---
title: "How to Format an Ebook for Kindle (KDP)"
description: "The file formats KDP accepts for ebook manuscripts, reflowable versus fixed layout, Word and EPUB prep, Kindle Create and Previewer, from KDP's help pages."
url: "https://www.superebook.ai/guides/how-to-format-an-ebook-for-kindle"
published: "2026-10-20"
updated: "2026-10-23"
---

# How to Format an Ebook for Kindle (KDP)

KDP takes several manuscript formats, and its quality guide says which ones suit most books. Here is what its pages say about each format, how to prepare a Word file, and what to check before you upload.

By Shri and Sarath · Published October 20, 2026 · Updated October 23, 2026 · 6 min read

Every KDP fact below comes from KDP's own help pages, read on 2026-10-20. KDP's tools and rules change, so check the linked pages before you upload. This guide is about the ebook interior. For the cover, see our guide to [Kindle ebook cover size](https://www.superebook.ai/guides/kindle-ebook-cover-size.md).

## The formats KDP accepts

KDP's supported-formats page opens with: "KDP supports a variety of formats." It lists four as recommended and most commonly used, then a longer list of additional accepted ones.

| Format | What KDP says |
| --- | --- |
| Word (DOC/DOCX) | "Most DOC/DOCX files convert well to eBooks. However, some files with complex formatting may not convert as well." Check the result in Kindle Previewer. |
| Kindle Package Format (KPF) | Made with Kindle Create. KDP calls it "a go-to method for avoiding any formatting issues." |
| EPUB | Supported if it meets the specifications in the Kindle Publishing Guidelines. Any third-party tool can make it; KDP recommends validating with Kindle Previewer before upload. |
| MOBI | Still on the page's list, but KDP's MOBI page (read on 2026-10-23) says it ended MOBI support for reflowable books on August 1, 2021 and for fixed-layout books on March 18, 2025. Use EPUB, DOCX or KPF for a new upload. |
| Others | HTML (ZIP, HTM or HTML), Rich Text Format, plain text, and PDF. KDP says PDF is supported only in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan, Galician and Basque. |

Ebook manuscript formats, from KDP's supported-formats page

KDP's page doesn't rank these beyond calling the first four recommended, and one of those four, MOBI, no longer works for a new ebook. Its Guide to Kindle Content Quality adds a recommendation of its own: "For the best reader experience, we recommend uploading your book content in a reflowable file format such as DOC, DOCX, or HTML."

## Reflowable or fixed layout

KDP's Comparing Formats page says only one format can be used for each Kindle book. It lists reflowable as best suited to text-heavy titles, working on all Kindle devices and applications, with adjustable font settings, dictionary look-up and screen reader support. Its listed limitation: some complex layouts may be difficult or impossible to replicate.

Fixed layout is for image-heavy books with low text volume, such as picture books. KDP lists its limits: no text selection, dictionary or user font settings, and no screen reader support. It also describes Print Replica as a format to use "only when your content absolutely requires maintaining exact print layout," which isn't compatible with Kindle e-readers and doesn't support text resizing or screen readers.

For a guide, workbook or similar text-led book, KDP's pages point to reflowable. KDP's pages don't tell you which type any specific book needs, and they do say to consider the content. KDP's quality guide adds that books meant to be written in, such as puzzle books and blank journals, are not suited to Kindle and are better published in physical form.

## Preparing a Word file, step by step

KDP's eBook Manuscript Formatting Guide is written for Word. These are its points, in KDP's order.

1. **Indent paragraphs.** Tab spacing doesn't convert to Kindle. KDP suggests editing the Normal style: first line indent 0.2 inches, spacing before and after 0 points, line spacing single.
2. **Style chapter titles.** Apply Heading 1 to chapter titles, centered. It also helps the table of contents.
3. **Add a title page** with the book title and author name. Front matter can include a dedication and a copyright page. Back matter can include an "About the Author" page.
4. **Add page breaks** (Insert, Page Break) where a page should end, so the next section starts where you want it.
5. **Link footnotes both ways.** KDP says footnotes need working links from content to note and back, and are converted to endnotes on upload.
6. **Insert images** rather than pasting them. The quality guide suggests JPEG with center alignment.
7. **Check for errors**, as the list below shows.
8. **Preview** in Kindle Previewer, KDP's free desktop application, then upload the DOCX.

**KDP's error checks before you upload**

- [ ] Spelling: use the spellchecker, then proofread by hand.
- [ ] No hard returns at the end of every line, only between paragraphs.
- [ ] Track Changes turned off.
- [ ] No cover image inside the manuscript file: KDP adds the cover you give it during setup.
- [ ] No page numbers, headers or footers. KDP says ebooks are reflowable, so they don't apply.
- [ ] No text boxes or shapes for diagrams: insert them as images.
- [ ] A working table of contents, and links that go where a reader expects.
- [ ] Preview on tablet, e-reader and phone views.

