Genre Formatting on publishing.co.uk — Professional KDP Book Formatting

Biography KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Biography KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Self-publishing a biography on Amazon KDP requires layout decisions specific to the genre — decisions that affect spine math, royalty per copy, reader experience, and (most importantly) whether your file clears KDP's automated review on the first attempt. This guide gives the formatting recipe most biography authors should follow, plus the specific pitfall the genre is most likely to trip over.

TL;DR — the Biography formatting recipe

Trim: 6" x 9" (biography trade standard)
Paper: Cream for narrative biographies, white if image-heavy
Body font: Sabon, Garamond or Minion Pro at 10.5-11pt
Chapter heading font: Display serif at 22-28pt with subtitle line at 12pt
Spacing: 1.3 spacing, justified, with 0.3" indent
Typical page count: 350-500 pages (most biographies), 600+ for definitive works

Why these defaults are the right starting point

The 6" x 9" trim is the biography industry standard for a reason — it's what trad-published biography books use, so it's what readers expect to feel in their hands. Deviating from the genre standard isn't always wrong, but it's a deliberate decision that needs a reason: maybe you're producing a limited-run hardcover with a different feel, or your book has unusual layout requirements. For 95% of authors in biography, the standard trim wins.

Business Book KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Business Book KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Self-publishing a business on Amazon KDP requires layout decisions specific to the genre — decisions that affect spine math, royalty per copy, reader experience, and (most importantly) whether your file clears KDP's automated review on the first attempt. This guide gives the formatting recipe most business authors should follow, plus the specific pitfall the genre is most likely to trip over.

TL;DR — the Business formatting recipe

Trim: 6" x 9" (business book standard) or 5.5" x 8.5" (executive)
Paper: White (for charts and frameworks)
Body font: Minion Pro, Georgia or Sabon at 11pt for narrative chapters; Calibri / Avenir at 10pt for case-study sections
Chapter heading font: Strong sans-serif at 24-28pt with subtitle
Spacing: 1.3 spacing, justified or left-aligned, block paragraphs (no first-line indent, 6pt after)
Typical page count: 200-280 pages

Why these defaults are the right starting point

The 6" x 9" trim is the business industry standard for a reason — it's what trad-published business books use, so it's what readers expect to feel in their hands. Deviating from the genre standard isn't always wrong, but it's a deliberate decision that needs a reason: maybe you're producing a limited-run hardcover with a different feel, or your book has unusual layout requirements. For 95% of authors in business, the standard trim wins.

Children's Chapter Book KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Children's Chapter Book KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Self-publishing a children's chapter book on Amazon KDP requires layout decisions specific to the genre — decisions that affect spine math, royalty per copy, reader experience, and (most importantly) whether your file clears KDP's automated review on the first attempt. This guide gives the formatting recipe most children's chapter book authors should follow, plus the specific pitfall the genre is most likely to trip over.

Cookbook KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cookbook KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Self-publishing a cookbook on Amazon KDP requires layout decisions specific to the genre — decisions that affect spine math, royalty per copy, reader experience, and (most importantly) whether your file clears KDP's automated review on the first attempt. This guide gives the formatting recipe most cookbook authors should follow, plus the specific pitfall the genre is most likely to trip over.

TL;DR — the Cookbook formatting recipe

Trim: 7" x 10" or 8" x 10" (cookbook standard); 8.5" x 11" for full-photo coffee-table
Paper: White, premium colour interior (cream is wrong for cookbooks — colour reproduction needs the white base)
Body font: Modern sans-serif (Avenir, Proxima Nova, Source Sans Pro) at 10-11pt for recipes; serif for narrative interludes
Chapter heading font: Display serif or hand-lettered look for chapter heads at 28-36pt
Spacing: 1.35 spacing, left-aligned (not justified — ingredient lists look wrong justified)
Typical page count: 160-240 pages (most cookbooks)

Why these defaults are the right starting point

The 7" x 10" trim is the cookbook industry standard for a reason — it's what trad-published cookbook books use, so it's what readers expect to feel in their hands. Deviating from the genre standard isn't always wrong, but it's a deliberate decision that needs a reason: maybe you're producing a limited-run hardcover with a different feel, or your book has unusual layout requirements. For 95% of authors in cookbook, the standard trim wins.

