Kindle cover: These are the specifications for the format - all info

When creating a Kindle cover, you have a lot of freedom. However, the format is not one of them, because here you have to follow certain specifications. Read all about the desired dimensions and details.

Sharp and accurate: the cover for your Kindle eBook must have the right format.

To publish an eBook, Amazon provides authors with all the necessary tools. However, for this you should know the specifications, for example regarding the cover.

The right format for your Kindle cover

The following specifications regarding the cover format officially come from Amazon:

• The format should have a height-to-width ratio of 1.6:1.
• Since sharpness, i.e. pixel density, also plays a role, high-resolution cover images are desirable (at least 300 ppi are recommended). Together with the format of 1.6:1, this results in an ideal dimension of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels.
• However, this is not mandatory: the minimum dimensions are 1,000 x 625 pixels, the maximum allowed are 10,000 x 10,000 pixels.
• When uploading, the image file must not be larger than 50 MB. In a pinch, compression helps, as explained in more detail here, for example.
• Apropos file: The allowed file formats for uploading are JPG and TIF.

If you observe all these points, nothing stands in the way of using them in KDP. Incidentally, combinations of self-created cover basics are also possible, which you can then still complete or fine-tune with the Cover Creator. This way you get your desired cover, but you don't have to add elements like lettering already in the graphics program itself.