Kindle Ebook Cover Size and Requirements
What KDP's help pages say about the size, format and content of a Kindle ebook cover, where its two pages disagree, and what a paperback cover needs instead.
By Shri and Sarath · 5 min read · Updated 20 October 2026 · Facts checked 23 October 2026
Everything below comes from KDP's own help pages, read on October 23, 2026. Two of them cover ebook covers, and they do not agree on every number, so the table shows each page's figure. Where a page says nothing, this guide says "KDP's page doesn't say" instead of guessing. KDP can change its pages at any time, so check the current ones before you upload.
The size KDP asks for
KDP's help page on ebook cover criteria says that the format and quality of your cover must meet its specifications, and that an image which doesn't "may not be approved for use." It gives an ideal size, a minimum and a maximum.
File format
- What KDP says
- TIFF (.tif/.tiff) or JPEG (.jpeg/.jpg) on the cover criteria page. The guidelines page also accepts PNG and non-animated GIF, calls JPEG the preferred format, and doesn't support SVG
- Where
- Both pages
Ideal dimensions
- What KDP says
- 2,560 pixels high by 1,600 pixels wide. For best quality on high definition devices, 2,500 pixels high
- Where
- Both pages
Minimum dimensions
- What KDP says
- 1,000 pixels high by 625 pixels wide on the cover criteria page; at least 500 pixels on the longest side on the guidelines page
- Where
- Both pages
Maximum dimensions
- What KDP says
- Not more than 10,000 pixels in height and in width
- Where
- Both pages
Height to width ratio
- What KDP says
- An ideal ratio of at least 1.6:1: for every 1,000 pixels of width, 1,600 pixels of height
- Where
- Cover criteria page
Resolution
- What KDP says
- 72 dpi on the cover criteria page, with a minimum of 300 PPI for best results in its note; 300 DPI/PPI minimum, as a recommendation, on the guidelines page
- Where
- Both pages
File size
- What KDP says
- Less than 50MB on the cover criteria page; a maximum of 50 MB on the guidelines page
- Where
- Both pages
Color profile
- What KDP says
- RGB. The guidelines page recommends RGB and says CMYK files are accepted and converted to RGB automatically
- Where
- Both pages
Smallest displayed
- What KDP says
- Covers under 500 pixels on the longest side are not displayed on the website
- Where
- Guidelines page
The ratio is the same shape as the ideal size: 2,560 divided by 1,600 is 1.6. KDP's pages don't say what happens to a cover with a different ratio (the guidelines page only refuses one past 500:1), so a cover close to 1.6:1 is the safe choice.
If your cover is smaller than the recommended 2,560 by 1,600, KDP says a warning is shown at upload. It strongly recommends making a new image that meets the size, and says not to stretch the old one, "because this may lower the image quality." It also notes that it applies additional compression when it displays covers, so you should upload with minimal compression.
Where KDP's two pages disagree
The cover criteria page lists 72 dpi, TIFF or JPEG, and a minimum of 1,000 by 625 pixels. The cover image guidelines page recommends at least 300 DPI/PPI, also takes PNG and GIF, and sets its minimum at 500 pixels on the longest side. Both are KDP's words, and KDP's pages don't say which one wins. This is our advice, not KDP's: a JPEG at about 2,560 by 1,600 pixels, saved in RGB at 300 PPI and well under 50MB, sits inside both sets of numbers.
What goes on the cover
KDP's cover image guidelines page says the cover image must not infringe another publisher's or artist's copyright, and must not mention pricing or other temporary promotional offers. The cover criteria page asks you to make sure the cover follows KDP's content guidelines and that you have all rights necessary for its content.
Its pre-publish checks, in KDP's words, cover the following:
- The cover includes the title and the author or contributor information.
- The cover doesn't include the spine, bar code, back cover or (optional) inside flap.
- No typos, watermarks, or placeholder or template text.
- Any text doesn't contradict your Amazon detail page, for example an author name or title spelled differently.
- The cover language matches the language in the book.
- Text is clear, and not blurred, cut off or fading into the background.
KDP's metadata guidelines add that the title, subtitle, author name and series information on your cover should match the corresponding metadata fields, and that covers which closely resemble another book's layout, color scheme, fonts or images aren't allowed. KDP's page doesn't give a minimum or maximum text size, a font list or a limit on how much text the cover may carry.
Borders and pale covers
KDP notes that cover art with white or very light backgrounds can seem to disappear against the white background of the page, and suggests a narrow (3-4 pixel) border in medium gray to define the edges.
A paperback cover is a different file
Do not reuse the ebook image for a paperback. KDP's paperback cover page says the cover must be a single PDF file that includes the back cover, spine and front cover as one image, sized with a 0.125 inch (3.2 mm) bleed on the top, bottom and outside edges. The spine width depends on page count, and KDP says spine text needs at least 79 pages. It points to its own cover calculator and template generator for the exact size, and its page sets a 650MB conversion limit with 40MB or less recommended. Ebooks have none of this: no spine, no bleed, no barcode.
File
- Kindle ebook cover
- An image, JPEG preferred, front cover only
- Paperback cover
- One PDF with back, spine and front
Size
- Kindle ebook cover
- Ideal 2,560 by 1,600 pixels
- Paperback cover
- Set by trim size, page count and paper, with bleed; KDP gives a calculator
Spine and barcode
- Kindle ebook cover
- Must not be on the cover
- Paperback cover
- Part of the file; spine text needs at least 79 pages
Where SuperEbook fits
SuperEbook offers seven cover designs per book. Whatever cover you use, check the exported file against the table above before you upload it, since KDP's pages don't say which designs it prefers.
Before you upload a Kindle cover
- A JPEG, saved in RGB.
- About 2,560 pixels high by 1,600 wide, and never under 1,000 by 625.
- A height to width ratio of about 1.6:1.
- Saved at a high resolution with minimal compression, under 50MB.
- Title and author on the cover, matching your KDP details exactly.
- No spine, barcode, back cover, watermark, price or promotional offer.
- No typos, placeholder text or blurred words.
- A thin gray border if the background is white or very light.
- Checked against KDP's current page on upload day.
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