Standard Book Sizes in Publishing: A Complete Guide

If you are an author looking to publish his/her book, then read this blog to get information on standard book sizes in publishing. From the bestselling children book to a graphic novel, and every book in between, one thing that connects them is standard book size. Book sizes are determined by book dimensions and pages. During the book printing and book production, the pages of books are printed, then trimmed along the edges. Book sizes influence the usability and the price of a book. The pressure can make selection process slightly challenging.

Standard book sizes measured in inches are meant to simplify the process for publishers. They ensure consistent printing, and binding.

Book Design and Format

Are you publishing 50,000 words, or 1 million words? If there is any variation in word count, it will reflect in trim size. The rule of the thumb is that word count and trim size have a correlation. The more words, larger the trim size, but what is the reason behind this. The more words larger the trim size because it means more paper.

Importance of Trim Size for a Book

Trim Design is essential because of design, and aesthetic purposes. It is a book for education, and entertainment. It should be easy to read, marketable, within the budget. The trim size of the book affects these factors, the look and feel of a book, cost and pricing. 

1. Look and feel of a book: The trim size is related to the page count. A small trim size will affect the number of pages. It affects the spine of the book. The more pages mean a thicker spine, the margin size, space between lines, page numbers, chapter beginnings.
2. Cost and Pricing: The increase in number results in increase of price will be impacted.

Standard Book Dimensions

Hardcover: This is the type of the book in which book cover is hard, rigid, it also has a protective dust jacket. The pages are stitched, stapled. The pages in hardcover are the most expensive to produce. Book sizes in inches range from 6x9, 8.5x11.

Paperback: The trim size ranges from 5.5 x 8.5, 6 x 9 (known in US trade). This is the range for all Paperback books in the market. The difference in the cost between the two is minor. Most self-published books follow this trim size.

Amazon KDP Trim Size: KDP is the trim size provided by Amazon; it offers a variety of trim sizes which you can use to create your paperback books.

Useful KDP Book Sizes for Reference: If you are KDP as the print in demand service, as there are many options for book sizes such as

This kind of paperback is called trade paperback. This is a type of book with a thick paper, or paperboard cover. The pages are glued together, not stitched, or stapled. Trade paperbacks are quite cheap, however, not as cheap as mass market paperbacks.

How to choose the perfect trim size for your book?

Now, when we have discussed book sizes and trim sizes in the book. We need to look at choosing the perfect trim size, if you are self-publishing your book.

Factors to choose the perfect trim size for your book:

• Purpose of your Book: What will the purpose of your book, is it fiction, or non-fiction? You need to select the size, according to the purpose of your book.

• Word Count: The more words in your manuscript, the bigger will be the trim size. The bigger the size, it is because bigger the size, it will reduce the page count.

• Choose the trim size of the book, according to the genre: Readers would expect a trim size of your book belong to a particular genre. A romance novel cannot be 7x9 trim size because readers would expect a smaller size. You need to find out the trim size of the book based on the genre, connect it to the genre of the book.

Standard book sizes by genres

Every book genre has an ideal trim size for practical reasons. If you are writing a children's book, it will have a larger trim size. Coffee table books follow the same route. They are used for entertainment, or decoration and are larger in size.

Fiction Book

You need to think of the last fiction book you read, was it easy to carry? It had a lighter weight. Or was it smaller enough to keep it in the back pocket.

One of the most popular sizes for fiction novels is the pocket book- 4.25'' X 6.87 inches which are like paperback books. You can also read the Bhagvad Gita pocket size. Another popular size for fiction books is 5x5''x8.5'' This size is paperback too, it also gives more room for larger page counts too.

Non-Fiction Book Sizes

These books are slightly larger in trim size than many fiction books. Most non-fiction authors opt for a digest size, or a US trade trim size.

Children Book Sizes

Children books will be larger than fiction, or non-fiction books. Children books are square sized, landscape, or a larger landscape trim.

Concluding, choosing the right book size can be a tricky thing to manoeuvre. If you are looking to self-publish your book, you need to see how it would look and feel to readers to decide the size. Imagine how it fit into the hands of readers. An aptly chosen book size can elevate your book to make it an experience, readers will cherish.