Publish a book through Amazon KDP It's one of the favorite avenues for independent authors today. But before your work sees the light of day, it's essential to go through a sometimes underestimated stage: Word layout for Amazon.
Although Word isn't a professional editorial design tool, it's sufficient for simple books. In fact, Amazon offers templates designed specifically for this program.We explain everything in this article: page size, fonts, margins, headers, images, indexes, etc.
Word or InDesign for designing a book for Amazon?
The eternal question of independent authorsIf your book is simple, has few images, or is mostly text (such as novels, essays, poetry, etc.), Microsoft Word may be more than enoughIt's a well-known, accessible tool that's compatible with the templates offered by Amazon KDP.
However, if you are creating a book with a more visual layout, such as picture books, children's books, manuals with graphics, or need more control over typographic details, InDesign It will be ideal. However, keep in mind that its learning curve is steeper and requires more advanced knowledge.
Keywords: If you're looking to create a quick, customizable layout on your own, Word is the option. Amazon has designed tailored templates for Word for both paperback and hardcoverYou can also start from scratch if you know the right steps.
How to choose the right size for your book
Choosing the right size is One of the most important decisions when setting up a book format in Word for AmazonThis will affect both the reading experience and the printing cost. Amazon offers multiple sizes compatible with Word, and you should choose your size before you begin formatting.
- 6″ x 9″ (15,24 x 22,86 cm): This is the most common size on Amazon KDP. Ideal for novels and books with more than 150 pages.
- 5,5″ x 8,5″ (13,97 x 21,59 cm): Widely used in nonfiction books. If your manuscript is less than 150 pages, or you're looking for a more compact format.
- A5 (14,8 x 21 cm): versatile, comfortable and very popular in Europe.
- 8,5″ x 11″ (21,59 x 27,94 cm): Recommended for large books such as notebooks, journals, visual manuals or coloring books.
Useful tipBefore you start, identify a book similar to yours on Amazon and look at its size. This way, you'll know what readers in that niche expect.
How to set up the document in Word
Once you have chosen the size, you must adjust the document correctly to comply with Amazon KDP printing standards. To do this:
- Go to “Page Layout” or “Layout” in Word.
- Change the size by selecting “Custom Size” and entering the exact dimensions of your book.
- Set margins. For manuscripts with fewer than 150 pages, use standard 2″ or 0.5 cm margins. If your book is thicker, allow more margin on the spine (bottom and inside sides). Amazon recommends a minimum of 0.375″ (0,95 cm) for the binding margin.
- If you are going to use images that bleed to the edge, activate the option Bleeding of 0.125″ additional.
Important: Documents should not have page numbers at the beginning if they are to be published digitally, as the Kindle adjusts the content based on the device.
Formatting the interior: fonts, structure, and style
The way your text is presented is essential to achieving the correct Word format for Amazon. You must take care with aspects such as fonts, line spacing, headings, and chapters.
- recommended font: Garamond, Times New Roman, or Bookerly (the Kindle font). Make sure you don't use decorative or hard-to-read fonts for the body text.
- Font size: between 11 and 12 pt for general text. Headings between 14 and 16 pt.
- Alignment: always justified. Avoid centering except in titles.
- Line spacing: between 1,15 and 1,5 lines. Avoid leaving excessive spaces before/after paragraphs.
- Identation: Indent the first line of each paragraph. Do this using the paragraph style, never manually.
- Do not use decorated drop caps, as they do not render correctly on Kindle.
If you copy content from another file, the paragraph style is likely to be draggedIt's best to paste without formatting and apply the desired style from within Word.
Book structure: preliminary pages and chapters
Amazon recommends following a classic editorial structure, especially for printed books. This includes:
- Title page: with title, subtitle, author and publisher.
- Rights page: copyright with year of publication and ISBN (if you have one).
- Dedication or thanks: optional.
- Table of Contents: very important, especially in long books. It's automatically generated if you use heading styles in Word.
- Chapters: each one must start on a new page (insert page break).
- About the Author: At the end you can include a mini biography.
To remove sample text from Amazon templates:
- Activate paragraph marks (¶).
- Select the provisional text.
- Delete it with the “Del” key.
- Please check that there are no unnecessary sections before exporting.
Insert images correctly
Amazon accepts images in Word as long as they are well-structured and in high resolution.. Follow these guidelines:
- Format: .jpg or .png
- Resolution: 300 dpi ideal for printing, minimum 150 dpi for digital.
- Alignment: Adjusts the image to fit the width of the text. It shouldn't be too close to the border.
- Avoid inserting floating images inside text boxes or with complex formats.
For books with full-page or bleed-through images, you must set appropriate margins and bleeds when exporting and working from the corresponding template.
How to create an interactive index
A good table of contents is not based on page numbers, but on internal links.This is essential in eBooks, as readers can jump directly from the table of contents to the desired chapter with a click.
Steps:
- Apply the “Heading 1” style to each chapter or section title.
- Go to the page where you want to place the index.
- From the “References” tab in Word, click “Table of Contents.”
- Select one of the automatic models.
The inserted table of contents will remain navigable and will automatically update when you edit the content if you use styles correctly.
Page numbers, headers and footers
In printed books you must include numbering, headers and footers., but with some considerations:
- Page numbers are usually placed centered or at the bottom outside edge.
- Headings can show the author's name on even-numbered pages and the book title on odd-numbered pages.
- Avoid headings on chapter opening pages or preliminary pages.
To do this correctly, you'll need to set up separate sections in Word using section breaks and disable the link to the previous section with "Different heading on first page."
Export the file correctly for Amazon KDP
Before uploading your book to KDP, it is key to export it in the correct format to preserve the design.:
- For printed books: Save as PDF, with embedded fonts.
- For eBooks: You can upload .docx directly or use Kindle Create to enhance the format and convert it to .kpf.
Amazon recommends using Kindle Previewer to see how your book will look on different devices (tablet, mobile, classic Kindle, etc.).
Common mistakes you should avoid
- Leave sample text from templates undeleted.
- Do not embed fonts when exporting PDF.
- Insert images into complex tables or text boxes.
- Do not use titles with heading styles, as this will prevent the table of contents from being generated.
- Upload the cover sheet inserted into the manuscript, when requested separately by Amazon.
To further enhance the design, you can use Kindle Create, a free tool from Amazon that will help you convert and optimize your manuscript into an ideal .kpf file.
Layout your book in Word formatted for Amazon KDP You don't need to be a professional designer, but you do need to understand the rules of the game.By following a clear structure, paying attention to formatting details, and avoiding the most common mistakes, you can ensure a comfortable reading experience and a professional appearance. This will not only improve your sales but also your readers' ratings. In the end, good content always wins, but well-presented content stands out from the first glance.