Last reviewed by Robert Prime — June 2026
Quick Answer: A KDP paperback must be 24 pages or more. The maximum depends on ink and paper: 828 pages (black ink on white), 776 (black ink on cream), 600 (standard colour) or 828 (premium colour). Hardcovers run 75–550 pages. Smaller trim sizes cap lower, so always check KDP's table for your exact size. An even page count is recommended but not required.
Full reasoning, why-it-happens, and the exact fix below.
UK note: UK-specific considerations apply — ISBN purchases go through Nielsen (not Bowker), VAT rules differ from the US (print books are zero-rated; ebooks carry 20% VAT), and GDPR applies to any email/customer data. See our UK self-publishing guides for specifics.
We see this come through our formatting queue at publishing.co.uk regularly, so the patterns and fixes here are based on what actually works at upload.
What the page-count rules are
KDP enforces a minimum and a maximum number of interior pages, and both depend on the print options you choose. If your manuscript falls outside the range for your ink, paper and trim combination, the file is rejected at upload before a human ever sees it.
Here are the limits for the standard trim sizes:
| Print option | Minimum pages | Maximum pages |
|---|---|---|
| Black ink, white paper | 24 | 828 |
| Black ink, cream paper | 24 | 776 |
| Standard colour | 72 | 600 |
| Premium colour | 24 | 828 |
| Hardcover | 75 | 550 |
Two things trip authors up. First, cream paper is thicker than white, so the cream maximum is 776, not 828 — the page block would otherwise be too thick to bind. Second, the maximum also scales down with smaller trim sizes. The numbers above are the ceilings for larger trims; a 5×8 book caps lower than an 8.5×11 one. Always cross-check KDP's table for your specific trim.
📎 Source: KDP's authoritative documentation on this rule is at KDP's official Print Options page.
Do I need an even page count?
This is the most common myth. KDP does not reject a paperback for having an odd page count — unlike IngramSpark, which does. If your interior ends on an odd page, KDP simply prints the final leaf with a blank reverse.
That said, an even page count is good practice. A book laid out properly finishes on a left-hand (verso) page, so the inside back cover faces a blank. If your last page of text lands on a right-hand (recto) page with an odd total, the reader turns to a blank final leaf — harmless, but it can look unfinished. See odd page count in print interiors for how to pad cleanly with front or back matter rather than a stray blank.
Why it happens
Too few pages. Children's books, poetry chapbooks and short guides routinely come in under 24 pages. KDP needs at least 24 to produce a spine that will bind. A hardcover needs 75.
Too many pages. Omnibus editions, large-print conversions and image-heavy cookbooks can sail past the maximum. Cream paper makes this worse because it shaves 52 pages off the ceiling versus white.
Wrong paper assumption. Authors design for white (828), then select cream at upload (776) and suddenly a 800-page novel is over the limit.
Colour confusion. Standard colour starts at 72 pages and stops at 600. A 650-page colour textbook has to move to premium colour or split into two volumes.
The fix
Step 1: Open your final interior PDF and note the true page count (including all front and back matter, not just the body).
Step 2: Decide your print options — ink (black or colour), paper (white or cream), and binding (paperback or hardcover) — and read the matching row above.
Step 3: If you're under the minimum, add pages: a title page, copyright page, dedication, "also by" page, or a short author bio at the back. See under minimum pages.
Step 4: If you're over the maximum, your options are: switch cream→white paper (gains 52 pages), reduce trim/font to fit more per page, move from standard to premium colour, or split into two volumes. See over maximum pages.
Step 5: Re-export and confirm the final count matches what you select in the KDP dashboard's paperback/hardcover setup.
How to pre-flight it
Our free KDP Readiness Score reads your interior page count and checks it against KDP's live minimum and maximum for your trim, ink and paper — alongside the other 30+ rules KDP enforces. Catching an out-of-range count before upload saves the 24–72 hour review cycle.
Related errors
- Odd page count in print interior
- Fewer than 24 pages (paperback minimum)
- More than the maximum pages
- Margin too small (gutter scales with page count)
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum number of pages for a KDP paperback?
24 pages for a paperback. Hardcovers require a minimum of 75 pages. Standard colour paperbacks need at least 72 pages.
What is the maximum number of pages on KDP?
828 pages for black ink on white paper, 776 on cream paper, 600 for standard colour and 828 for premium colour. Hardcovers max out at 550 pages. Smaller trim sizes have lower maximums, so check KDP's table for your exact trim.
Does my book need an even number of pages?
No. KDP does not require an even page count and will not reject your file for an odd total — it prints the last leaf with a blank back. An even count is still recommended so the book ends cleanly on a left-hand page.
Why is the cream-paper maximum lower than white?
Cream paper is fractionally thicker, so the same number of pages makes a thicker, heavier book. KDP caps cream at 776 pages (versus 828 on white) to keep the binding within tolerance.
My colour book is over 600 pages — what do I do?
Standard colour stops at 600 pages. Switch to premium colour (up to 828) or split the book into two volumes. Premium colour costs more per page, so price accordingly.
Related KDP error fixes
If you got the rejection above, you may also want to check these related issues — they tend to cluster:
Full list: KDP formatting errors hub · KDP rejection fixes hub · KDP rejected my book
About this guide
This page is part of a series of UK-focused KDP rejection guides at publishing.co.uk, each documenting a specific reason KDP can reject a print or Kindle file and the exact fix. Written by Robert Prime — founder of publishing.co.uk, co-runs the LoveReading network, and has overseen 500+ KDP submissions through formatting work in this category (page count).
If you'd rather have someone else handle this and the other 35 issues KDP checks for, our formatting service is from £69 with a 3-day turnaround and a 100% KDP-acceptance guarantee.
Run a free KDP Readiness Score on your file before you upload — catches this issue and 35 others, in 60 seconds.
External references
- Amazon KDP Print Options — official page-count and trim specifications
- Amazon KDP Help — official KDP documentation
