Book Cover Size Requirements
Use these dimensions for professional-quality covers that meet platform requirements.
Kindle eBook
1600x2560px
1:1.6 • 300 DPI
Amazon recommended
Paperback (6x9)
1800x2700px
2:3 • 300 DPI
Plus spine width
Hardcover
1800x2700px
2:3 • 300 DPI
Standard dimensions
Audiobook Cover
2400x2400px
1:1 • 300 DPI
Square format
Book Cover Best Practices
Use High-Resolution Images
Start with at least 300 DPI images. Low-resolution covers look blurry when printed and unprofessional as thumbnails.
Test Your Thumbnail
Most book sales happen from thumbnail views. Shrink your cover to 160x256 pixels and check if title and key elements are still legible.
Genre-Appropriate Design
Romance readers expect different visual cues than thriller readers. Study top sellers in your genre for design inspiration.
Consistent Author Branding
Use similar fonts, colors, and layout styles across all your books to build a recognizable author brand.
Essential Tools for Self-Published Authors
Cover Resizer
Resize covers to exact KDP, IngramSpark, or any platform requirements.
Author Photo Editor
Remove background and enhance your professional headshot.
Image Upscaler
Enlarge low-resolution images for print quality covers.
Format Converter
Convert between PNG, JPG, and TIFF for different platforms.
Book Cover FAQ
What size should a Kindle book cover be?▼
Amazon KDP recommends 1600x2560 pixels for Kindle eBook covers with a 1:1.6 aspect ratio. The minimum acceptable size is 1000x625 pixels, but larger is always better for quality. The maximum file size is 50MB.
What file format does Amazon KDP accept?▼
Amazon accepts JPEG and TIFF files for book covers. JPEG is most common and recommended. Ensure your file is in RGB color mode (not CMYK) and under 50MB. PNG files are not accepted for covers.
Do I need a professional author photo?▼
A professional headshot significantly builds reader trust and credibility. Use our background remover to create a clean backdrop, then enhance for professional lighting and sharpness. Consistency across your books strengthens your author brand.
How do I calculate paperback spine width?▼
Spine width depends on page count and paper type. For white paper: page count × 0.002252 inches. For cream paper: page count × 0.0025 inches. A 250-page cream paper book = 0.625 inches spine. Amazon's cover calculator can give you exact dimensions.
What resolution should my book cover be?▼
Always use 300 DPI (dots per inch) for print covers to ensure crisp text and images. For digital-only eBooks, 72 DPI is technically sufficient but 300 DPI is recommended for future-proofing if you later decide to print.