-size planners |
| 8.5"×8.5" | Square coloring books |
Set your design canvas or document to these exact dimensions before placing any content.
Margin Requirements
KDP requires minimum margins on all sides. Margins that are too small will result in text being cut off during trimming.
Minimum Margins by Page Count (6"×9" book)
| Page count | Outside margin | Inside (gutter) margin | Top margin | Bottom margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 24 pages | 0.375" | 0.375" | 0.25" | 0.25" |
| 24–150 pages | 0.25" | 0.375" | 0.25" | 0.25" |
| 151–300 pages | 0.25" | 0.5" | 0.25" | 0.25" |
| 301–500 pages | 0.25" | 0.625" | 0.25" | 0.25" |
| 500+ pages | 0.25" | 0.75" | 0.25" | 0.25" |
Gutter margin (inside margin) is the side facing the spine. It must be larger to account for binding — text too close to the spine gets partially hidden in the fold.
Practical recommendation: Use 0.5" inside margins and 0.375" outside margins for most books under 250 pages. This provides comfortable safety margin beyond the minimum.
Bleed Settings
Bleed applies when any design element — image, color block, line — extends to the edge of the page. Without bleed, small trimming variations leave white edges.
With bleed:
- Add 0.125" bleed on all sides
- Your PDF page size = trim size + 0.25" width + 0.25" height
- For 6"×9": PDF pages are 6.25"×9.25"
- Content must extend into the bleed area at the edges; keep important content within the safety margin (0.375" from finished edge)
Without bleed (pure text interior, no background):
- Design at exact trim size: 6"×9"
- No bleed required
Low content books with colored backgrounds, decorative borders, or full-bleed images need bleed. Text-only books don't.
Font Requirements
Embedding Fonts
All fonts used in your interior must be embedded in the PDF. Non-embedded fonts print differently across different printers and may cause rejection.
How to embed fonts:
In Adobe Acrobat: File → Properties → Fonts tab — all fonts should show as "Embedded" or "Embedded Subset"
In Canva (export as PDF Print): Fonts are automatically embedded — no action needed
In Microsoft Word:
- File → Options → Save
- Check "Embed fonts in the file"
- Export to PDF (not "Save As PDF" from print dialog — use Export)
In InDesign: During PDF export, select "PDF/X-1a" or "Print" preset — fonts embed automatically
Font Choices for Print
For printed books, use:
- Serif fonts for body text (Times New Roman, Garamond, Georgia, Book Antiqua) — easier to read in long text
- Sans-serif for headers (Arial, Helvetica, Montserrat) — creates visual hierarchy
- Minimum 10pt for body text — 11–12pt is standard for comfortable reading
- Minimum 16pt for large print — required for books marketed as large print
Avoid decorative or script fonts for body text — they become difficult to read at small sizes.
Image Requirements
Resolution
- Minimum: 300 DPI for images intended to print clearly
- Check: Right-click your image in your design tool → properties → verify resolution before placing
- Upscaling doesn't help: A 72 DPI image "saved" at 300 DPI is still low quality — it just has a higher reported resolution
Color Mode
- Use RGB color mode (not CMYK) — Amazon's print system uses RGB
- Images in CMYK may look different in print than on screen
- Convert to RGB before placing in your interior
Image Formats
- JPG: Best for photographs; smaller file size
- PNG: Best for graphics with transparency or sharp edges
- TIFF: Lossless quality; larger file size; acceptable
Image Placement Rules
- Full-bleed images must extend into the bleed area (0.125" past trim edge)
- Keep important image content (faces, text within images) inside the safety margin
- Don't place text directly on images unless contrast is very high
Page Setup
Page Numbers
Add page numbers to your interior. KDP doesn't require them for low content books (a journal doesn't need page numbers), but reference books, guides, and fiction expect them.
Position: centered at bottom or outer edge of each page. Avoid placing in the gutter margin.
