For authors, designers & indie publishers
Everything you need to turn a manuscript into a real book.
Trim sizes, paper sizes, spine widths, cover templates, ISBN tools, fonts and a directory of publishers, awards and literary magazines — 9,900+ reference pages built from open data and careful book math.
Today · November 2
What's new →On this day
- Dale Brownborn 1956
- Thomas Mallonborn 1951
- Lois McMaster Bujoldborn 1949
- Josse Goffinborn 1938
Trending on Open Library
- Atomic Habits James Clear
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad Robert T. Kiyosaki
- The 48 Laws of Power Robert Greene
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone J. K. Rowling
- The Art of Peace Morihei Ueshiba
New public-domain books
- Geographical studies
- The journey of Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca and his companions
- Gateway to Yamara
- Summer storms
- Collected papers, Volume III
Poem of the day
In My Solitary Hours in My Dear Husband his Absence
O Lord, Thou hear'st my daily moan
And see'st my dropping tears.
My troubles all are Thee before,
My longings and my fears.
…
Term of the day · Printing & prepress
Thin lines printed outside the page area that show the printer where to trim. Most print-on-demand services want PDFs without crop marks.
Latest update: 40 poems; 34 new public-domain books; 20 cover art; 10 popular books; 7 audiobooks.
Free calculators
All tools →Explore the reference
Popular trim sizes
All trim sizes →Guides
All guides →- How to Choose a Book Trim SizeA practical decision guide to picking the right trim size for your paperback or hardcover — by genre, page cou
- Book Spine Width Explained (with Formulas)How spine width is calculated for paperbacks and hardcovers, why paper choice changes it, and how to design a
- Bleed, Trim and Safe Zones: Print Files Done RightWhat bleed, trim and safe zones are, how much bleed printers need, and how to set up interior and cover files
- Paper Weight Explained: GSM vs PoundsWhy 20 lb bond and 50 lb text are nearly the same paper, how to convert GSM to pounds, and which paper weights
- ISBN Guide for Self-PublishersWhat an ISBN is, when you need one, how many to buy, free vs purchased ISBNs, barcodes and how ISBNs connect t
- Front Matter and Back Matter: The Complete OrderThe standard order of a book's front matter and back matter — what each page is for, which side it goes on, ho
- Book Interior Typography: Fonts, Size, Leading and MarginsPractical typesetting rules for book interiors — choosing a body font, type size and leading, line length, mar
Directory highlights
Publishers
Browse all →Literary awards
- Nobel Prize in Literature
- Pulitzer Prize
- Booker Prize
- Hugo Award
- Prix Goncourt
- Nebula Award
- Miguel de Cervantes Prize
- Hans Christian Andersen Award
Fonts for book interiors
Browse all →About this site
Leaf & Spine is an independent, free reference for people who make books. The numbers come from published printer specifications and transparent formulas — see how we calculate — and the directories are compiled from open data sources credited on every page.