What this error means
KDP's Kindle store requires a cover image that displays sharply at every size — from the 100-pixel thumbnail in search results to the full product page hero. To do that, KDP demands minimum 625×1000 px and recommends 2560×1600 px at a 1.6:1 height-to-width ratio. Files smaller than 625×1000 are rejected outright; files between 625×1000 and 2560×1600 may pass but will display soft or blurry in Kindle's UI.
The rejection email reads "Your cover image is below the recommended resolution." Sometimes it just shows a yellow warning and the book still publishes — but the cover looks terrible on listing pages.
Max dimensions: 10000×10000 px. Max file size: 50MB. Format: JPEG or TIFF only (no PNG, no WebP). Colour space: sRGB.
Why it happens
Exporting from Canva free tier. Canva's free PDF / JPG exports default to 96 DPI at screen dimensions. A "book cover" template exports at roughly 1410×2250 px — fine for some uses, but below KDP's 2560×1600 recommendation.
Re-using a paperback wrap as ebook cover. A flattened paperback cover from KDP's template is the wrong aspect ratio (it's wider, because it includes spine and back). If you crop just the front, you may end up under 1600 wide.
Photoshop export at 72 DPI. Designers familiar with web export forget print spec. Export size in pixels is what matters — but if you set the document at 6"×9" at 72 DPI, the export is only 432×648 px, far below KDP's minimum.
Downloading from an old website or backup. Your ebook cover from a 2018 launch may be 800×1280 px — fine for Kindle then, too small now.
Free AI cover generators often export at 1024×1024 — square, and not enough resolution for KDP's recommended size.
The fix
Step 1: Find the source design file (PSD, AFPHOTO, AI, Canva project). You cannot fix this from a small JPG — upscaling adds blur without adding real detail. Get the source.
Step 2: Set the canvas to 1600 px wide by 2560 px tall (the 1.6:1 ratio KDP specifies). This is portrait orientation — taller than wide.
Step 3 (Photoshop): Image → Image Size → Width 1600 px, Height 2560 px, Resolution 300 DPI. Tick "Resample" → algorithm "Preserve Details 2.0". OK. Then File → Export → Export As → JPEG → Quality 80% → sRGB colour profile.
Step 4 (Affinity Photo): Document → Resize Document → 1600×2560 px. Export → JPEG → Quality 85%.
Step 5 (Canva Pro): Resize → custom dimensions → 1600 × 2560 px. Tick "Stretch existing design" or rebuild. Download → JPG → Compress quality off.
Step 6 (free workaround): If you only have a small JPG and no source file, run it through a real upscaler — Topaz Gigapixel AI or Adobe Express's "Enhance" — to take it from e.g. 800×1280 to 1600×2560. Don't just resize in Preview, which adds blur.
Step 7: Verify the export. Right-click the JPG → Properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac) and confirm dimensions are at least 1600×2560 px. Check file size is under 50MB.
Step 8: Check colour profile. Open in any image viewer that shows profile (Acrobat, Photoshop). It must say sRGB. If it says Adobe RGB or CMYK, convert: Photoshop → Edit → Convert to Profile → sRGB IEC61966-2.1.
Step 9: Upload to KDP. The dashboard preview will show how it renders at every Kindle size.
How to pre-flight it
Our free KDP Readiness Score measures your cover's pixel dimensions, colour space, file size, and aspect ratio against KDP's published spec. Plus 30+ other rules covering interior, metadata, and ebook-only checks.
Related errors
- KDP error: cover dimensions don't match interior
- KDP error: low-resolution interior images
- KDP error: title on cover doesn't match dashboard
FAQ
Is 1600×2560 the same as 2560×1600? Aspect-ratio-wise they describe the same shape (1.6:1). KDP's docs list 2560×1600, but covers are portrait, so the actual file is 1600 wide × 2560 tall. Both descriptions refer to the same image.
Can I use a PNG instead of JPEG? No — KDP accepts only JPEG or TIFF for covers. Re-export as JPEG.
My cover is 3000×4800 — is that too big? No, it's well within KDP's 10000×10000 max and will produce excellent quality. File size matters more: keep it under 50MB.
Does the cover need to be CMYK or sRGB? sRGB for ebooks. CMYK is print-only. Convert before upload.
