8.5 x 11 in Letter · 48 pages
48-page 8.5 x 11 in book: spine width & cover size
A 48-page 8.5 x 11 in paperback has a spine of 0.1081 in (2.75 mm) on white paper or 0.12 in on cream. Full cover with bleed: 17.358 x 11.25 in.
0.108 inSpine, white paper2.75 mm
0.12 inSpine, cream paper3.05 mm
17.36 x 11.25Full cover, inchesincl. bleed
139 gEstimated weight4.9 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 | 0.1081 in | 2.75 mm | 17.358 x 11.25 in | 440.9 x 285.8 mm | 5,207 x 3,375 px |
| Cream paper, black ink | 0.12 in | 3.05 mm | 17.37 x 11.25 in | 441.2 x 285.8 mm | 5,211 x 3,375 px |
| Standard color (white) | 0.1081 in | 2.75 mm | 17.358 x 11.25 in | 440.9 x 285.8 mm | 5,207 x 3,375 px |
| Premium color (white) | 0.1127 in | 2.86 mm | 17.363 x 11.25 in | 441 x 285.8 mm | 5,209 x 3,375 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) | 0.1371 in | 3.48 mm |
| 400 PPI | Cream book paper (~55 lb) | 0.12 in | 3.05 mm |
| 444 PPI | White book paper (~50 lb) | 0.1081 in | 2.75 mm |
| 500 PPI | Lightweight text (~45 lb) | 0.096 in | 2.44 mm |
| 600 PPI | Thin text (~40 lb) | 0.08 in | 2.03 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 17.358 x 11.25 in — or 5,207 x 3,375 px at 300 ppi.
- The back cover runs from the left edge to 8.625 in; the spine from 8.625 to 8.733 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 | 17.304 x 11.25 in |
| 32 pages | 0.0721 in | 0.08 in | 17.322 x 11.25 in |
| 40 pages | 0.0901 in | 0.1 in | 17.34 x 11.25 in |
| 56 pages | 0.1261 in | 0.14 in | 17.376 x 11.25 in |
| 64 pages | 0.1441 in | 0.16 in | 17.394 x 11.25 in |
| 72 pages | 0.1621 in | 0.18 in | 17.412 x 11.25 in |
| 80 pages | 0.1802 in | 0.2 in | 17.43 x 11.25 in |
| 90 pages | 0.2027 in | 0.225 in | 17.453 x 11.25 in |
| 100 pages | 0.2252 in | 0.25 in | 17.475 x 11.25 in |
48 pages in other trim sizes
| Trim | Spine (white) | Full cover (white) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 x 8 in | 0.1081 in | 10.358 x 8.25 in |
| 5.06 x 7.81 in | 0.1081 in | 10.478 x 8.06 in |
| 5.25 x 8 in | 0.1081 in | 10.858 x 8.25 in |
| 5.5 x 8.5 in | 0.1081 in | 11.358 x 8.75 in |
| 6 x 9 in | 0.1081 in | 12.358 x 9.25 in |
| 6.14 x 9.21 in | 0.1081 in | 12.638 x 9.46 in |
| 6.69 x 9.61 in | 0.1081 in | 13.738 x 9.86 in |
| 7 x 10 in | 0.1081 in | 14.358 x 10.25 in |
| 7.5 x 9.25 in | 0.1081 in | 15.358 x 9.5 in |
| 8 x 10 in | 0.1081 in | 16.358 x 10.25 in |
| 8.5 x 8.5 in | 0.1081 in | 17.358 x 8.75 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 48-page 8.5 x 11 in book?
On white paper it is 0.1081 in (2.75 mm); on cream paper 0.12 in (3.05 mm), using KDP's per-page factors.
What size should the full cover be?
For white paper: 17.358 x 11.25 in (440.9 x 285.8 mm) including 0.125 in bleed on every side. For cream paper: 17.37 x 11.25 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 48-page 8.5 x 11 in paperback?
About 139 g (4.9 oz) on white paper with a standard cover — useful for estimating postage.