This week, I’m going to discuss a topic that often gets overlooked in the rush to publish but is absolutely crucial to the overall reading experience: book sizes! When you are getting ready to format your manuscript, what dimensions do you prefer to print on? It might seem like a minor production detail, but the physical size of your book can completely change how a reader interacts with your story.
I’ve noticed many indie paperback covers are formatted at 8.5 x 5.5 inches, which is a solid middle ground. However, in the UK, the traditional go-to paperback size is B-Format (roughly 5.06 x 7.81 inches on platforms like Amazon KDP). Personally, this is my absolute favourite size to read. It fits perfectly in the hand, feels highly portable, and provides a classic, comfortable reading experience. Alongside this, I almost always prefer reading on cream-colored paper rather than stark white. Cream pages are so much softer and less harsh on the eyes, especially during long evening reading sessions. If your manuscript is sitting right around the standard 300-page mark, I would highly recommend going for the B-Format. It creates a beautifully proportioned, professional-looking book.
However, I completely understand that one size certainly doesn’t fit all genres. If you have written a sprawling epic fantasy or a dense historical fiction novel with a massive page count, it would be much preferable to step up to a 6 x 9 inch size. If you try to cram 150,000 words into a smaller B-Format book, you end up with a remarkably thick, blocky spine that can be difficult to hold open and might even crack while reading. A larger 6 x 9 dimension gives your text more room to breathe on the page and saves your readers from holding a heavy, cumbersome brick of paper. I’ve also noticed that the covers we produce for the American market seem to lean heavily toward the 6 x 9 option as a standard. It may simply be the preferred expectation over in the States, so keeping your primary geographic market in mind is essential.
Obviously, if you have created a fully illustrated children’s book, we are looking at a completely different set of formatting rules. For these projects, you might lean toward an 8.5 x 11 inch portrait size. When I am reading to my own kids at night, I always prefer the portrait variety. It is so much easier to hold in one hand and turn the pages while sitting up in bed, compared to a wide, floppy landscape book that requires two hands to balance and manage.
Choosing your book’s dimensions for printing is definitely something to think deeply about. Consider what your reader would prefer and truly think about your target audience. It never hurts to do a little bit of market research before locking in your book size. Keep specific reader demographics in mind—for example, people who commute or travel frequently will likely prefer a smaller, pocket-friendly size to toss in a bag, while older generations might appreciate a larger size that easily accommodates slightly larger, more legible text.
It is certainly something to think about as you prepare for your next launch!