Publishing a book on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) requires careful attention to formatting, particularly when it comes to setting margins and layout in MS Word. Proper formatting ensures that your book looks professional and is easy to read on various devices. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you set up your document’s margins and layout for KDP.
1. Understanding KDP Requirements
Before diving into the technical details, it’s crucial to understand the
standard requirements set by Amazon KDP. The platform accepts different trim
sizes (the final size of your book after it’s printed and cut), and each size
has specific margin requirements. Typically, for a standard 6" x 9"
book, the recommended margin settings are:
- Top Margin: 0.5 inches
- Bottom Margin: 0.5 inches
- Inside Margin: 0.75 inches
- Outside Margin: 0.5 inches
- Gutter Margin: 0.13 inches
(extra space added to the inside margin for binding)
These settings may vary based on your chosen trim size, so always refer
to KDP’s guidelines for the latest information.
2. Setting Up Margins in MS Word
Once you have your trim size and margin requirements, follow these steps
to set up your margins in MS Word:
- Open Your
Document:
- Start by
opening your manuscript in MS Word. If you’re starting from scratch,
create a new document.
- Access the Page
Setup:
- Go to the Layout
tab in the MS Word toolbar.
- Click on Margins
in the Page Setup group.
- Select Custom
Margins from the dropdown menu. This will open the Page Setup dialog
box.
- Set Your
Margins:
- In the Page
Setup dialog box, you’ll see fields for Top, Bottom, Left,
Right, Gutter, and Gutter Position.
- Input your
margin values according to KDP’s requirements. For a standard 6" x
9" book, set the following:
- Top: 0.5 inches
- Bottom: 0.5 inches
- Left: 0.75 inches
- Right: 0.5 inches
- Gutter: 0.13 inches
- Ensure the Gutter
Position is set to Left.
- Apply Changes:
- Click OK
to apply the changes. Your document’s margins are now set according to
KDP’s specifications.
3. Adjusting the Layout
Beyond margins, the overall layout of your book is equally important.
This includes the orientation, line spacing, paragraph alignment, and more.
- Page
Orientation:
- For most
books, the orientation should be Portrait. This is the default
setting in MS Word. To check or change it:
- Go to the Layout
tab.
- Click on Orientation
and select Portrait.
- Line Spacing:
- Proper line
spacing improves readability. KDP generally recommends using 1.15 or 1.5
line spacing.
- Highlight the
text you want to adjust.
- Go to the Home
tab and click on Line and Paragraph Spacing.
- Choose the
desired spacing from the dropdown menu.
- Paragraph
Alignment and Indentation:
- Typically,
paragraphs in books are left-aligned with a first-line indent. To set
this:
- Highlight
your text.
- Right-click
and select Paragraph.
- Under the Indents
and Spacing tab, set Alignment to Left.
- Set Special
to First line and choose an indent size (0.25 inches is
standard).
- Headers,
Footers, and Page Numbers:
- Add headers
and footers to include your book title or author name. You can also add
page numbers here:
- Go to the Insert
tab.
- Choose Header
or Footer to add text.
- For page
numbers, click on Page Number and select the position.
4. Saving Your Document for KDP
Once you’ve set up your margins and layout, it’s time to save your
document in a format compatible with KDP.
- Save as a PDF:
- KDP recommends
uploading your manuscript in PDF format to ensure that the formatting
remains consistent.
- Go to File
> Save As.
- Choose PDF
from the dropdown menu.
- Click Save.
- Check the
Preview:
- Before
uploading, review your document to ensure everything is aligned
correctly. You can do this by opening the PDF file and flipping through
the pages.
Conclusion
Setting the correct margins and layout in MS Word is a vital step in
preparing your manuscript for Amazon KDP. By following the guidelines provided,
you’ll ensure that your book is professionally formatted, making it a pleasure
to read for your audience. Remember, attention to detail in formatting not only
enhances the aesthetic appeal of your book but also reflects the quality of
your work as an author.
