Ebook covers are a single front image; print covers are a wraparound with a spine and back. Here are the exact dimensions, bleed, resolution, and spine-width maths you need for KDP and IngramSpark.
Key Takeaways
- An ebook cover is a single front-only image; a print cover is one wraparound file spanning back cover, spine, and front cover.
- The recommended ebook cover size is 2,560 × 1,600 px (a 1.6:1 ratio) at 72 dpi or higher.
- Print covers must be built at 300 dpi with bleed, and the spine width depends on your page count and paper type.
- Spine width ≈ page count × paper thickness per page; you can't finalise a print cover until your interior page count is locked.
- Want covers built to exact retailer specs the first time? Call Spines Publishing UK at +44 20 4515 8379 or email info@spinespublishing.co.uk.
Your ebook and print editions need two fundamentally different cover files. An ebook cover is a single, front-only image. A print cover is a single wraparound file that includes the back cover, the spine, and the front cover, plus bleed, all sized precisely to your book's page count and trim size. Getting the specs wrong is one of the most common reasons covers get rejected at upload. Here's exactly what each format requires.
Standard eBook Cover Dimensions
Ebook covers are the simpler of the two. You need one portrait-orientation image, front cover only, no spine or back.
| Spec | Recommended | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 2,560 × 1,600 px | Amazon KDP's recommended size |
| Aspect ratio | 1.6 : 1 (height : width) | Tall rectangle; same ratio across retailers |
| Resolution | 72 dpi minimum | Higher is fine; pixels matter more than dpi on screen |
| File format | JPEG or TIFF | RGB colour, under ~50 MB |
| Minimum size | 1,000 px on shortest side | Below this, retailers may reject |
Because the ebook cover is what readers see as a thumbnail while shopping, design it for legibility at small sizes, see what makes a book cover sell for the design side.
Print Wraparound Cover Anatomy
A print cover is one continuous image, read left to right when laid flat: back cover, then spine, then front cover. Each panel has a job:
- Front cover: The main design: title, author name, imagery. Same visual as your ebook, but at print resolution with bleed.
- Spine: Title and author name, plus often a publisher logo. Only include spine text if the book is thick enough (typically 100+ pages).
- Back cover: Book description/blurb, author bio, a review quote or two, and a clear space at the bottom-right for the barcode and ISBN.
The barcode area on the back cover must be kept clear, usually about 50 × 30 mm (2 × 1.2 in) in the lower-right. Platforms such as KDP place the scannable ISBN barcode there automatically.
Spine Width Calculation by Page Count
The spine is the trickiest part, because its width is determined entirely by your page count and paper type. This is why you cannot finalise a print cover until your interior formatting is complete and the final page count is locked. The formula:
Spine width = number of pages × paper thickness per page. White paper ≈ 0.0572 mm (0.002252 in) per page; cream paper ≈ 0.0635 mm (0.0025 in) per page (KDP figures).
| Page Count | White Paper Spine | Cream Paper Spine |
|---|---|---|
| 120 pages | ~6.9 mm (0.27 in) | ~7.6 mm (0.30 in) |
| 200 pages | ~11.4 mm (0.45 in) | ~12.7 mm (0.50 in) |
| 300 pages | ~17.2 mm (0.68 in) | ~19.1 mm (0.75 in) |
| 400 pages | ~22.9 mm (0.90 in) | ~25.4 mm (1.00 in) |
Most platforms provide a free cover template generator: you enter your trim size, page count, and paper type, and it produces a PDF template with exact spine width and bleed lines to design within. Always use the current template, spine maths is unforgiving.
Bleed, Margins, and Resolution Requirements
- Bleed: Add 0.125" (3.2 mm) of image beyond every outer edge so there's no white sliver after trimming. Background art must extend into the bleed.
- Resolution: Print covers must be 300 dpi at final size. A 72-dpi screen image will look pixelated in print.
- Colour: Design in CMYK for print (screens are RGB). Colours can shift between the two, so proof carefully.
- Safe zone: Keep title, text, and key imagery at least 6.35 mm (0.25") inside the trim line so nothing important is cut off.
- File format: Print covers are submitted as a single high-resolution PDF (or sometimes flattened TIFF).
KDP vs. IngramSpark Cover Spec Differences
The two major print platforms have slightly different requirements, and if you publish to both (a common wide-distribution strategy, see IngramSpark vs KDP), you'll need a cover file for each.
| Spec | Amazon KDP | IngramSpark |
|---|---|---|
| File format | PDF (print-ready) | PDF/X-1a:2001 preferred |
| Bleed | 3.175 mm (0.125 in) | 3.175 mm (0.125 in) |
| Spine text min. pages | ~100 pages | ~48–80 pages |
| Template source | KDP cover calculator | IngramSpark cover template generator |
| Colour profile | CMYK / RGB accepted | CMYK preferred (check the current profile in IngramSpark's file guide) |
Because the spine width and total canvas differ with each platform's exact specs and your page count, the safest approach is to generate a fresh template from each platform and build (or have your designer build) to that template precisely.
Skip the spec headaches entirely
Spines Publishing UK delivers print- and ebook-ready cover files built to exact retailer specifications, correct bleed, spine, resolution, and barcode area, the first time. Call +44 20 4515 8379, email info@spinespublishing.co.uk, or explore cover design.
Explore Cover DesignThe design of your cover sells the book; the specs make sure it actually prints and uploads cleanly. Nail the ebook ratio, lock your page count before finalising the print wraparound, build at 300 dpi with proper bleed, and use each platform's current template. Get those right and your cover sails through upload, looking exactly as intended.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the standard ebook cover dimensions?
Amazon KDP recommends 2,560 × 1,600 pixels, a 1.6:1 height-to-width ratio (a tall rectangle), at 72 dpi or higher, saved as RGB JPEG or TIFF. The minimum is about 1,000 pixels on the shortest side. This same ratio works across major ebook retailers.
How do I calculate spine width for a print book?
Multiply your page count by the paper thickness per page: roughly 0.0572 mm (0.002252 in) per page for white paper and 0.0635 mm (0.0025 in) for cream (KDP figures). A 300-page book is about 17 mm (white) or 19 mm (cream) thick. You must lock your final page count before designing the spine.
What's the difference between an ebook and print cover file?
An ebook cover is a single front-only image. A print cover is one continuous wraparound file containing the back cover, spine, and front cover, plus 3.175 mm (0.125 in) bleed on every edge, built at 300 dpi and sized to your exact page count and trim size.
What bleed and resolution do print covers need?
Print covers require 3.2 mm (0.125 in) of bleed beyond every outer edge and must be 300 dpi at final size, designed in CMYK. Keep title and key elements at least 6.35 mm (0.25 in) inside the trim line, and leave the lower-right back cover clear for the barcode.
Are KDP and IngramSpark cover specs the same?
They're similar but not identical, spine-text page minimums, preferred colour profiles, and exact PDF requirements differ. If you publish to both for wide distribution, generate a fresh template from each platform and build a separate cover file to each one's precise specifications.
