Our book formatting services turn your edited manuscript into professional interior files for print and eBook. Good formatting is invisible: the text is easy to read, the pages look right and the files pass every platform’s checks the first time.
We format paperback, hardcover and eBook editions from one manuscript, matched to your cover and your chosen platforms. This service is part of our book design services.
Book typesetting services for print
A print interior is built from many small decisions: trim size, margins and the inner gutter, typeface and line spacing, chapter openings, running headers and page numbers, and the order of the front and back matter. We also control awkward line and page breaks so the text flows naturally. Your final page count sets the spine width of the cover, so we share it with your cover designer as soon as it is fixed.
eBook formatting service
An eBook is not a print page on a screen. The text reflows, so the file needs clean structure, a working linked table of contents and images that scale. Kindle and EPUB files differ slightly, and we prepare each for the stores you will use. See our Kindle eBook publishing services for the Amazon route.
Book interior layout design for your genre
A novel needs a calm, classic page with clear scene breaks. A non-fiction book may need sidebars, lists, tables, callouts or images. Poetry depends on exact line breaks, and an illustrated children’s book usually needs a fixed layout that we plan separately. We choose the layout that suits your genre and your readers.
How book formatting works
- You send your edited manuscript and choose your formats.
- We confirm trim size, style and platforms, and prepare sample pages.
- You approve the design.
- We format the full book and check proofs.
- You receive final files ready to upload.
Formatting works best after editing, because changes after layout take time. See our professional book editing services first if the text is not final.
Print layout details readers notice
Well-formatted print books are quiet: nothing distracts from the story. That quiet comes from many small decisions. Chapter openings start at a consistent height, running headers show the book or chapter title without crowding the text and page numbers sit where readers expect them. Scene breaks need a clear mark, and paragraphs should be indented in a steady way. Lines of text must not leave a single word alone on a page. We apply these rules to your genre, so a thriller feels tight and a literary novel feels spacious.
eBook formatting that survives every device
An eBook is not a PDF. Text reflows to suit each screen and each reader’s font choice, so the file must use real headings, paragraph styles and a linked contents page, not manual spaces or tabs. We build the eBook from clean styles, test it in several readers and fix anything that breaks, such as odd spacing, lost images or links that go nowhere. A well-built file looks right on a small phone and on a large tablet.
Special content: poetry, tables, images and scripts
Some books need more than flowing paragraphs. Poetry depends on line breaks, tables need to stay readable on a narrow screen, and images need captions and sensible sizes. Scripts, recipes and workbooks each have layout habits of their own. Tell us early what your book contains, and we plan the layout for each element and for both print and eBook.
Preparing your manuscript for formatting
You can save time and cost by sending a clean file. Accept all tracked changes, use one style for headings and body text instead of manual formatting and finish editing before layout, because late changes can move every page. If you have front and back matter such as a dedication, acknowledgements or an about-the-author page, include them so we can place them properly. Our proofreading service can give you a clean final text.
Questions about book formatting
What do I need to send you?
Your final, edited manuscript, ideally in Word, plus any images and your preferred formats. If you have a cover already, send it so the styles can match.
Which trim size should I choose?
It depends on your genre, page count and printer. We recommend common sizes that suit your genre and work well with the platforms you plan to use.
Will I get both print and eBook files?
Yes, for the formats in your plan. Each format has its own file, built for its stores.
Can you format a book that is already published?
Yes. We can reformat a live book to fix layout problems, update the design or add new formats.
How much does it cost?
The price depends on word count, images and the number of formats. Tell us about your book and we send a free quote with a fixed price.
Can you work from a Word document?
Yes. A tidy Word file is the usual starting point. We build the print and eBook layouts from it and return the finished files.
What happens if I change the text after formatting?
Small corrections are easy. Larger changes can move pages, so your quote explains how revisions are handled.
Do you format for both KDP and IngramSpark?
Yes. We prepare print files to the specification of each printer you plan to use.
Do you provide the source files?
Your agreement sets out which source files you receive, so you can update the book or move to another provider later.
Why does my eBook look different on different devices?
Print books are fixed, but eBooks reflow to the reader’s screen and settings, so spacing and page breaks change. A well-built eBook stays readable on every device, and we test it on several different screens and reading apps to confirm it.
Related services
- Book design services
- Book cover design services
- Kindle eBook publishing services
- Professional book editing 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