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How to Format a Print Book for KDP Without Hiring a Designer


Publishing your book through Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to get your work into readers' hands. But when it comes to formatting a print-ready version, many new authors assume they need to hire a professional designer.

Here’s the good news: you don’t. You can format your print book for KDP on your own—no expensive software or design degree required.

In this beginner-friendly guide, you’ll learn how to format a professional-looking print book step by step, using free or affordable tools.

Why Formatting Matters

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s talk about why formatting your print book correctly is important:

  • Ensures your book looks professional

  • Prevents printing issues and rejections from KDP

  • Improves reader experience and credibility

  • Helps you sell more books

Tools You’ll Need (All Free or Affordable)

Here are some simple tools you can use to format your print book:

  • Microsoft Word or Google Docs (for writing and layout)

  • Canva or BookBolt(for cover design)

  • KDP Paperback Template (from Amazon)

  • PDF Converter (Save Word file as PDF)

  • KDP Previewer (for checking print layout)

Step 1: Choose Your Trim Size

The trim size is the final size of your book after it’s printed. Common trim sizes include:

  • 5" x 8"

  • 5.5" x 8.5"

  • 6" x 9" (most popular for nonfiction)

You can download free KDP templates for each trim size directly from Amazon: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834170

This gives you a Word file with the correct margins and formatting pre-set.

Step 2: Set Up Your Document

If you’re not using a template, follow these settings in Word or Google Docs:

  • Page Size: Match your selected trim size (e.g., 6" x 9")

  • Margins: Set at least 0.75” on all sides; add gutter margin of 0.13"–0.25" on the inner edge for binding

  • Font: Use a readable serif font like Garamond or Times New Roman, 11–12 pt

  • Line Spacing: Set to 1.15 or 1.5 for better readability

  • Paragraphs: Use indentations (0.3–0.5 inches) instead of line breaks

  • Justify your text to align both left and right margins

Step 3: Format Front and Back Matter

A professional book layout includes more than just the main content. Be sure to format the following:

Front Matter

  • Title Page

  • Copyright Page

  • Dedication (optional)

  • Table of Contents (for nonfiction)

Back Matter

  • About the Author

  • Call to Action (ask for reviews or link to your other books)

  • Acknowledgments (optional)

Use section breaks in Word to separate chapters and front/back matter properly.

Step 4: Add Page Numbers and Headers

  • Start page numbers after the front matter (usually from the first chapter).

  • Use Roman numerals (i, ii, iii) for front matter pages if you want to get fancy.

  • Add headers with your book title, author name, or chapter title (optional).

Step 5: Format Chapter Titles

Make your chapter headings consistent:

  • Use Heading 1 or Heading 2 style

  • Add space before/after titles

  • Consider starting each chapter on a new page

You can also include a drop cap at the beginning of each chapter to add visual interest.

Step 6: Export as PDF for Print

When you’ve finalized your manuscript:

  • In Word: File > Save As > PDF

  • In Google Docs: File > Download > PDF Document

Make sure to choose “Best for Printing” so the resolution is high enough.

Step 7: Design Your Book Cover

For KDP print books, your cover must include:

  • Front cover

  • Spine

  • Back cover

Use KDP’s Cover Calculator and Template Generator to download the correct cover dimensions based on your page count and trim size: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/cover-calculator

Then, use Canva (free) or BookBolt Designer to create your cover using that template.

Step 8: Upload to KDP

  1. Log in to your KDP dashboard.

  2. Choose “Paperback” as your format.

  3. Fill in book details (title, author, description, keywords).

  4. Upload your manuscript (PDF) and cover (PDF or .jpg).

  5. Use the Print Previewer to check for layout issues.

  6. Set your pricing and hit Publish!

Tips for Professional Results

  • Use hyphenation and avoid widows/orphans (single lines at the top/bottom of a page)

  • Always do a print preview before publishing

  • Order a proof copy to check the physical version

  • Save often and keep backup versions

Conclusion

You don’t need to hire a designer to create a professional-looking print book for Amazon KDP. With the right tools and a little patience, you can format your manuscript like a pro and publish it yourself.

Take it one step at a time, use the templates provided by KDP, and don't be afraid to experiment. Once you do it the first time, you’ll have a repeatable process you can use for every book you publish.

Happy publishing!

 
 
 

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