KDP paperback preparation guides
Use these guides in the order you prepare a book: plan the interior, calculate the cover from the final page count, then review the exported files.
Plan your page count
Estimate how text and images affect the length of a paperback. Front matter, blank pages and full-page illustrations all count toward the physical page total. A word-based estimate is a planning aid; the exported PDF supplies the final count.
Estimate your book’s physical page countChoose trim, bleed and margins
Trim describes the finished page. Bleed extends artwork beyond the cut edge, while the gutter keeps text away from the binding. These settings affect the interior layout and must agree with the choices you make during upload.
Understand paperback bleedCalculate the full wrap cover
A paperback cover contains the back, spine and front in one file. Spine width depends on page count and paper. Calculate it after finishing the interior, keep the barcode area clear and regenerate the cover when the page total changes.
Calculate cover dimensions and download a layout templateReview files before publishing
Open both PDFs, inspect page order and text wrapping, and resolve missing assets or low-resolution warnings. Match the file geometry to the print settings in your KDP account. Review AI-content disclosure, use the upload previewer and order a printed proof before releasing the book.
Review the picture-book export specificationsWhich file should you prepare first?
Finish the interior before locking the cover dimensions. Check page order, opening matter, intentional blanks and the last page. Export the interior, read its physical page count, then use that number with your chosen trim and paper in the cover calculator.
Keep the interior and cover from the same revision together. If you add pages after designing the cover, recalculate its spine and export the cover again. A manuscript word count helps you plan; it cannot replace the final PDF page count for a print cover.