“Size” means two different things
Trim size is the final width and height of the printed page. Page count is the number of printed pages in the interior file. They are related: changing trim size can reflow text and change the page count, while page count affects spine width and sometimes which print combinations are available.
Choose the reading experience first
A square or wide page can give illustrations more room to carry the story. A portrait page can feel familiar in the hand and may suit books with more text. Before choosing, compare physical examples and ask:
- Will most scenes be wide, tall, or intimate?
- How much text must share each spread?
- Will the book be read aloud, used in a classroom, or handled independently?
- Which binding, paper, and color options are available at the intended printer?
- How does the chosen size affect printing cost?
Plan page count with the printer’s rules in view
Amazon KDP’s current cover calculator accepts paperback page counts beginning at 24, but the exact minimum and maximum depend on trim size, ink, paper, and binding. KDP also notes that print pages come in front-and-back pairs and rounds an odd interior count up to an even number.
Decide whether artwork will bleed
Bleed is artwork or color that extends beyond the trim line so it reaches the final edge after cutting. KDP requires 0.125 inch (3.2 mm) of bleed on the outside edges when cover or interior art is meant to run off the page. Text and important faces or details should remain comfortably inside the safe area, not merely on the minimum line.
Lock the interior before the full cover
The final paperback cover is one continuous file containing back cover, spine, and front cover. Its exact width depends on the final page count, paper, and print choices. Finish the interior format first, confirm the page count, then use the platform’s current cover calculator or template for the full cover.
A sensible decision order
- Choose the intended reader and reading experience.
- Select the first publishing platform and binding.
- Compare supported trim sizes and print costs.
- Map the final manuscript into pages and spreads.
- Decide which pages need bleed.
- Build and proof the interior at the chosen trim size.
- Use the final page count to create the full cover.
- Review a physical proof before approving publication.
What to send an illustrator
Send the intended platform, binding, trim size, color choice, final manuscript, page plan, and any printer specifications already selected. If you have not chosen a format, say so before the quote. The picture-book manuscript checklist covers the rest of the project brief.
Platform requirements can change. Verify the current KDP trim, bleed, and margin rules, paperback submission guidelines, and cover calculator before creating final files.