Free KDP margin calculator
KDP margin and gutter calculator for paperback interiors
The binding-side margin increases as a paperback gets thicker. Enter the final PDF page count below to identify the current minimum inside gutter tier. Typeset Ready uses these tiers when building and checking an interior.
KDP’s minimum inside margin is 0.375 inches for 24–150 pages, 0.5 inches for 151–300, 0.625 inches for 301–500, 0.75 inches for 501–700, and 0.875 inches for 701–828. Outside margins must be at least 0.25 inches without bleed or 0.375 inches with bleed.
Interactive calculator
Calculate the interior and cover
Enter the page count from your finished interior PDF to calculate both production files.
Minimums follow Amazon KDP’s current margin guidance. Always verify the final PDF in KDP Print Previewer.
How to use the result
Use the completed interior PDF page count—not the page count from the editing document. Changing trim size, font, margins, or chapter starts can change pagination and move the book into another gutter tier.
- Finalize trim size first
- Generate the complete interior
- Count all front matter and body pages
- Round up to an even page count when KDP does
- Recheck after every layout change
Margin is not the same as bleed
Margin protects content inside the page. Bleed extends artwork beyond the trim edge so manufacturing variation does not create a white line. A text-only novel usually does not need bleed. If even one interior page has artwork extending to an edge, KDP says the entire file should be prepared for bleed.
Use a comfortable layout
The published numbers are minimums, not a requirement to place text as close to the edge as possible. A book may use larger top, bottom, and outside margins for readability. Typeset Ready uses a conservative outside margin for its text interiors and automatically advances the inside gutter near page-count thresholds.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Does the cover count toward the interior page count?
No. Use the number of pages in the interior manuscript PDF. The cover is uploaded separately.
What if my book has fewer than 24 pages?
KDP paperbacks generally require at least 24 pages. Maximums vary by ink, paper, and trim combination.
Can I use the same gutter for every book?
No. The minimum inside gutter increases with the final interior page count.