Exclude from page count: Title page, copyright page, table of contents, and dedication page are typically unnumbered (or use Roman numerals).
Running Headers/Footers
Optional but professional: chapter title or book title in a header at the top of each page. Keep them small (8–9pt, lighter weight) so they don't distract from content.
Widow and Orphan Control
A "widow" is a single word or short line at the top of a page (from the previous paragraph). An "orphan" is a single line at the bottom of a page before a break.
In Word and InDesign, enable widow/orphan control in paragraph settings. In Canva, adjust text box sizes to avoid these.
File Export
Exporting from Canva
- Download → PDF Print
- Ensure "Crop marks and bleed" is checked if your design has bleed
- This exports embedded fonts and proper color mode automatically
Exporting from Microsoft Word
- File → Export → Create PDF/XPS
- Do not use "Print" → "Save as PDF" — this sometimes doesn't embed fonts correctly
- In the export options: check "Document structure tags for accessibility" (optional but good practice)
Exporting from Adobe InDesign
- File → Export → Adobe PDF (Print)
- Select "PDF/X-1a:2001" preset (ensures embedding and color settings)
- Under "Marks and Bleeds": check "Use Document Bleed Settings" if bleed is included
Verifying Your PDF
Before uploading to KDP:
- Open the PDF and verify it looks correct at 100% zoom
- Check fonts: In Adobe Acrobat: File → Properties → Fonts (all should say Embedded)
- Verify page dimensions: In Acrobat: File → Properties → Description → Page Size
- Check image quality: Zoom to 100% and verify images are sharp, not pixelated
KDP's Interior Review Process
After uploading, KDP's previewer shows your interior exactly as it will print. Work through the previewer carefully:
- Check the first and last page
- Check every chapter opening
- Check pages with images
- Check pages near the spine (verify gutter margin is adequate)
- Look for any "trim area" warnings from KDP's system
KDP flags specific pages with issues. Fix those exact pages before submitting.
Common Formatting Mistakes and Fixes
| Mistake | Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Fonts not embedded | Different font appears in print | Re-export with font embedding enabled |
| Wrong page size | KDP previewer shows misaligned content | Match PDF dimensions exactly to selected trim size |
| Bleed missing | White edges visible around bordered pages | Add 0.125" bleed, extend background to bleed area |
| Images at 72 DPI | Blurry in print | Source or recreate images at 300 DPI |
| Gutter too small | Text cut off near spine | Increase inside margin to 0.5"+ |
| CMYK images | Color shift in print | Convert to RGB before placing |
| Excessive file size | Slow upload, potential rejection | Compress images (target under 200MB total) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Google Docs to format my KDP interior?
Yes, for simple text-based books. Export as PDF and verify fonts and layout. Google Docs doesn't handle complex layouts (full-bleed images, precise multi-column grids) as well as Canva or InDesign.
How do I check if my PDF has correct DPI?
Open in Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader → View → Tools → Print Production → Output Preview. Alternatively, right-click images in InDesign before export to check placed image resolution.
What's the maximum file size KDP accepts for interior PDFs?
650MB. For text-based and standard low content books, you'll rarely approach this. Image-heavy books with many 300 DPI photos can get large — compress images before placing.
Do I need page numbers for a journal or tracker?
No. Page numbers are optional for low content books. Buyers of trackers and journals don't navigate by page number.
Can I mix portrait and landscape pages?
Technically possible in some tools, but not well-supported by KDP's print system. Stick to a consistent page orientation throughout your interior.
Summary
The six formatting requirements that matter most for KDP:
- Exact trim size — design at the exact dimensions, no rounding
- Correct margins — inside (gutter) margin larger than outside; scales with page count
- Bleed — add 0.125" on all sides if any element touches the page edge
- Embedded fonts — verify in PDF properties before uploading
- 300 DPI images — check resolution before placing, not after
- RGB color mode — convert images from CMYK if needed
Get these right, and your interior will pass KDP's review and print cleanly.