Step-by-Step Guide to Format Word/Google Docs Book for Amazon KDP Paperback
📏 1. Choose Trim Size (Standard Dimensions)
Amazon KDP standard sizes:
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Most common: 6 x 9 inches (15.24 x 22.86 cm) — recommended
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Others: 5.5 x 8.5 in, 8.5 x 11 in, etc.
For now, we’ll follow 6 x 9 inches.
🖥️ 2. Page Setup in MS Word / Google Docs
👉 In MS Word:
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Go to Layout > Size > More Paper Sizes
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Set:
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Width: 6 inches
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Height: 9 inches
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Click OK
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Go to Margins > Custom Margins:
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Top: 0.75"
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Bottom: 0.75"
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Inside: 0.75"
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Outside: 0.5"
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Gutter: 0.13"
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Apply to: Whole document
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Mirror margins: ✅ (for paperback layout)
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👉 In Google Docs:
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File > Page Setup:
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Paper size: Choose Custom > Width: 6 in, Height: 9 in
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Margins: Top/Bottom: 0.75 in, Inside: 0.75 in, Outside: 0.5 in
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Orientation: Portrait
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Set to Mirror Margins by manually adjusting for odd/even pages.
📄 3. Font and Paragraph Formatting
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Font: Garamond, Georgia, or Times New Roman
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Font size: 11 or 12 pt
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Line spacing: 1.15 or 1.5
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Justify all paragraphs (Align text to both left & right)
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Add Indent (0.25") for first lines (not full paragraphs)
🧾 4. Add Front & Back Matter
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Title Page: Centered title and author name
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Copyright Page
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Dedication / Acknowledgement
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Table of Contents (Use Word TOC tool or manually)
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Chapters (Start new chapter from new page)
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About the Author (at end)
🔢 5. Add Page Numbers & Headers
In MS Word:
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Insert > Page Number > Bottom of page (center or right)
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Remove page number from:
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Title page, copyright, dedication (Use Different First Page in header options)
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In Google Docs:
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Insert > Page numbers
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Format > Headers & footers > Check “Different first page”
📥 6. Download in KDP-Compatible Format
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MS Word: File > Save As > Select PDF
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Google Docs: File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf)
✅ Make sure it's a print-ready PDF, not scanned or image-based.
📑 7. KDP Cover Formatting
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Use KDP Cover Calculator to get accurate dimensions (depends on trim size + page count)
KDP Cover Calculator Link
Tools to design cover:
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Canva (with custom dimensions from calculator)
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Adobe InDesign
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KDP’s own Cover Creator
📤 8. Upload to Amazon KDP
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Go to: https://kdp.amazon.com
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Click Create Paperback
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Fill in:
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Book title, author name
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Description
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Keywords
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Categories
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Upload:
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Manuscript PDF
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Cover PDF (no spine text if <100 pages)
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Preview in KDP Previewer
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Choose Pricing and Distribution
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Click Publish
✅ Additional Tips:
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Ensure no blank pages between chapters.
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Avoid double spacing between paragraphs.
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For poetry or quotes, center align.
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All chapter titles should start on a new page.
📚 Standard Book Sections Layout:
| Order | Section | Page Number Style |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Title Page | No page number |
| 2 | Copyright Page | No page number |
| 3 | Dedication / TOC | Roman (i, ii, iii) |
| 4 | Main Content | Arabic (1, 2, 3…) |