Publishing guide
KDP Formatting for Romance Novels: Paperback & Ebook
Formatting is the last thing between your manuscript and the Publish button. Here's what Amazon KDP expects for romance paperbacks and ebooks.
Choose a trim size
Most romance paperbacks use 5 × 8 in or 5.5 × 8.5 in. Larger 6 × 9 in suits long books and keeps page counts — and print costs — down.
Margins and fonts
KDP requires wider inside (gutter) margins as your page count grows. Use a classic book font such as Garamond or Baskerville at 11–12 pt, with justified text and first-line indents instead of blank lines between paragraphs.
Chapter headings and scene breaks
Start each chapter on a new page with a consistent heading style. Use an ornament or centered symbol for scene breaks — romance readers love a pretty flourish.
Front and back matter
Front: title page, copyright page and an optional content note for adult books. Back: acknowledgements, an about-the-author page and — most important — a link to your next book or newsletter.
Export the right files
Upload a print-ready PDF for paperback and an EPUB for Kindle ebooks. Preview both in KDP's previewer before publishing.