Fantasy Novel KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Fantasy Novel KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Self-publishing a fantasy on Amazon KDP requires layout decisions specific to the genre — decisions that affect spine math, royalty per copy, reader experience, and (most importantly) whether your file clears KDP's automated review on the first attempt. This guide gives the formatting recipe most fantasy authors should follow, plus the specific pitfall the genre is most likely to trip over.

TL;DR — the Fantasy formatting recipe

Trim: 6" x 9" (industry standard for trade fantasy)
Paper: Cream
Body font: Garamond, Sabon or Adobe Caslon Pro at 11-12pt
Chapter heading font: Display serif (Cinzel, Trajan Pro) or strong italics at 22-28pt
Spacing: 1.3 spacing, justified, with 0.3-0.35" first-line indent
Typical page count: 350-550 pages (epic fantasy frequently 600-900)

Why these defaults are the right starting point

The 6" x 9" trim is the fantasy industry standard for a reason — it's what trad-published fantasy books use, so it's what readers expect to feel in their hands. Deviating from the genre standard isn't always wrong, but it's a deliberate decision that needs a reason: maybe you're producing a limited-run hardcover with a different feel, or your book has unusual layout requirements. For 95% of authors in fantasy, the standard trim wins.

Memoir KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Memoir KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Self-publishing a memoir on Amazon KDP requires layout decisions specific to the genre — decisions that affect spine math, royalty per copy, reader experience, and (most importantly) whether your file clears KDP's automated review on the first attempt. This guide gives the formatting recipe most memoir authors should follow, plus the specific pitfall the genre is most likely to trip over.

TL;DR — the Memoir formatting recipe

Trim: 5.5" x 8.5" (memoir trade standard) or 6" x 9"
Paper: Cream
Body font: Garamond, Baskerville or Caslon at 11pt
Chapter heading font: Same family at 22-26pt, often italic or small caps
Spacing: 1.3-1.4 spacing, justified, with 0.3" indent
Typical page count: 240-360 pages (most memoirs)

Why these defaults are the right starting point

The 5.5" x 8 trim is the memoir industry standard for a reason — it's what trad-published memoir books use, so it's what readers expect to feel in their hands. Deviating from the genre standard isn't always wrong, but it's a deliberate decision that needs a reason: maybe you're producing a limited-run hardcover with a different feel, or your book has unusual layout requirements. For 95% of authors in memoir, the standard trim wins.

Picture Book KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Picture Book KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Self-publishing a picture book on Amazon KDP requires layout decisions specific to the genre — decisions that affect spine math, royalty per copy, reader experience, and (most importantly) whether your file clears KDP's automated review on the first attempt. This guide gives the formatting recipe most picture book authors should follow, plus the specific pitfall the genre is most likely to trip over.

Poetry Collection KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Poetry Collection KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Self-publishing a poetry on Amazon KDP requires layout decisions specific to the genre — decisions that affect spine math, royalty per copy, reader experience, and (most importantly) whether your file clears KDP's automated review on the first attempt. This guide gives the formatting recipe most poetry authors should follow, plus the specific pitfall the genre is most likely to trip over.

TL;DR — the Poetry formatting recipe

Trim: 5" x 8" or 5.5" x 8.5" (poetry standards). Some literary collections use 5.5" x 8.25".
Paper: Cream (traditional) — white if the collection is contemporary minimalist
Body font: Garamond, Bembo or Palatino at 11pt — poetry historically uses slightly smaller body text than fiction
Chapter heading font: Same family in italic for poem titles at 13-14pt
Spacing: 1.25-1.35 spacing, left-aligned (NOT justified — justified text destroys line-break rhythm)
Typical page count: 60-140 pages (most poetry collections)

Why these defaults are the right starting point

The 5" x 8" trim is the poetry industry standard for a reason — it's what trad-published poetry books use, so it's what readers expect to feel in their hands. Deviating from the genre standard isn't always wrong, but it's a deliberate decision that needs a reason: maybe you're producing a limited-run hardcover with a different feel, or your book has unusual layout requirements. For 95% of authors in poetry, the standard trim wins.

