How to Format a Book in Word
AuthorBind makes book files. It doesn't print or ship books.
Building a book needs a computer. Open this page in Chrome or Edge on a laptop or desktop.
Reading your manuscript…
Downloading the book engine. This happens once.
Here's what we found
No problems found. Check the chapter list, then continue.
We couldn't find any chapters. In Word, apply the Heading 1 style to each chapter title and upload again.
Fix these in Word and upload again.
Set up your book
Add a book title to continue.
The inside margin is set for you from the page count.
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Your files are ready
Next: upload the PDF to KDP and check every page in Print Previewer. KDP makes the final decision.
AuthorBind is an independent tool, not affiliated with Amazon or Kindle Direct Publishing.
What to do in Word
- Apply Heading 1 to chapter titles and Normal to body text
- Put *** between scenes
- Delete blank lines, manual page breaks and text boxes
- Accept tracked changes
What not to do
Don't set margins or headers by hand. The build sets them, and headers and footers from Word don't carry over.
Upload and read the check
The check lists your chapters, and any lines that look like chapter titles but don't use a heading style. Fix those in Word and upload again.
Trim sizes and margins
There are 5 trim sizes: 5 × 8, 5.06 × 7.81, 5.25 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5 and 6 × 9 inches. The inside margin follows KDP's table for your page count, and the outside margin is 0.5 inches.
Questions
How do I create a book layout in Word?
Use the Heading 1 and Normal styles. You don't need to build the page layout by hand, the tool makes it.
What are the recommended margins for KDP books?
The inside margin depends on page count, by KDP's table, and the outside margin here is 0.5 inches. The tool works it out for you. Check KDP's help pages for the current figures.
Is book format A4 or A5?
Neither here. The trim sizes are 5 × 8, 5.06 × 7.81, 5.25 × 8, 5.5 × 8.5 and 6 × 9 inches.