6 × 9 paperback guide
6 × 9 manuscript template and paperback setup guide
Six by nine inches is the most common U.S. paperback trim size and works well for novels, memoirs, and many nonfiction books. A template establishes the physical page, but the final inside margin still depends on the completed book’s page count.
Set the finished page to 6 inches wide by 9 inches high for a no-bleed interior. Use mirrored margins, select the inside gutter from the final page-count tier, embed fonts, and export one book page per PDF page.
Recommended starting structure
A straightforward 6 × 9 book usually begins with a title page and copyright page, followed by optional dedication or contents pages. Body page numbering can begin with the first chapter. Fiction commonly uses a serif body typeface around 10–12 points.
- Page size: 6 × 9 inches without bleed
- Inside margin: based on final page count
- Outside margin: at least KDP’s minimum
- Top and bottom: allow comfortable page furniture
- Body pages: mirrored left and right layout
Why the gutter changes
Thicker books need more space near the binding so text does not disappear into the spine. KDP increases its minimum inside margin at 151, 301, 501, and 701 pages. This is why a static Word template cannot guarantee the right gutter before final pagination.
Template versus formatter
A downloadable template gives you a starting document, but the author must maintain styles, section breaks, page numbering, and margin tiers. Typeset Ready instead repaginates the manuscript after each setting change and checks the completed PDF against the selected paper’s page limit.
- Use a template if you are comfortable managing Word sections
- Use a formatter if you want guided print controls
- In either case, finish with KDP Print Previewer and a physical proof
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is 6 × 9 a standard KDP paperback size?
Yes. Amazon identifies 6 × 9 inches as the most common paperback trim size in the United States.
What is the page size with bleed?
For a 6 × 9 interior with bleed, KDP specifies a PDF page of 6.125 × 9.25 inches. Typeset Ready currently supports no-bleed text interiors only.
What gutter should I use?
It depends on final page count. Use the calculator on the KDP margin and gutter page to find the current minimum tier.