5x8 KDP Paperback Cover Size & Spine Width Guide
5x8 is a popular trim size for pocketable KDP paperbacks like compact novels and travel guides. This guide explains the exact cover dimensions and spine width for 5x8 paperbacks, using a 100‑page example.
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When to choose 5x8 for KDP paperbacks
5x8 works best when portability matters as much as readability. It is a natural choice for pocket novels, novellas, travel guides and any book readers might carry in a bag or coat pocket.
5x8 pocket novel example (100 pages)
- Trim size: 5.0 x 8.0"
- Spine width: 0.225"
- Full PDF size: 10.475" × 8.25"
- Paper type: White Paper
At 100 pages, the 5x8 spine is thick enough for a short title and author name while still keeping the book comfortable to hold. The compact footprint also reduces printing cost compared to larger formats.
Need a different size?
How 5x8 KDP pocket book dimensions are calculated
The trim size for 5x8 paperbacks is fixed at 5" × 8". Only the spine width and the total PDF width change when you change page count or paper type.
| Use case | Pages | Trim size | Spine width | Full PDF size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket novel / travel guide example | 100 | 5.0 x 8.0" | 0.225" | 10.475" × 8.25" |
| Travel guide | 250 | 5.0" × 8.0" | 0.563" | 10.813" × 8.25" |
For example, a 100-page 5x8 KDP paperback on White Paper uses a 5.0 x 8.0" trim, a 0.225" spine and a final cover PDF size of 10.475" × 8.25" including bleed.
In practice, you can treat 5x8 as: full cover width = 2 × 5" + spine width + 0.25" bleed, and height = 8" + 0.25" bleed.
How to use this 5x8 size guide
Confirm that your audience prefers a portable pocket-sized book rather than a larger workbook-style format.
Open the KDP Cover Size Calculator and enter your page count and paper type to get exact 5x8 trim, spine width and full PDF size.
Download the matching 5x8 template and design your cover with very minimal spine text, so short titles stay readable on the narrow 5x8 spine.
Export a 300 DPI print‑ready PDF and generate a new template if you later change the page count.