How to use the KDP cover calculator

M.J. Sahanaja
Oct 16
2 min read

Have you written a story and are looking for ways to self-publish it? Are you designing the layout and the book cover yourself? If so, this post is for you! Welcome to the world of self-publishing!

If you want to design your own book cover, you can use the free KDP cover calculator. It is very user-friendly, and I will talk you through how to use it step by step. However, the design is up to you.

©created by M.J. Sahanaja

Step 1.

Would you like to publish a hardback or paperback version?

I prefer the paperback because I published my book via KDP, and hardbacks are more difficult to sell this way.

Have you thought about the size of your book?

You can measure a book on your bookshelf to find out which size you prefer.

I chose 139.7 x 215.9 mm because it's one of the sizes that can be used for KDP's Global Distribution. This means that bookshops all over the world can purchase your book.

Step 2.

You now know what kind of book you want to publish, and you know its size.

It is important that you have designed the interior of the book, because the number of pages is crucial for calculating the width of the book's spine.

So, how many pages does the inner work comprise? You must realise that the number of pages must be divisible by four. That's the most convenient use of paper.

My book is 400 pages long, so there are some blank pages at the end. This is perfectly normal for books.

Step 3.

You now know the following:

hardcover or paperback;
seize of the book;
amount of pages.

Step 4.

Finally, you can visit the KDP Cover Calculator and enter the necessary information.

Step 5.

Open the software that you are using to create the book cover. For example: Canva Pro.

First, you must create a document. It is important to use the total measurements when creating the new document.

Upload the template
Design the bookcover.

I'll be sharing a video soon that shows how I do this.

Step 6.

When it comes to printing, the PDF from Canva Pro just won't cut it. It's better to use different software to make the image higher quality. I use Affinity Publisher (APub) for this purpose. I also use APub to design the interior of the book.

I'll be sharing a video of myself doing this in the near future as well.

I hope this information helps you. If you notice anything that is incorrect, please let me know. After all, I'm only human, and mistakes can happen. Perhaps you have additional information? If so, please let us know. Feel free to respond to this post or share it with your network.

For your information: I am not receiving payment for linking to third parties. ;-)