Book Sizes and Specifications
Standard book sizes vary by genre, format, and publishing market. In the US, the most common standard book sizes range from 4.25 x 6.87 inches for mass-market paperbacks up to 8.5 x 11 inches for textbooks and magazines. For self-publishers, knowing these dimensions helps ensure your book matches reader expectations and fits retail distribution requirements.
The dimensions listed in the charts below are Blurb's rounded reference measurements — useful as planning guidelines. When creating an actual Blurb project, you can use our Specification Calculator for exact spine, cover, and page measurements.
Working on a PDF to Book project? Use our Specification Calculator for exact spine, cover, and page measurements.
Note: All book sizes and specs below are shown width by height. Please note that ImageWrap books do not have cover flaps.
Standard book sizes by genre
Book trim size (the final width x height of a printed page) is largely determined by genre and publishing format. Here are the most widely used standard book sizes in the US publishing industry:
Fiction (novels and literary fiction): The most common sizes are 5 x 8 in, 5.5 x 8.5 in, and 6 x 9 in for trade paperbacks. Mass-market paperbacks (the smaller, pocket-sized editions found in supermarkets and airports) almost always measure 4.25 x 6.87 in.
Non-fiction: Most non-fiction titles use 5.5 x 8.5 in or 6 x 9 in. Larger reference books, workbooks, and illustrated non-fiction books commonly use 7 x 10 in or 8.5 x 11 in.
Children's books: These tend to be larger to accommodate illustrations and larger type. Standard sizes include 7.5 x 7.5 in (square), 7 x 10 in (portrait), and 10 x 8 in (landscape).
Photo books and coffee table books: Common formats include 8 x 10 in (portrait), 10 x 8 in (landscape), 12 x 12 in (large square), and 13 x 11 in (large landscape).
Textbooks and academic books: Sizes typically range from 6 x 9 in up to 8.5 x 11 in.
Comic books and graphic novels: The near-universal standard is 6.625 x 10.25 in.
Blurb's standard book sizes
Paperback & Hardcover Books 5 × 8 in. (13 × 20 cm)
| Cover Size | Trimmed Pages | |
| Linen Hardcover with Dust Jacket | 5.25 × 8.25 in (13.34 × 20.96 cm) | 5.00 × 8.00 in (12.70 × 20.32 cm) |
| ImageWrap Hardcover | 5.25 × 8.25 in (13.34 × 20.96 cm) | 5.00 × 8.00 in (12.70 × 20.32 cm) |
| Paperback | 5.00 × 8.00 in (12.70 × 20.32 cm) | 5.00 × 8.00 in (12.70 × 20.32 cm) |
Paperback & Hardcover Books 6 × 9 in. (15 × 23 cm)
| Cover Size | Trimmed Pages | |
| Linen Hardcover with Dust Jacket | 6.25 × 9.25 in (15.88 × 23.50 cm) | 6.00 × 9.00 in (15.24 × 22.86 cm) |
| ImageWrap Hardcover | 6.25 × 9.25 in (15.88 × 23.50 cm) | 6.00 × 9.00 in (15.24 × 22.86 cm) |
| Paperback | 6.00 × 9.00 in (15.24 × 22.86 cm) | 6.00 × 9.00 in (15.24 × 22.86 cm) |
Paperback & Hardcover Books 8 × 10 in. (20 × 25 cm)
| Cover Size | Trimmed Pages | |
| ImageWrap Hardcover – Not available for Economy B&W | 8.25 × 10.25 in (20.96 × 26.04 cm) | 8.00 × 10.00 in (20.32 × 25.40 cm) |
| Paperback | 8.00 × 10.00 in (20.32 × 25.40 cm) | 8.00 × 10.00 in (20.32 × 25.40 cm) |
Mini Square Photo Book 5 × 5 in. (13 × 13 cm)
| Cover Size | Trimmed Pages | |
| Paperback | 5.00 × 5.00 in (12.70 × 12.70 cm) | 5.00 × 5.00 in (12.70 × 12.70 cm) |
Small Square Photo Book 7 × 7 in. (18 × 18 cm)
| Cover Size | Trimmed Pages | |
| Linen Hardcover with Dust Jacket | 7.00 × 7.00 in (17.78 × 17.78 cm) | 6.75 × 6.63 in (17.15 × 16.83 cm) |
| ImageWrap Hardcover | 7.00 × 7.00 in (17.78 × 17.78 cm) | 6.75 × 6.63 in (17.15 × 16.83 cm) |
| Paperback | 6.75 × 6.63 in (17.15 × 16.83 cm) | 6.75 × 6.63 in (17.15 × 16.83 cm) |
Legacy Standard Portrait Book 8 × 10 in. (20 × 25 cm) – Created by Bookify and BookSmart
| Cover Size | Trimmed Pages | |
| Linen Hardcover with Dust Jacket | 8.00 × 10.00 in (20.32 × 25.40 cm) | 7.75 × 9.75 in (19.69 × 22.86 cm) |
| ImageWrap Hardcover | 8.00 × 10.00 in (20.32 × 25.40 cm) | 7.75 × 9.75 in (19.69 × 22.86 cm) |
| Paperback | 7.75 × 9.75 in (19.69 × 22.86 cm) | 7.75 × 9.75 in (19.69 × 22.86 cm) |
Standard Portrait Photo Book 8 × 10 in. (20 × 25 cm)
| Cover Size | Trimmed Pages | |
| Linen Hardcover with Dust Jacket | 8.25 × 10.25 in (20.96 × 26.04 cm) | 8.00 × 10.00 in (20.32 × 25.40 cm) |
| ImageWrap Hardcover | 8.25 × 10.25 in (20.96 × 26.04 cm) | 8.00 × 10.00 in (20.32 × 25.40 cm) |
| Paperback | 8.00 × 10.00 in (20.32 × 25.40 cm) | 8.00 × 10.00 in (20.32 × 25.40 cm) |
Standard Landscape Photo Book 10 × 8 in. (25 × 20 cm)
| Cover Size | Trimmed Pages | |
