Formatting errors are the most common reason first-time KDP authors experience file rejection, poor previewer output, or reader complaints about layout. Most of these errors are avoidable with the right preparation. This article covers every formatting requirement for both eBook and print manuscripts, and ends with a checklist you can work through before every upload. For the full publishing guide, see our complete beginner’s guide to self-publishing on Amazon KDP.
eBook Formatting Requirements
Kindle eBooks use a reflowable format — the text adapts to the reader’s chosen font size, screen size, and device. This means fixed-position layouts, precise spacing, and print-style page design do not translate to eBook format. The formatting requirements for eBooks are therefore about structure and consistency rather than precise visual layout.
Paragraph and text formatting:
- Use Word’s built-in paragraph styles (Normal, Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) rather than manual formatting. KDP’s converter reads styles, not manual overrides.
- First-line indents on body paragraphs should be applied via paragraph styles, not the Tab key. Tabs produce unpredictable results in conversion.
- Avoid using multiple consecutive spaces or blank lines to create visual spacing — use paragraph spacing settings instead.
- Remove any page numbers, headers, and footers from your Word document before uploading. KDP handles these automatically.
Structure:
- Chapter headings must use a consistent heading style (e.g. Heading 1 for all chapter titles). Inconsistent heading levels break the automatic table of contents.
- Use a page break (Insert → Break → Page Break) before each new chapter, not multiple blank lines.
- Your document should begin with your front matter: title page, copyright page, and table of contents (if applicable), in that order.
Print Formatting Requirements
Print manuscripts have stricter technical requirements because they produce a fixed physical output. Your PDF must be prepared to exact specifications.
Trim size and page dimensions:
- Your PDF page dimensions must exactly match your chosen KDP trim size. A 6″ × 9″ trim must be submitted as a PDF with 6″ × 9″ pages. Not 6.01″ × 9″.
- If you are including bleed (content extending to the edge of the page — typically only for full-bleed images or a coloured cover), add 0.125″ bleed on all sides and size your PDF accordingly (e.g. 6.25″ × 9.25″ for a 6″ × 9″ book with bleed).
Margins:
- Outside margin (away from spine): minimum 0.25″
- Top and bottom margins: minimum 0.25″
- Inside (gutter) margin: varies by page count. For 24–150 pages: 0.375″. For 151–300 pages: 0.5″. For 301–500 pages: 0.625″. For 501–700 pages: 0.75″. For 701–828 pages: 0.875″.
- No text, images, or page numbers should fall within 0.25″ of the outside margin to avoid being trimmed.
Page count:
- Minimum: 24 pages for paperback, 75 pages for hardcover
- Maximum: 828 pages for black-and-white paperback, 600 pages for colour paperback or hardcover
- Page count must be even (books are printed in spreads). If your content results in an odd page count, add a blank page.
Image Requirements
For eBooks: Images should be embedded in your document at a minimum of 300 DPI at their intended display size. Higher is better. JPEG and PNG are both supported. Very large image files increase your eBook file size, which increases the delivery fee at the 70% royalty tier — compress images appropriately for screen use.
For print: All images must be at a minimum of 300 DPI at the size they will appear in print. 600 DPI is recommended for fine detail. Images sourced from the web are typically 72–96 DPI and will print poorly — always use high-resolution source files. Colour images in a black-and-white interior are converted to greyscale automatically, but converting them yourself before upload gives you better control over the result.
Font Requirements
For print PDFs, all fonts used in your document must be embedded in the PDF. Most modern word processors and design tools do this automatically when exporting to PDF — verify this in your PDF’s document properties. Fonts that are not licensed for embedding cannot be embedded and will cause file rejection. Use standard serif fonts (Garamond, Georgia, Palatino) for body text and verify embedding before upload.
For eBooks, font embedding works differently — Kindle devices use their own font rendering system, so the typeface experience for readers is somewhat independent of your original font choice. Your structural formatting matters far more than your font selection for eBooks.
Table of Contents
For eBooks, KDP can generate a navigable table of contents automatically from your heading styles. You can also include a visual TOC in your front matter. If you include both, make sure the visual TOC links correctly to the chapter locations using Word’s cross-reference or hyperlink functionality — broken TOC links are one of the most common reader complaints about indie eBooks.
For print, include a printed TOC in your front matter with correct page numbers. KDP does not generate a print TOC automatically — you must add and update it manually. Using Word’s automatic table of contents feature (References → Table of Contents) and updating it before PDF export is the most reliable approach. For the full guide, see our article on how to create a table of contents for KDP eBooks.
Complete Pre-Upload Formatting Checklist
- eBook: All paragraph styles applied consistently (Normal for body, Heading 1 for chapters)
- eBook: No manual tabs, multiple spaces, or blank lines for spacing
- eBook: Page numbers, headers, and footers removed from the document
- eBook: Chapter breaks use page break, not blank lines
- eBook: All images embedded at 300 DPI minimum
- Print: PDF page dimensions match chosen trim size exactly
- Print: All margins meet KDP’s minimums for your page count
- Print: All images at 300 DPI minimum (600 DPI recommended)
- Print: All fonts embedded in PDF
- Print: Page count is even; within KDP’s supported range
- Both: Front matter in correct order (title page, copyright, TOC)
- Both: Previewer reviewed on all device types / full print preview checked
Among the best KDP tools available, Atticus and Vellum handle most of these formatting requirements automatically — if the formatting process feels overwhelming, a dedicated tool is a worthwhile investment.
Once your formatting is correct, your content needs to be correct too. A book manuscript proofreading service from Vappingo catches the errors that survive self-editing — so your perfectly formatted file contains perfectly proofread content. When your metadata is equally well prepared — with a KDP optimisation tool like KDP Rank Fuel generating your keywords, description, and categories — your book is ready to find readers from day one.
