In fact, a book’s cover should be considered first. Hence, creating an intriguing and appropriate cover for your book can work like magic for the desirability of your book. Want to design an amazing book cover and don’t know where to start? Then check out our detailed article “Designing the Best Book Cover” at the Gnome Book Writing blog. It gives you all the valuable insights and everything you need to know about designing an eye-catching and on-point cover for your book.
 

A Guide to Book Cover Dimensions

But do you know that there are some specifications for the size of your book’s cover? Yes, there are; and these specifications depend on the type of book, format, and publishing platform. Other than that, there are other design elements that need to be taken into account while choosing your book cover size; including resolution, color settings, aspect ratio, and file format.
 

Is Book Cover Size Important?

Yes, the size of your book’s cover is significant. The book cover includes the crucial information of the book and design elements that showcase the book’s theme; all of which are greatly affected by the amount of surface available: that is the size of the book’s cover. If the cover is too small, it may not stand out and may be overlooked by potential readers. It may not even fit the necessary elements to be included in the book cover. On the other hand, if a book cover is too large, it may be more expensive to produce and may not fit easily into standard bookshelves or storage spaces. Hence, choosing a suitable book cover size is essential to ensure the book’s success.

Read More:How to Translate Your Book into Another Language
 

What is the Right Book Cover Size for My Book?

The right book cover size for your book will depend on a few factors, such as the Book format  (e.g., print book, E-book, audiobook), the printing and distribution options you choose, and the design preferences of your target audience. Ultimately, the size of your book cover should be proportional to the size of your book and should provide enough space to include all necessary design elements, such as the title, author’s name, and any imagery or design elements. It’s also important to consider how your cover will look in different formats, such as print and digital, to ensure that it will be readable and visually appealing in all formats.

Read More: Book Writing How to Outline a Novel: Learn in 6 Simple Steps
 

What are the Dimensions of a Print Book Cover? (In Inches)

If you plan to print a physical version of your book, the size of your book cover will depend on its trim size, which refers to the size and shape of each page in your book which will also affect your printing costs.

• Once you have determined the trim size of your book, you can calculate the dimensions of your book cover. Print-on-demand services like KDP and IngramSpark will require you to submit a cover design that includes the front cover, back cover, spine, and bleeds.
• To calculate the width of your cover design file, you will need to add 2x the trim width for the front and back covers, the spine width, and 2x the bleed size. Bleed is an extra bit of design that extends beyond the cover’s border to allow for slight printing errors.
• To calculate the height of your cover design file, you will need to add the trim height and 2x the bleed size.

Here are some common dimensions (in inches) for print book cover sizes based on different genres:

• Non-fiction books: (5 x 8.5), (6 x 9), (7 x 10)
• Fiction: (4.25 x 6.87), (5 x 8), (5.25 x 8), (5.5 x 8.5), (6 x 9)
• Children’s books: (7.5 x 7.5), (7 x 10), (10 x 8)
• Novella: (5 x 8)
• Textbooks: (6 x 9), (7 x 10), (8.5 x 11)
• Manuals & Workbooks: (8.5 x 11)
   

What are the Dimensions of an E-Book Cover?

For E-books, the book cover size parameters are pixels and aspect ratio (discussed later in detail) for easier designing practice. E-book cover sizes can vary depending on the platform you plan to publish on, so it’s important to check their guidelines before designing your E-book cover.

What are the Dimensions of an Amazon (KDP) Book Cover? (In Pixels & Aspect Ratio)

The ideal E-Book cover size on Amazon (KDP) is an aspect ratio of 1.6:1 and 2,560 by 1,600 pixels.

What are the Dimensions of a Novel and Non-Fiction E-Book Cover? (In Pixels & Aspect Ratio)

The ideal E-Book cover size for a Novel and Non-Fiction E-Book is an aspect ratio of 1.5:1 and 2500 x 3750 pixels.

What are the Dimensions of an Illustrated E-Book Cover? (In Pixels & Aspect Ratio)

The ideal E-Book cover size for an Illustrated E-Book is an aspect ratio of 1.4:1 and 2800 x 3920 pixels OR 1.2:1 and 3000 x 3600 pixels.

What are the Dimensions of a Wattpad Book Cover? (In Pixels & Aspect Ratio)

The ideal E-Book cover size for a Wattpad book is an aspect ratio of 1:6 and 256 x 400 pixels.

What are the Dimensions of an Audiobook Cover? (In Pixels & Aspect Ratio)

The ideal E-Book cover size for an audiobook is an aspect ratio of 1.6:1 and 3200 x 3200 pixels.
 

Some Other Book Cover Design Elements

What Should be the File Format for My Book Cover Design?

Saving an image or photograph digitally requires a standardized file format, which ensures that the image can be displayed properly on different devices and platforms. When selecting an image for your book cover, it’s important to choose the correct file type to ensure that it looks its best. JPEG, TIFF, and PNG are the preferred file types for book covers. Uploading an image that does not meet these specifications can result in the image being distorted or not displaying correctly on different devices.

Read More: A Guide For First-Time Authors To Publish Their First Children’s Book

What Should be the Resolution for My Book Cover Design?

Image resolution refers to the level of detail and clarity in a photo or image. Low-resolution images appear pixelated and blurry, while high-resolution images are clear and detailed.

The resolution of an image is typically measured in either DPI (dots per inch) or PPI (pixels per inch). DPI resolution is used when printing the cover, while PPI is used when displaying the cover digitally, such as on electronic devices.

• For printed covers, a resolution of at least 300 DPI is recommended to ensure that the cover looks clear and professional.
• For digital covers, a resolution of 72 PPI is typically sufficient.

What Should be the Aspect Ratio for My Book Cover Design?

Aspect ratio refers to the proportional relationship between the width and height of a rectangular image or video display. This is important for both digital screens and printed books, where images and text are often presented in a rectangular format. The aspect ratio is usually expressed as a mathematical ratio, representing the width and height respectively. For example, a 4:3 aspect ratio means that the width is four units and the height is three units.

Each publishing platform may have specific aspect ratio requirements, which can affect how your content is displayed.

Read More: How to Become a Published Book Writer in 2023

What Should be the Color Settings for My Book Cover Design?

When it comes to choosing the colors for your book cover and fonts, you may encounter various color schemes, such as RGB and CMYK.

• RGB (red, green, blue) is a color model used for digital screens (E-books).
• CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, key, or black) is a color model used for printing (print books).
   

Conclusion:

How do I Choose the Right Book Cover Size?

Choosing the perfect size for your book cover can be confusing, but a professional cover designer can help you ensure that your cover design meets your printer’s specifications.

One such reliable and expert book cover designing team resides at Gnome Book Writing Company, which possesses the ability to create intriguing and appropriate book covers based on the specific theme, tone, and target audience of your book.