Ebook Cover Size & Dimensions: The Definitive Guide for Every Platform (2026)
Exact ebook cover dimensions for Amazon KDP, Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and more. Includes print cover sizes, spine calculators, and file format requirements.
Why Cover Dimensions Matter
Upload a cover with the wrong dimensions and you'll get rejected, stretched, cropped, or blurry. Each publishing platform has specific requirements, and they're not all the same.
This guide gives you the exact specs for every major platform so you can create one master file that works everywhere — or at least know exactly what to adjust.
The Universal Safe Bet
If you want one size that works almost everywhere:
2,560 × 1,600 pixels at 72 DPI (RGB color)
This is Amazon KDP's ideal dimension and will scale down perfectly for every other ebook platform. It gives you a 1.6:1 height-to-width ratio, which is the standard for most ebook retailers.
File format: JPEG or PNG
Color space: RGB (not CMYK — that's for print)
File size: Under 50MB
Platform-by-Platform Specifications
Amazon KDP (Kindle)
Amazon is the biggest ebook retailer, so get this one right.
| Spec | Requirement |
|------|------------|
| Ideal size | 2,560 × 1,600 px |
| Minimum | 1,000 × 625 px |
| Maximum | 10,000 px on longest side |
| Aspect ratio | 1.6:1 (height:width) |
| File format | JPEG or TIFF |
| Color space | RGB |
| Max file size | 50MB |
Pro tip: Amazon will reject covers under 1,000 pixels tall. Always upload the maximum quality — Amazon will compress it for different Kindle devices automatically.
Apple Books
| Spec | Requirement |
|------|------------|
| Minimum | 1,400 × 1,873 px |
| Recommended | 1,600 × 2,400 px |
| Aspect ratio | 1.5:1 (height:width) |
| File format | JPEG or PNG |
| Color space | RGB |
| Resolution | 72 DPI minimum |
Note: Apple's ratio is slightly different from Amazon's (1.5:1 vs 1.6:1). If you design at 2,560 × 1,600 for Amazon, you may need to add a tiny bit of height or trim width for Apple's preferred ratio. In practice, most platforms accept slight ratio variations.
Barnes & Noble (Nook Press)
| Spec | Requirement |
|------|------------|
| Minimum | 750 × 1,200 px |
| Recommended | 1,400 × 2,100 px |
| Aspect ratio | 1.5:1 |
| File format | JPEG or PNG |
| Max file size | 5MB |
Kobo Writing Life
| Spec | Requirement |
|------|------------|
| Minimum | 1,400 × 1,873 px |
| Recommended | 1,600 × 2,400 px |
| File format | JPEG or PNG |
| Max file size | 5MB |
Google Play Books
| Spec | Requirement |
|------|------------|
| Minimum | 640 × 1,024 px |
| Recommended | 2,560 × 1,600 px |
| File format | JPEG or PNG |
| Color space | RGB |
Smashwords / Draft2Digital
| Spec | Requirement |
|------|------------|
| Minimum | 1,600 × 2,400 px |
| Recommended | 1,600 × 2,400 px or larger |
| File format | JPEG or PNG |
Since these are aggregators that distribute to multiple platforms, they enforce the strictest requirements across all their retail partners.
Print Cover Specifications
Print covers are completely different from ebook covers. You need much higher resolution and a full wrap (front + spine + back).
Amazon KDP Print
| Spec | Requirement |
|------|------------|
| Resolution | 300 DPI |
| Color space | CMYK (recommended) or RGB |
| File format | PDF |
| Bleed | 0.125" (3.175mm) on all sides |
| Spine width | Varies by page count and paper type |
To calculate your exact print cover size, use Amazon's Cover Calculator. You'll need:
- Trim size (e.g., 6" × 9")
- Page count
- Paper type (white or cream)
IngramSpark
| Spec | Requirement |
|------|------------|
| Resolution | 300 DPI |
| Color space | CMYK |
| File format | PDF/X-1a:2001 |
| Bleed | 0.125" |
| Spine text | Required if spine > 0.5" wide |
IngramSpark is stricter than KDP about file formats. They specifically require PDF/X-1a:2001 format and CMYK color space.
Calculating Spine Width
Spine width depends on page count and paper type:
KDP White paper: Page count × 0.002252" = spine width
KDP Cream paper: Page count × 0.0025" = spine width
Example: A 300-page book on cream paper = 300 × 0.0025" = 0.75" spine
Full Wrap Calculation
Total cover width = Back cover width + Spine width + Front cover width + (2 × bleed)
For a 6" × 9" book with a 0.75" spine:
- Total width = 6" + 0.75" + 6" + 0.25" (bleed) = 13"
- Total height = 9" + 0.25" (bleed) = 9.25"
- At 300 DPI = 3,900 × 2,775 pixels
File Format Guide
JPEG
- Best for: Ebook covers, most platforms
- Supports: Millions of colors, small file size
- Doesn't support: Transparency
PNG
- Best for: Covers with transparency or sharp text
- Supports: Transparency, lossless compression
- Larger file size than JPEG
TIFF
- Best for: Print covers, maximum quality
- Supports: CMYK, layers, high bit depth
- Very large files
- Required for: IngramSpark, some print services
- Can embed fonts and maintain exact layout
RGB vs CMYK
Colors that look vibrant in RGB may appear duller in CMYK. Always convert to CMYK and check the result before submitting print files. Bright neon greens and electric blues are the worst offenders — they shift significantly when converted.
Resolution: DPI Explained
DPI (dots per inch) measures print resolution.
A common mistake: designing at 72 DPI and then trying to upscale to 300 DPI for print. This doesn't work — you'll get a blurry mess. Always start at 300 DPI if you might need print, then downscale for digital.
Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
Ebook (Design Once, Use Everywhere)
Print (Amazon KDP)
Print (IngramSpark)
Common Dimension Mistakes
Tips for Multi-Platform Publishing
If you're publishing on multiple platforms simultaneously:
Getting dimensions right isn't glamorous, but it's the difference between a cover that looks sharp and professional versus one that screams amateur. Take the time to get it right once, and you won't have to redo it later.