Tick off each item as you complete it. Your progress is saved in your browser so you can come back anytime. When you are finished, download the checklist as a PDF for your records.
▼ Interior Formatting
▼ Cover Setup
▼ Metadata & Settings
▼ Upload & Review
What KDP actually checks at upload
Amazon's automated review runs a fixed set of checks against every paperback PDF and Kindle eBook. The checklist above is sequenced so the items KDP rejects most often appear first.
The automated checks fall into four buckets, and the checklist above is grouped to match them:
- File integrity — fonts embedded, no corrupt streams, PDF/X-1a:2001 compatible.
- Geometry — page size matches trim, margins meet the minimum, page count is even and within range.
- Image quality — all raster images at 300 DPI or higher, CMYK for paperback covers.
- Metadata consistency — ISBN on the copyright page matches the ISBN field on KDP.
Pass all four buckets and your file clears automated review in under 72 hours.
How long does this checklist take?
Most authors complete the 37 items in 60–90 minutes, but the first time round it can take an afternoon. The longest items are typically gutter-margin setup and front-matter assembly — both have calculators or templates linked on the relevant lines.
Save your progress as you go. The checklist uses your browser's local storage, so you can leave and come back without losing ticks.
When the checklist is most useful
| Stage of your project | What to focus on |
|---|---|
| Just finished your manuscript | Interior Formatting section |
| Cover designer delivered files | Cover Setup section |
| Pricing and categories ready | Metadata and Settings section |
| About to click Publish | Upload and Review section |
The four sections are independent — you do not have to tick every interior item before starting on the cover.
Common rejections this checklist prevents
The items below are the ones we see most often in audits. Each appears as a numbered tick on the live checklist:
- Odd total page count (item 14)
- Embedded fonts missing from the PDF (item 13)
- Spine width calculated for the wrong paper type (item 16)
- Critical cover content inside the bleed zone (item 18)
- ISBN on copyright page does not match the ISBN field (cross-checked against item 28)
- Categories chosen too broad for the genre (item 27)
- Description over 4,000 characters or missing HTML breaks (item 25)
- Online previewer not checked before submission (item 33)
A manuscript that passes every line above almost always clears KDP automated review on the first attempt.
Tick the boxes — or hand it to us
The checklist is free and saves automatically. If you would rather skip it entirely, our formatting service ticks every box for you from £69, with a written confirmation that the file is KDP-ready.
Frequently asked questions
How many items are on the KDP formatting checklist?
The checklist contains 37 items split across four sections: Interior Formatting (14 items), Cover Setup (8 items), Metadata and Settings (8 items), and Upload and Review (7 items).
Do I need to use the KDP online previewer before submitting?
Yes — checking the previewer is item 33 on the checklist. Review the first page, last page, every chapter opener, and any page containing an image so you catch layout issues before KDP does.
What page count does KDP need for spine text?
Your book needs a minimum of 79 pages (about 0.2 inches of spine width) before KDP allows spine text. Books thinner than that must have a blank spine.
Does my final paperback PDF need an even page count?
Yes. KDP rejects PDFs with an odd total page count. If your manuscript ends on an odd page, add a single blank page at the back so the total is even.
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Format my book →Further reading from official sources
- KDP — Paperback manuscript formatting — the official requirements every file is checked against.
- W3C — EPUBCheck — the validator your eBook will be run through.