Romance Novel KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Romance Novel KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Self-publishing a romance on Amazon KDP requires layout decisions specific to the genre — decisions that affect spine math, royalty per copy, reader experience, and (most importantly) whether your file clears KDP's automated review on the first attempt. This guide gives the formatting recipe most romance authors should follow, plus the specific pitfall the genre is most likely to trip over.

TL;DR — the Romance formatting recipe

Trim: 5" x 8" (mass-market) or 5.25" x 8" (modern trade)
Paper: Cream
Body font: Garamond, Georgia or Sabon at 11pt
Chapter heading font: Same family at 18-22pt, often italic
Spacing: 1.3 line spacing, justified, with 0.3" first-line indent
Typical page count: 240-360 pages (most contemporary romance), 360-450 for paranormal/RH

Why these defaults are the right starting point

The 5" x 8" trim is the romance industry standard for a reason — it's what trad-published romance books use, so it's what readers expect to feel in their hands. Deviating from the genre standard isn't always wrong, but it's a deliberate decision that needs a reason: maybe you're producing a limited-run hardcover with a different feel, or your book has unusual layout requirements. For 95% of authors in romance, the standard trim wins.

Sci-Fi Novel KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Sci-Fi Novel KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Self-publishing a science fiction on Amazon KDP requires layout decisions specific to the genre — decisions that affect spine math, royalty per copy, reader experience, and (most importantly) whether your file clears KDP's automated review on the first attempt. This guide gives the formatting recipe most science fiction authors should follow, plus the specific pitfall the genre is most likely to trip over.

Self-Help Book KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Self-Help Book KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Self-publishing a self-help on Amazon KDP requires layout decisions specific to the genre — decisions that affect spine math, royalty per copy, reader experience, and (most importantly) whether your file clears KDP's automated review on the first attempt. This guide gives the formatting recipe most self-help authors should follow, plus the specific pitfall the genre is most likely to trip over.

TL;DR — the Self-help formatting recipe

Trim: 6" x 9" or 5.5" x 8.5"
Paper: White (for diagrams + worksheets); cream acceptable for prose-only
Body font: Minion Pro, Georgia or modern serif at 11pt (or Calibri/Avenir if you want a more modern non-fiction look)
Chapter heading font: Sans-serif (Avenir, Open Sans) or contrasting serif at 22-26pt
Spacing: 1.3-1.4 spacing, justified, with 0" indent + 6pt paragraph spacing (block paragraphs work better than indents for non-fiction)
Typical page count: 180-280 pages (most self-help, shorter is increasingly preferred)

Why these defaults are the right starting point

The 6" x 9" trim is the self-help industry standard for a reason — it's what trad-published self-help books use, so it's what readers expect to feel in their hands. Deviating from the genre standard isn't always wrong, but it's a deliberate decision that needs a reason: maybe you're producing a limited-run hardcover with a different feel, or your book has unusual layout requirements. For 95% of authors in self-help, the standard trim wins.

Thriller Novel KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Thriller Novel KDP Formatting: UK Author's Guide

Self-publishing a thriller on Amazon KDP requires layout decisions specific to the genre — decisions that affect spine math, royalty per copy, reader experience, and (most importantly) whether your file clears KDP's automated review on the first attempt. This guide gives the formatting recipe most thriller authors should follow, plus the specific pitfall the genre is most likely to trip over.

TL;DR — the Thriller formatting recipe

Trim: 5.25" x 8" (mass-market thriller standard) or 6" x 9" (trade)
Paper: Cream
Body font: Garamond or Georgia at 11pt
Chapter heading font: Strong sans-serif (Futura, Helvetica Bold) or condensed serif at 18-24pt
Spacing: 1.25-1.3 spacing, justified
Typical page count: 280-380 pages (most commercial thrillers)

Why these defaults are the right starting point

The 5.25" x trim is the thriller industry standard for a reason — it's what trad-published thriller books use, so it's what readers expect to feel in their hands. Deviating from the genre standard isn't always wrong, but it's a deliberate decision that needs a reason: maybe you're producing a limited-run hardcover with a different feel, or your book has unusual layout requirements. For 95% of authors in thriller, the standard trim wins.