KDP cover setup · Updated 2026-05-30
KDP cover size with bleed
Learn how KDP cover bleed changes paperback cover width and height, and why 0.125 in bleed must be added outside the trim area.
What bleed means for a KDP cover
Bleed is extra artwork outside the final trim. A physical cover is trimmed after printing, and a small trim shift can reveal a white edge if backgrounds stop exactly at the trim line.
For a paperback cover, include bleed on the outside edges of the full cover file. The calculator adds bleed to the left and right sides of the full spread and to the top and bottom of the cover height.
- Add bleed to the full cover file, not to only the front cover.
- Extend backgrounds through the bleed.
- Keep important text, logos, and faces inside the safe region.
- Do not use the barcode area for important back-cover content.
Worked example with current spine multipliers
For a 6 × 9 paperback, black-and-white interior, white paper, 120 pages, and 0.125 in bleed, the spine is 0.270 in. The full file width becomes 12.520 in; the trim spread before bleed is 12.270 in.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Trim spread before bleed | 12.270 × 9 in |
| Cover file including bleed | 12.520 × 9.25 in |
| 300 PPI canvas | 3756 × 2775 px |
Practical design rule
Calculate the full cover file first, create that exact canvas size, then turn on guides for bleed, trim, spine, and barcode safe zone. Do not resize the finished artwork by eye after export.