## What KDP's quality guide flags as critical

KDP's Guide to Kindle Content Quality sorts problems into critical, destructive and distracting. It says any critical issue will get the book removed from sale until corrected, and that excessive lesser issues can too, while a moderate amount can leave the book on sale with a temporary quality warning on its detail page. Several of its critical formatting items are things a converted manuscript can pick up by accident.

- Body text rendered as bold, italic, underlined or hyperlinked.
- Forced white text, or a forced black background, that can make text unreadable in some reading modes.
- In-line page numbers inside the book file.
- Tables whose content is cut off at the default font size, which usually happens when tables are used to lay out text rather than data.
- A book that is an entire scan. KDP says text must be reflowable, with a small amount of scanned text allowed if legible, and that comics and picture books are excluded.

KDP's guide also recommends not forcing formatting on body text, so readers can set their own preferences. It says hard page breaks in the middle of a chapter and double spacing between paragraphs are formatting issues. KDP's page doesn't give a pass mark, so the practical test is the one it names: open the file in Kindle Previewer and look.

## Kindle Create and Kindle Previewer

Kindle Create is Amazon's own formatting app. KDP says that when you import a DOC or DOCX file into it, the file is converted to a reflowable ebook. It builds a table of contents, lets you pick themes and styles, and previews the book. It also says Kindle Create can't edit tables, lists or footnotes imported from Word: you change those in the source file. Kindle Create doesn't support reflowable or Print Replica books in Japanese. You upload the KPF it produces to KDP.

Kindle Previewer shows how the book looks on tablets, e-readers and phones, and KDP recommends it for any file. The Online Previewer in KDP is the final check. The quality guide says typos, broken links, unsupported characters, cut-off tables and pasted-in page numbers are the problems it sees most.

## Where SuperEbook fits

SuperEbook exports a finished book as PDF, EPUB and DOCX. Of these, KDP lists DOCX and EPUB as supported ebook formats, and PDF among its additional ones. We haven't confirmed how any one export converts: KDP's own advice is to open the file in Kindle Previewer and fix what it shows before you publish. Downloads need a paid plan or a credit pack bought from the book's page. See the [KDP book generator](https://www.superebook.ai/kdp-book-generator.md) page for what the app does and doesn't do.

## Questions

**Can I upload a PDF as a Kindle ebook?** KDP lists PDF among accepted formats, in nine languages. Its quality guide recommends a reflowable format such as DOC, DOCX or HTML for the best reader experience, so a PDF can read less well.

**Is EPUB or DOCX better for KDP?** KDP lists both as supported. Its pages say DOCX files with complex formatting may not convert well, and that an EPUB must meet the Kindle Publishing Guidelines. Preview either in Kindle Previewer.

**Do I need Kindle Create?** No. KDP says you may use the tool of your preference. Kindle Create is its own option and produces a KPF file.

**Should my ebook have page numbers?** KDP's formatting guide says page numbers and headers and footers don't apply to reflowable ebooks. Its quality guide lists inline page numbering as a critical formatting issue.

**Can I use the same file for the paperback?** KDP's formatting guide says a book already published as a paperback must be reformatted with the ebook guidelines to prevent errors. It treats the two as separate files.

## Sources

Facts checked on October 20, 2026.

- [KDP: What file formats are supported for eBook manuscripts?](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200634390): The recommended formats (DOC/DOCX, KPF, EPUB, MOBI), the additional ones, the MOBI fixed-layout change and the PDF language list.
- [KDP: MOBI Support for eBooks Frequently Asked Questions](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GULSQMHU5MNH4EZM): MOBI support ended for reflowable books on August 1, 2021 and for fixed-layout books on March 18, 2025; EPUB, DOCX or KPF instead.
- [KDP: eBook Manuscript Formatting Guide](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200645680): The Word steps: indentation, Heading 1, front and back matter, page breaks, footnotes, the error checks, preview and upload, and the paperback reformatting note.
- [KDP: Comparing Formats](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G42HENP2VHSN8VW8): Reflowable versus fixed layout and Print Replica: best suited to, features and limitations.
- [KDP: Guide to Kindle Content Quality](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200952510): The reflowable-format recommendation, the formatting and linking issues, the table and scan rules, and content unsuited to Kindle.
- [KDP: Prepare Reflowable and Print Books with Kindle Create](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G7R2L7V5X6SJH948): DOC/DOCX import converts to a reflowable ebook, what can't be edited in Kindle Create, and the Japanese limitation.

## Related

- [KDP book generator](https://www.superebook.ai/kdp-book-generator.md)
- [PDF ebook maker](https://www.superebook.ai/ai-pdf-ebook-maker.md)