Print Cover Sizes › IngramSpark cover size
IngramSpark covers
IngramSpark cover size and spine width
IngramSpark measures paper in pages per inch (PPI), not thickness per page. Divide your page count by your paper's PPI and you have the spine. Then build the cover around it.
IngramSpark spine width ≈ page count ÷ pages per inch (about 512 for 50# white, 444 for 50# creme, 400 for groundwood, 377 for 70# color). Full cover width = 0.25" + 2 x trim width + spine; height = trim height + 0.25". Always confirm with IngramSpark's own cover template.
IngramSpark paperback cover sizes (50# white paper)
| Trim size | 150 pages | 200 pages | 300 pages | 400 pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5" x 8" | 10.543" x 8.25" | 10.641" x 8.25" | 10.836" x 8.25" | 11.031" x 8.25" |
| 5.25" x 8" | 11.043" x 8.25" | 11.141" x 8.25" | 11.336" x 8.25" | 11.531" x 8.25" |
| 5.5" x 8.5" | 11.543" x 8.75" | 11.641" x 8.75" | 11.836" x 8.75" | 12.031" x 8.75" |
| 6" x 9" | 12.543" x 9.25" | 12.641" x 9.25" | 12.836" x 9.25" | 13.031" x 9.25" |
| 7" x 10" | 14.543" x 10.25" | 14.641" x 10.25" | 14.836" x 10.25" | 15.031" x 10.25" |
| 8.5" x 11" | 17.543" x 11.25" | 17.641" x 11.25" | 17.836" x 11.25" | 18.031" x 11.25" |
Width x height in inches, including 0.125" bleed. Spine worked out as pages ÷ 512. IngramSpark's free cover template generator gives the exact size for your ISBN, paper and binding; use it for your final file.
Pages per inch by paper
| IngramSpark paper | Pages per inch | Spine for 300 pages |
|---|---|---|
| White 50# | 512 | 0.586" |
| Creme 50# | 444 | 0.676" |
| Groundwood 38# | 400 | 0.75" |
| Color 70# | 377 | 0.796" |
What else IngramSpark checks on covers
- Total ink under 240%. Dark covers fail this most. How to fix it.
- Barcode area of 1.75" x 1" on the back left clear. Details.
- No template guide lines left in the art. The template's colored lines must be deleted before export.
- PDF/X-1a file with fonts embedded and no live transparency.
- No spine text under 48 pages (paperback).
Moving a KDP cover to IngramSpark
- Generate IngramSpark's template for the same trim, page count and paper.
- Compare spine widths. On white paper, IngramSpark's is usually narrower than KDP's.
- Narrow the spine, slide the front cover in by the difference and re-center spine text.
- Check the barcode area (IngramSpark's is a different size and position from KDP's).
- Check total ink and export as PDF/X-1a.
SparkPrep does steps 2 to 5 for you: upload your KDP cover, choose IngramSpark, and it re-fits the spine and checks the rest. See also the free IngramSpark cover template guide.
Find out what's wrong with your files before the printer does
SparkPrep checks your cover and every interior page against the exact rules Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press and Lulu use, tells you each problem in plain English, and can fix it for you.
Scan my book free See how SparkPrep worksThe scan is free and shows how many problems your files have. To see every problem and where it is, the audit is $1.99 ($3.99 after January 1). The Advanced Audit checks every page, up to 300, for $9.99.
Questions people ask
How do I calculate IngramSpark spine width?
Divide your page count by your paper's pages per inch, about 512 for 50 lb white and 444 for 50 lb creme. Then confirm with IngramSpark's cover template.
Is the IngramSpark spine the same as KDP?
No. Their papers differ, so the same book gets a different spine width at each printer.
Free help from SparkPrep
Last updated 2026-11-01. Written by Joshua Davis, founder of SparkPrep. Numbers come from each printer's own published guides; always double-check your printer's current rules before you upload.