KDP margins in Word
For a 6 x 9 in paperback with 300 pages and no bleed, set the page to 6" x 9", choose Mirror margins, and enter Inside 0.5", Top, Bottom and Outside 0.25" or more. Leave Gutter empty.
300 pages is in the 151 to 300 band.
| Word Page Setup box | Type this |
|---|---|
| Paper: Width | 6" |
| Paper: Height | 9" |
| Margins: Multiple pages | Mirror margins |
| Margins: Top (minimum) | 0.25" |
| Margins: Bottom (minimum) | 0.25" |
| Margins: Inside (minimum) | 0.5" |
| Margins: Outside (minimum) | 0.25" |
| Margins: Gutter | leave empty |
| Apply to | Whole document |
Source: KDP help, Format a Paperback Manuscript (Word for Windows); KDP help, Set Trim Size, Bleed, and Margins. Read on 10 November 2026.
The steps come from KDP's own instructions for Word, which say: "Set your page size before you set your margins." and "Enter your Top, Bottom, Inside, and Outside margins based on your book's page count." The numbers are the published minimums; most books use more, for example 0.75 in at the top and bottom.
Steps
- Set the page size first. On the Layout tab, click Size, then More Paper Sizes. Enter the width and height from the table above and apply them to the whole document.
- Turn on mirror margins. In the Multiple pages list, select Mirror margins, so the inside margin is on the spine side of every page.
- Enter the four margins. Type the Top, Bottom, Inside and Outside values from the table above, or larger ones. Apply them to the whole document.
- Leave the Gutter box empty. The KDP instructions say not to enter a value there. Put the whole inside margin in the Inside box.
- Export a PDF and check it. Save as PDF, then drop the PDF into the checker to see the page size and the margin on every page.
Page size to type, every trim size
| Trim size | Width and height, no bleed | Width and height, with bleed |
|---|---|---|
| 5 x 8 in | 5" x 8" | 5.125" x 8.25" |
| 5.06 x 7.81 in | 5.06" x 7.81" | 5.185" x 8.06" |
| 5.25 x 8 in | 5.25" x 8" | 5.375" x 8.25" |
| 5.5 x 8.5 in | 5.5" x 8.5" | 5.625" x 8.75" |
| 6 x 9 in | 6" x 9" | 6.125" x 9.25" |
| 6.14 x 9.21 in | 6.14" x 9.21" | 6.265" x 9.46" |
| 6.69 x 9.61 in | 6.69" x 9.61" | 6.815" x 9.86" |
| 7 x 10 in | 7" x 10" | 7.125" x 10.25" |
| 7.44 x 9.69 in | 7.44" x 9.69" | 7.565" x 9.94" |
| 7.5 x 9.25 in | 7.5" x 9.25" | 7.625" x 9.5" |
| 8 x 10 in | 8" x 10" | 8.125" x 10.25" |
| 8.25 x 6 in | 8.25" x 6" | 8.375" x 6.25" |
| 8.25 x 8.25 in | 8.25" x 8.25" | 8.375" x 8.5" |
| 8.5 x 8.5 in | 8.5" x 8.5" | 8.625" x 8.75" |
| 8.5 x 11 in | 8.5" x 11" | 8.625" x 11.25" |
| 8.27 x 11.69 in | 8.27" x 11.69" | 8.395" x 11.94" |
Inside margin to type, by page count
| Page count | Inside margin (gutter) | Top, bottom, outside: no bleed | Top, bottom, outside: with bleed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 to 150 | 0.375 in (9.6 mm) | at least 0.25 in (6.4 mm) | at least 0.375 in (9.6 mm) |
| 151 to 300 | 0.5 in (12.7 mm) | at least 0.25 in (6.4 mm) | at least 0.375 in (9.6 mm) |
| 301 to 500 | 0.625 in (15.9 mm) | at least 0.25 in (6.4 mm) | at least 0.375 in (9.6 mm) |
| 501 to 700 | 0.75 in (19.1 mm) | at least 0.25 in (6.4 mm) | at least 0.375 in (9.6 mm) |
| 701 to 828 | 0.875 in (22.3 mm) | at least 0.25 in (6.4 mm) | at least 0.375 in (9.6 mm) |
KDP also offers blank Word templates with "the page size and margins set". If you started from your own document, the values above are the ones those settings have to match.
Source: KDP help, Paperback and Hardcover Manuscript Templates. Read on 10 November 2026.
Questions
Should I fill in the Gutter box in Word for KDP?
No. The KDP instructions for Word say: "Do not enter any value into the Gutter field." Put the whole inside margin in the Inside box.
What page size do I set in Word for a 6 x 9 book with bleed?
Width 6.125 in and height 9.25 in. The KDP instructions say: "Add 0.125" (3.2 mm) to the width and 0.25" (6.4 mm) to the height."
Why does KDP say my size is wrong after I saved the PDF from Word?
Often the PDF was made at Letter or A4 because the page size was set after the margins, or only for one section. Set the size first and apply it to the whole document. The checker shows the size of every page.