5.5 x 8.5 in Digest · 520 pages
520-page 5.5 x 8.5 in book: spine width & cover size
A 520-page 5.5 x 8.5 in paperback has a spine of 1.171 in (29.74 mm) on white paper or 1.3 in on cream. Full cover with bleed: 12.421 x 8.75 in.
1.171 inSpine, white paper29.74 mm
1.3 inSpine, cream paper33.02 mm
12.42 x 8.75Full cover, inchesincl. bleed
605 gEstimated weight21.3 oz
Cover template (white paper)
Spine and cover by paper type
| Paper | Spine | Spine (mm) | Full cover (in) | Full cover (mm) | At 300 ppi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White paper, black ink | 1.171 in | 29.74 mm | 12.421 x 8.75 in | 315.5 x 222.3 mm | 3,726 x 2,625 px |
| Cream paper, black ink | 1.3 in | 33.02 mm | 12.55 x 8.75 in | 318.8 x 222.3 mm | 3,765 x 2,625 px |
| Standard color (white) | 1.171 in | 29.74 mm | 12.421 x 8.75 in | 315.5 x 222.3 mm | 3,726 x 2,625 px |
| Premium color (white) | 1.2204 in | 31 mm | 12.47 x 8.75 in | 316.7 x 222.3 mm | 3,741 x 2,625 px |
Per-page factors are those published by KDP; IngramSpark and offset printers use their own paper calipers.
Other printers: spine by paper PPI
| Paper PPI | Typical stock | Spine | Spine (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 350 PPI | Bulky / heavy stock (~70 lb text) | 1.4857 in | 37.74 mm |
| 400 PPI | Cream book paper (~55 lb) | 1.3 in | 33.02 mm |
| 444 PPI | White book paper (~50 lb) | 1.1712 in | 29.75 mm |
| 500 PPI | Lightweight text (~45 lb) | 1.04 in | 26.42 mm |
| 600 PPI | Thin text (~40 lb) | 0.8667 in | 22.01 mm |
If your printer quotes pages per inch (PPI), spine = pages ÷ PPI. Ask for the exact PPI of your chosen stock.
Designing this cover
- Build the cover canvas at 12.421 x 8.75 in — or 3,726 x 2,625 px at 300 ppi.
- The back cover runs from the left edge to 5.625 in; the spine from 5.625 to 6.796 in; the front cover after that.
- Spine text is allowed — centre it and keep 0.0625 in clear on each side.
- Keep titles and faces at least 0.25 in inside the trim; KDP places the barcode in a 2 x 1.2 in area at the lower right of the back cover.
- Export as a flattened PDF (PDF/X-1a is safest) with fonts embedded.
Nearby page counts
| Pages | Spine (white) | Spine (cream) | Full cover (white) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 460 pages | 1.0359 in | 1.15 in | 12.286 x 8.75 in |
| 470 pages | 1.0584 in | 1.175 in | 12.308 x 8.75 in |
| 480 pages | 1.081 in | 1.2 in | 12.331 x 8.75 in |
| 490 pages | 1.1035 in | 1.225 in | 12.353 x 8.75 in |
| 500 pages | 1.126 in | 1.25 in | 12.376 x 8.75 in |
| 540 pages | 1.2161 in | 1.35 in | 12.466 x 8.75 in |
| 560 pages | 1.2611 in | 1.4 in | 12.511 x 8.75 in |
| 580 pages | 1.3062 in | 1.45 in | 12.556 x 8.75 in |
520 pages in other trim sizes
| Trim | Spine (white) | Full cover (white) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 x 8 in | 1.171 in | 11.421 x 8.25 in |
| 5.06 x 7.81 in | 1.171 in | 11.541 x 8.06 in |
| 5.25 x 8 in | 1.171 in | 11.921 x 8.25 in |
| 6 x 9 in | 1.171 in | 13.421 x 9.25 in |
| 6.14 x 9.21 in | 1.171 in | 13.701 x 9.46 in |
| 6.69 x 9.61 in | 1.171 in | 14.801 x 9.86 in |
| 7 x 10 in | 1.171 in | 15.421 x 10.25 in |
| 7.5 x 9.25 in | 1.171 in | 16.421 x 9.5 in |
| 8 x 10 in | 1.171 in | 17.421 x 10.25 in |
| 8.5 x 8.5 in | 1.171 in | 18.421 x 8.75 in |
| 8.5 x 11 in | 1.171 in | 18.421 x 11.25 in |
Spine width depends only on page count and paper; the cover width changes with the trim.
Frequently asked questions
How wide is the spine of a 520-page 5.5 x 8.5 in book?
On white paper it is 1.171 in (29.74 mm); on cream paper 1.3 in (33.02 mm), using KDP's per-page factors.
What size should the full cover be?
For white paper: 12.421 x 8.75 in (315.5 x 222.3 mm) including 0.125 in bleed on every side. For cream paper: 12.55 x 8.75 in.
Can I put text on the spine?
Yes. KDP allows spine text only for books with more than 79 pages; keep it at least 0.0625 in (1.6 mm) from each spine edge.
How heavy is a 520-page 5.5 x 8.5 in paperback?
About 605 g (21.3 oz) on white paper with a standard cover — useful for estimating postage.