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Book interior template for Word

Pick a trim size, margins and font. Get a Word file with the page setup and styles already done.

Margins
in
in
in
in

Our suggested margins, above the printer's rules.

Page numbers
Page size
6 x 9 in
Text block
4.625 x 7.5 in
Lines per page, about
34
    0.75 | 0.750.6250.6250.75
    TrimMarginsTo scale: 6 x 9 in spread, left and right page

    Includes styles: Title, Author, Heading 1 (chapter titles), First Paragraph, Normal (body), Scene Break and Front Matter.

    Rather have a pro handle this? Our studio can: interior formatting and typesetting.

    Short answer

    A book interior template is a Word file already set to your trim size, with mirrored margins for left and right pages, page numbers and styles for chapter titles and body text. Paste your manuscript in, apply the styles, then export a PDF. KDP's inside margin depends on your page count, so enter your expected pages.

    How to use it

    1. Pick your trim size, expected page count and printer.
    2. Keep our suggested margins, or type your own. The tool warns you if any margin is below the printer's rule.
    3. Choose the body font, size, line spacing and paragraph indent.
    4. Download the Word file and open it in Word.
    5. Paste your manuscript, apply Heading 1 to chapter titles and First Paragraph to each chapter's opening, then export a PDF.

    How it works

    The template sets Word's page size to your trim, turns on mirrored margins, and puts page numbers in the footer on the outside edge of each page, with none on the title page. The body text lives in one style, Normal, so changing the font or spacing there changes the whole book. Chapter titles use Heading 1, which starts a new page and shows up in Word's navigation pane.

    Text block = trim width - inside - outside, trim height - top - bottom
    Lines per page = text block height / (type size x 1.2 x line spacing), about

    Worked example: a 6 x 9 in novel of about 250 pages for KDP. KDP's minimum inside margin at that length is0.5 in, and 0.25 in elsewhere. The template starts a little wider: 0.75 in inside,0.625 in outside and 0.75 in top and bottom. That leaves a 4.625 x 7.5 in text block, or about 34 lines of 11 pt Garamond at 1.2 spacing.

    Reference

    Styles in the template
    StyleUse it for
    Title and AuthorThe title page
    Front MatterCopyright page and other small print
    Heading 1Chapter titles: new page, dropped down, centered
    First ParagraphThe first paragraph of a chapter or scene, no indent
    NormalAll other body text, with a first line indent
    Scene BreakA centered * * * between scenes

    Questions authors ask

    What are mirrored margins?

    Printed books have left and right pages. Mirrored margins put the wider inside margin (the gutter) on the right of left-hand pages and on the left of right-hand pages, so the text always clears the binding. The template turns on Word's Mirror margins setting for you.

    Do I enter a separate gutter in Word?

    No. The template puts the whole inside margin in Word's Inside field and leaves Gutter at 0. KDP says that if your software has both fields, you should enter the same value in each; setting it once with the gutter at 0 gives the same result and avoids doubling it by mistake.

    What font and size should I use for a novel?

    Most print novels use a serif font at 10.5 to 12 pt with a little extra line spacing. Garamond, Georgia and Palatino are common choices that come with Word. KDP's minimum font size is 7 pt. Whatever font you pick, embed it when you export the PDF.

    Why does page count change the margins?

    Thicker books bend more at the spine, so more of each page disappears into the binding. KDP raises its minimum inside margin as the page count grows. If your book ends up longer than you expected, check the margin calculator and widen the inside margin if needed.

    Will the template work in Google Docs or Pages?

    It is a standard .docx file, so Pages and Google Docs open it with the page size, margins and styles. Mirrored margins and outside page numbers are Word features; other apps may show the same margin on every page, so check before you export.

    Does the template include bleed?

    No. Text-only books do not need bleed, and Word is not the right tool for full-bleed pages. If your book has images to the edge, lay it out in a design app with the page size from the margin calculator.

    Before and after this step

    Related tools

    Sources

    Last verified against each printer's official help pages. Printers change their specs, so check the source before you order a proof.

    KDP

    IngramSpark

    Lulu