KDP formatting is the preparation of your manuscript as a Kindle eBook file and a print-ready paperback or hardcover interior that meet Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing’s technical rules. Our KDP formatting services turn an edited manuscript into clean files that pass Amazon’s review and look professional on a Kindle, a phone and the printed page.
Formatting is where many first uploads go wrong. Margins that are too tight, images outside the safe area, fonts that are not embedded and chapter breaks that fail on a Kindle all cause rejections or poor reviews. This service is part of our Amazon book publishing services, and it works alongside book formatting and typesetting for books that also go to other stores.
What our KDP formatting service includes
- Kindle eBook file. A reflowable EPUB or KPF file with a linked table of contents, clean chapter breaks, working links and front and back matter, tested in Kindle Previewer.
- Paperback interior. A print-ready PDF with the right trim size, margins, gutter, headers, page numbers and bleed settings for KDP Print.
- Hardcover interior. A case laminate interior that follows KDP’s hardcover size and page-count rules and matches your paperback layout.
- Cover-ready specifications. The exact spine width and cover dimensions for your page count and paper choice, supplied to your cover designer or to our cover design team.
- Preview and proof checks. A review in Kindle Previewer and the KDP online previewer, plus a printed proof check, before anything goes live.
Who this service is for
- Authors with an edited manuscript who want Kindle and print editions from one source
- Authors whose KDP upload was rejected or whose book looks wrong on a Kindle or in print
- Authors moving a Word document to KDP for the first time who do not want to fight templates
- Small publishers releasing several titles with a consistent layout
How this service works
- Send your manuscript. Share your final edited manuscript, ideally as a Word file, plus any images, and tell us which formats you want.
- Choose your specifications. We confirm trim size, paper, page count and layout style for your genre, and explain how each choice affects print cost and readability.
- Receive your files. We build the Kindle and print files and send them to you for review with a proof checklist.
- Approve and upload. You approve the files, and we upload them in your own KDP account or give you the exact files and settings to upload yourself.
What does KDP require from an interior file?
KDP accepts a Kindle eBook as an EPUB, a KPF file from Kindle Create or a Word document, and it accepts print interiors as a PDF. Most rejections come from layout and not from the story. A print PDF needs the right page size for your trim, margins that grow with page count, embedded fonts, images at a sensible resolution and no content in the bleed area unless you set bleed on purpose. A Kindle file needs a navigable table of contents and styles that reflow, because readers change the font size and the device. We build to those rules and then check the files in Amazon’s own previewers.
How do I choose a trim size and paper for KDP?
The trim size is the finished page size, and it changes your page count, printing cost and the feel of the book. Fiction paperbacks often use 5 x 8 inch or 5.5 x 8.5 inch pages, and non-fiction guides often use 6 x 9 inches. Paper matters too: cream paper suits most novels, while white paper suits books with images or diagrams. We explain the trade-offs for your genre before we build, because a late change means rebuilding the layout. Page count also sets your spine width and your minimum print cost, so we show you that effect first.
How is a Kindle file different from a print PDF?
A print book has fixed pages and a Kindle eBook does not. On a Kindle the text reflows to fit the reader’s screen and font choice, so we avoid tabs, manual line breaks and page numbers in the eBook. We use proper styles for headings, a linked table of contents and simple, tested image handling. Fixed-layout formats exist for picture-heavy books, but most books read better as reflowable text. For tables, poetry, code or recipes, we plan how the content will behave on a small screen before we build it.
What do we check before upload?
- Fonts: embedded and licensed for commercial use
- Margins and gutter: sized for your page count so text never disappears into the spine
- Images: resolution, colour mode and placement inside the safe areas
- Front and back matter: copyright page, title page and links to your other books
- Links: working links in the eBook, with no dead ends
- Preview: every page viewed in the KDP previewer, and a printed proof on request
Why do KDP files get rejected?
Common reasons include text too close to the page edge, a cover wrap that is the wrong size, blurry images and fonts that are not embedded. KDP also reviews content and metadata against its guidelines, so some rejections are about the book and not the file. When a file is rejected we read the message, fix the cause and resubmit. If the issue is a content or rights question, we explain what Amazon is asking and what you can do. Amazon makes the final decision, so we cannot promise approval, but we remove the technical causes before you submit.
How long does KDP formatting take and what does it cost?
A typical novel is formatted in about one to two weeks once the manuscript is final, and books with images, tables or complex front matter take longer. We do not publish a price list, because cost depends on word count, images and how many formats you need. Every project gets a free quote with a fixed price in writing before work starts. Formatting after editing saves money, because changes after layout mean rework. Our proofreading service gives the manuscript a final check first.
Questions about kdp formatting
Which file does KDP accept for print?
KDP accepts a print-ready PDF for paperback and hardcover interiors. We build the PDF to your trim size and page count.
Can you format my book for both Kindle and print?
Yes. We format the Kindle eBook, the paperback and, if you want one, the hardcover from the same manuscript so the styling matches.
Do you upload to KDP for me?
We can upload in your own account with your permission, or give you the files and exact settings. Either way the account stays yours.
What if KDP rejects my files?
We read the rejection notice, correct the technical cause and resubmit. Amazon makes the final decision, so we cannot guarantee approval, but we remove the usual causes first.
Can you reformat a book that is already published?
Yes. We can rebuild the files and replace them on KDP while keeping your existing listing and reviews.
Will my paperback and eBook look the same?
They share the same design language, such as fonts and chapter openers, but each is built for its format. An eBook reflows and a print book has fixed pages.
Do I need a Word file?
A clean Word file is the easiest start, but we also work from Google Docs, Scrivener exports and existing PDFs.
Can you format images, tables or poetry?
Yes. Special content needs extra planning, so tell us early and we will quote for it.
Who owns the formatted files?
You do. Your agreement states which source files you receive, and we are clear about that before you pay.
Related services
- Amazon book publishing services
- Kindle eBook publishing services
- Amazon paperback and hardcover publishing
- Book formatting and typesetting
- Book cover design services
Why authors work with us
- You keep your rights, your royalties and your accounts
- You receive a written scope and a fixed price before any work starts
- You approve every file before it moves to the next step
- One project manager keeps you informed at every stage