How to Format a Table of Contents for KDP (With Examples)

The Table of Contents (TOC) is one of the most critical structural elements of your book. However, the requirements for a TOC in a print paperback are entirely different from the requirements for a Kindle eBook.

If you format your TOC incorrectly, Amazon KDP may reject your file, or worse, your readers will have a frustrating experience navigating your book.

This guide explains exactly how to format a perfect Table of Contents for both print and digital formats.

The Print TOC: Page Numbers and Leaders

For a physical paperback, your Table of Contents serves a traditional purpose: it tells the reader what page a chapter starts on.

The Anatomy of a Print TOC

A professional print TOC contains three elements:

1. The Chapter Title: (e.g., “Chapter 1: The Beginning”)
2. The Dot Leader: The line of dots connecting the title to the page number.
3. The Page Number: Right-aligned to the margin.

How to Create a Print TOC in Microsoft Word

Do not manually type dots and numbers! If you change your font size or add a paragraph later, your page numbers will be wrong, and your dots will be misaligned.

Instead, use Word’s automated feature:

1. Ensure all your chapter titles are styled using the Heading 1 style.
2. Place your cursor where you want the TOC to appear.
3. Go to the References tab on the ribbon.
4. Click Table of Contents and select Custom Table of Contents.
5. Ensure “Show page numbers” and “Right align page numbers” are checked.
6. Select your preferred “Tab leader” (the dots).
7. Click OK.

Word will automatically generate a perfect TOC based on your headings. If you edit your book later, simply right-click the TOC and select “Update Field” to refresh the page numbers.

The Kindle eBook TOC: Clickable Links

In an eBook, page numbers are irrelevant because the text reflows based on the reader’s device and font size preferences. Instead, a Kindle TOC must consist of clickable hyperlinks.

Furthermore, Kindle requires two types of TOCs:

1. The HTML TOC: The actual page inside your book that readers can see and tap.
2. The NCX (Logical) TOC: The hidden menu built into the Kindle device’s navigation bar.

How to Create a Kindle TOC

If you used the automated Word method described above, you are already halfway there.

When you upload a Word document (.docx) to KDP, Amazon’s conversion software automatically looks for text styled as “Heading 1” and uses it to build both the HTML and NCX Table of Contents.

Crucial Step: When creating the TOC for your eBook version, you must disable the page numbers.

1. Go to References > Table of Contents > Custom Table of Contents.
2. Uncheck “Show page numbers.”
3. Ensure “Use hyperlinks instead of page numbers” is checked.

The Problem: Managing Two Files

The biggest headache for self-published authors is that you cannot use the same file for both print and digital.

You must maintain a “Print Master” file with page numbers and dot leaders, and an “eBook Master” file with hyperlinks and no page numbers. If you spot a typo in Chapter 4, you have to remember to fix it in both files.

The Automated Alternative

Managing dual formatting requirements is exactly why we built publishing.co.uk.

When you upload your manuscript to our system, our AI automatically detects your chapter headings. It then splits your project into two distinct outputs:

1. A Print PDF: Featuring a beautifully typeset TOC with dot leaders and accurate, automatically calculated page numbers.
2. A Kindle EPUB: Featuring a fully hyperlinked HTML TOC and a perfectly coded NCX navigation menu.

You only have to maintain one source file. We handle the rest.