| Linen Hardcover with Dust Jacket | 9.75 × 8.25 in (24.77 × 20.96 cm) | 9.50 × 8.00 in (24.10 × 20.32 cm) |
| ImageWrap Hardcover | 9.75 × 8.25 in (24.77 × 20.96 cm) | 9.50 × 8.00 in (24.10 × 20.32 cm) |
| Paperback | 9.50 × 8.00 in (24.10 × 20.32 cm) | 9.50 × 8.00 in (24.10 × 20.32 cm) |
Large Landscape Photo Book 13 × 11 in. (33 × 28 cm)
| Cover Size | Trimmed Pages | |
| Linen Hardcover with Dust Jacket | 12.75 × 10.88 in (32.38 × 27.62 cm) | 12.50 × 10.63 in (31.75 × 26.99 cm) |
| ImageWrap Hardcover | 12.75 × 10.88 in (32.38 × 27.62 cm) | 12.50 × 10.63 in (31.75 × 26.99 cm) |
Large Square Photo Book 12 × 12 in. (30 × 30 cm)
| Cover Size | Trimmed Pages | |
| Linen Hardcover with Dust Jacket | 12.00 × 12.00 in (30.48 × 30.48 cm) | 11.75 × 11.75 in (29.85 × 29.85 cm) |
| ImageWrap Hardcover | 12.00 × 12.00 in (30.48 × 30.48 cm) | 11.75 × 11.75 in (29.85 × 29.85 cm) |
Magazine Dimensions 8.5 × 11 in. (22 × 28 cm)
| Cover Size | Trimmed Pages | |
| Premium Magazine (matte paper + semi-gloss cover) | 8.5 × 11.00 in (21.59 × 27.94 cm) | 8.5 × 11.00 in (21.59 × 27.94 cm) |
Additional Trim and Bleed Information
Page trim: These measurements show final trimmed page book sizes. The printer takes approximately 1/8" (.3175 cm) off the top, bottom, and outside edge (face) of an untrimmed page to produce the trimmed page size. Variations of up to 1/8" can occur from printer to printer to aid in binding, so please keep critical content at least 1/4" (.635 cm) away from final trim sizes.
Bleed: Images can bleed off the page, but please be mindful that trim is not always exact (as this is a custom manufacturing process). If you're designing your own pages in InDesign or Photoshop, please be sure to keep critical content—images and text—at least 1/4" (.635 cm) away from final trim sizes and at least one inch (2.5 cm) from your book's edges for ImageWrap covers.
FAQs: Standard Book Sizes
What is the most common standard book size?
The most common standard book size for trade paperbacks is 6 x 9 inches. This format is used for most fiction, non-fiction, and memoir titles sold in bookstores. For mass-market paperbacks, the standard is 4.25 x 6.87 inches. Photo books and children's books use a wider range of sizes depending on content and format.
What does "trim size" mean for books?
Trim size refers to the final dimensions of a book after printing—the width and height of the page once it has been cut to its finished size. It is always expressed as width x height. The trim size determines how the book looks and feels, affects printing costs, and must align with distribution requirements if you plan to sell through retailers.
What is the standard paperback book size?
There are two main types of paperback books: trade paperbacks, which typically measure 5.5 x 8.5 in or 6 x 9 in and are sold in bookstores; and mass-market paperbacks, which measure 4.25 x 6.87 in and are commonly sold in supermarkets and airports. The right size depends on your genre and distribution goals.
What is the standard size for a children's book?
The most common standard sizes for children's books are 7 x 10 in (portrait), 10 x 8 in (landscape), and 7.5 x 7.5 in (square). Larger formats work well for illustrated picture books, while smaller chapter books for older children often use sizes closer to standard trade paperback dimensions.
What is the standard size for a hardcover book?
Most hardcover novels and non-fiction titles are printed at 6 x 9 inches. Coffee table books and heavily illustrated hardcovers often use larger formats such as 10 x 8 in, 12 x 12 in, or 13 x 11 in.
How do I choose the right book size for my book?
The best starting point is your genre. Most readers and retailers have strong expectations around size. After that, consider word count (a longer book may need a larger trim size to avoid looking unwieldy), printing costs (smaller books are generally cheaper to print), and distribution channel (some retailers and print-on-demand platforms support a set list of sizes). Blurb's available formats are listed in the size charts above.
What is bleed in book printing?
Bleed refers to artwork or background colour that extends beyond the trim edge of the page, so that after the page is cut there are no white borders at the edges. For Blurb books, images that bleed off the page should extend at least 0.125 inches (3.175 mm) beyond the trim line. Critical content like text and important image elements should be kept at least 0.25 inches (6.35 mm) from the final trim edge.