5.5 x 8.5 in Digest · 56 pages
56-page 5.5 x 8.5 in book: spine width & cover size
A 56-page 5.5 x 8.5 in paperback has a spine of 0.1261 in (3.2 mm) on white paper or 0.14 in on cream. Full cover with bleed: 11.376 x 8.75 in.
0.126 inSpine, white paper3.2 mm
0.14 inSpine, cream paper3.56 mm
11.38 x 8.75Full cover, inchesincl. bleed
79 gEstimated weight2.8 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 | 0.1261 in | 3.2 mm | 11.376 x 8.75 in | 289 x 222.3 mm | 3,413 x 2,625 px |
| Cream paper, black ink | 0.14 in | 3.56 mm | 11.39 x 8.75 in | 289.3 x 222.3 mm | 3,417 x 2,625 px |
| Standard color (white) | 0.1261 in | 3.2 mm | 11.376 x 8.75 in | 289 x 222.3 mm | 3,413 x 2,625 px |
| Premium color (white) | 0.1314 in | 3.34 mm | 11.381 x 8.75 in | 289.1 x 222.3 mm | 3,414 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) | 0.16 in | 4.06 mm |
| 400 PPI | Cream book paper (~55 lb) | 0.14 in | 3.56 mm |
| 444 PPI | White book paper (~50 lb) | 0.1261 in | 3.2 mm |
| 500 PPI | Lightweight text (~45 lb) | 0.112 in | 2.84 mm |
| 600 PPI | Thin text (~40 lb) | 0.0933 in | 2.37 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 11.376 x 8.75 in — or 3,413 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 5.751 in; the front cover after that.
- At this page count the spine is too thin for text on KDP.
- 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 pages | 0.054 in | 0.06 in | 11.304 x 8.75 in |
| 32 pages | 0.0721 in | 0.08 in | 11.322 x 8.75 in |
| 40 pages | 0.0901 in | 0.1 in | 11.34 x 8.75 in |
| 48 pages | 0.1081 in | 0.12 in | 11.358 x 8.75 in |
| 64 pages | 0.1441 in | 0.16 in | 11.394 x 8.75 in |
| 72 pages | 0.1621 in | 0.18 in | 11.412 x 8.75 in |
| 80 pages | 0.1802 in | 0.2 in | 11.43 x 8.75 in |
| 90 pages | 0.2027 in | 0.225 in | 11.453 x 8.75 in |
| 100 pages | 0.2252 in | 0.25 in | 11.475 x 8.75 in |
| 110 pages | 0.2477 in | 0.275 in | 11.498 x 8.75 in |
56 pages in other trim sizes
| Trim | Spine (white) | Full cover (white) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 x 8 in | 0.1261 in | 10.376 x 8.25 in |
| 5.06 x 7.81 in | 0.1261 in | 10.496 x 8.06 in |
| 5.25 x 8 in | 0.1261 in | 10.876 x 8.25 in |
| 6 x 9 in | 0.1261 in | 12.376 x 9.25 in |
| 6.14 x 9.21 in | 0.1261 in | 12.656 x 9.46 in |
| 6.69 x 9.61 in | 0.1261 in | 13.756 x 9.86 in |
| 7 x 10 in | 0.1261 in | 14.376 x 10.25 in |
| 7.5 x 9.25 in | 0.1261 in | 15.376 x 9.5 in |
| 8 x 10 in | 0.1261 in | 16.376 x 10.25 in |
| 8.5 x 8.5 in | 0.1261 in | 17.376 x 8.75 in |
| 8.5 x 11 in | 0.1261 in | 17.376 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 56-page 5.5 x 8.5 in book?
On white paper it is 0.1261 in (3.2 mm); on cream paper 0.14 in (3.56 mm), using KDP's per-page factors.
What size should the full cover be?
For white paper: 11.376 x 8.75 in (289 x 222.3 mm) including 0.125 in bleed on every side. For cream paper: 11.39 x 8.75 in.
Can I put text on the spine?
Not on KDP. KDP allows spine text only for books with more than 79 pages. Keep thin spines plain or use a solid colour that wraps slightly onto the covers.
How heavy is a 56-page 5.5 x 8.5 in paperback?
About 79 g (2.8 oz) on white paper with a standard cover — useful for estimating postage.