5.5" × 8.5" Paperback Cover Dimensions: 250 Pages, B&W White
PDF Width
11.8130"
850.54 pt
PDF Height
8.7500"
630.00 pt
Spine Width
0.5630"
40.54 pt
How These Dimensions Are Calculated
spine_width = 250 pages × 0.002252" = 0.5630"
pdf_width = (2 × 5.5") + 0.5630" + 0.25" = 11.8130"
pdf_height = 8.5" + 0.25" = 8.7500"
pdf_width = (2 × 5.5") + 0.5630" + 0.25" = 11.8130"
pdf_height = 8.5" + 0.25" = 8.7500"
The 0.25" added to both width and height accounts for 0.125" bleed on each side. Your cover image must extend into this bleed area to avoid white edges after trimming.
Cover Layout (Left to Right)
[0.125" bleed] [Back Cover 5.5"] [Spine 0.5630"] [Front Cover 5.5"] [0.125" bleed]
Key Specifications
- Trim size: 5.5" × 8.5"
- Page count: 250 pages
- Paper type: Black & White on White Paper
- Bleed: 0.125" on all outer edges
- Safe margin: 0.25" inside trim line
- Spine text: Allowed (250 ≥ 79 pages)
- Barcode reserve: 2" × 1.2" on back cover
- Resolution: 300 DPI, RGB color space
Dimensions in Multiple Units
| Measurement | Inches | Points (pt) | Millimeters | Pixels (300 DPI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDF Width | 11.8130" | 850.54 | 300.05 mm | 3544 px |
| PDF Height | 8.7500" | 630.00 | 222.25 mm | 2625 px |
| Spine Width | 0.5630" | 40.54 | 14.30 mm | 169 px |
The 150–299-page window at 6" × 9" or 5.5" × 8.5" on white paper is the single most common configuration for adult fiction and general-interest non-fiction. Spine widths run from 0.34" to 0.67". A 200-page 6" × 9" book produces a PDF that is exactly 12.7004" wide — the worked example in KDP's own documentation. Many traditionally published trade paperbacks from literary publishers match these specs. The 6" × 9" format commands more shelf space and a slightly more authoritative appearance than the 5.5" × 8.5" equivalent at the same page count.