Books come in all shapes and sizes, and choosing the right dimensions is one of the first decisions to make when preparing a book for print. We work with everything from small novels and pocket-sized books to large-format photography books, children’s books, workbooks, and coffee-table books.
Book size affects more than just the appearance of your finished publication. The dimensions you choose can influence the reading experience, page count, paper usage, binding, shipping, and overall printing cost. That’s why it’s important to consider both the purpose of your book and how you want readers to use it.
Common Book Sizes
Some of the most common book sizes used in North American book printing include:
- 4" × 6" – Small, pocket-sized books
- 5" × 8" – Common for smaller novels and fiction
- 5.5" × 8.5" – A popular size for novels, memoirs, and self-published books
- 6" × 9" – A versatile trade size often used for fiction and nonfiction
- 8.5" × 11" – Popular for workbooks, manuals, children's books, and educational publications
- 12" × 18" – Large-format books suited to projects where images and visual presentation are a priority
You may also encounter international paper sizes such as A4, A5, and A6, which are widely used in Europe and Asia. These dimensions differ from the standard inch-based sizes commonly used in North American book printing.
How Book Size Affects Printing
When selecting a book size, it is helpful to think about more than how the book will look on a bookshelf. The dimensions of a book can affect how efficiently the pages can be printed and how much paper is required.
For example, a smaller trim size may result in more pages because less text fits on each page. A larger trim size may allow more content per page, potentially reducing the overall page count. However, the final cost depends on several factors, including the paper stock, number of pages, colour or black-and-white printing, binding method, and quantity.
This is why we recommend considering your complete book specifications before settling on a final size. Changing the dimensions after formatting has been completed can also affect page breaks, image placement, margins, and the overall layout.
Choosing a Size for Novels and Fiction
For novels, memoirs, and other primarily text-based books, sizes such as 5.5" × 8.5" and 6" × 9" are popular choices.
These dimensions provide a comfortable reading experience while keeping the finished book relatively portable. They are also familiar sizes for readers and work well with common paperback and hardcover formats.
Smaller sizes such as 4" × 6" or 5" × 8" can create a compact, portable book, but the available page area is smaller. Depending on the amount of text and the desired font size, this can result in a higher page count.
Larger Book Sizes for Visual Content
Larger trim sizes can be especially useful when your book contains photographs, illustrations, charts, diagrams, or other visual material.
An 8.5" × 11" format, for example, provides considerably more space for images and layouts than a typical novel size. This makes it a practical choice for workbooks, manuals, children's books, educational publications, and other projects where visual presentation is important.
For highly visual projects such as photography books and coffee-table books, an even larger format can create a more impressive presentation. However, larger books also require more material and can be heavier and more expensive to produce and ship.
Portability vs. Visual Impact
One of the biggest considerations when selecting a book size is how readers will use the finished book.
Smaller books are convenient for readers who want something easy to carry in a bag or purse. A compact novel can be particularly practical for people who read while travelling or commuting.
Larger books, on the other hand, provide more room for content and can create a stronger visual impact. They're often a good fit for children's books, art books, photography books, cookbooks, and other publications where the design and imagery are an important part of the reading experience.
There isn't necessarily one "right" size. The best choice depends on the type of book you're producing and the experience you want to create.
Hardcover vs. Paperback
The size of your book is also connected to your choice of binding.
Paperbacks are lightweight and flexible, making them a popular option for novels, memoirs, and many self-published titles. Hardcovers provide a more substantial and durable finished product and are often selected for children's books, reference books, special editions, and projects where presentation is a priority.
A hardcover and paperback version of the same book do not necessarily need to use identical dimensions. Depending on the project, publishers may choose different sizes for different editions.
Consider Printing and Shipping Costs
Book size can also play a role in your production budget. Larger books generally use more paper and may weigh more, which can affect both printing and shipping costs.
However, size alone doesn't determine the price of a book. Page count, paper stock, binding, colour printing, quantity, and other specifications all contribute to the final cost.
For this reason, we recommend getting a quote based on your complete specifications rather than assuming that a smaller or larger book will automatically be less expensive.
Choosing the Right Size for Your Book
Ultimately, selecting a book size comes down to balancing content, design, usability, production requirements, and budget.
When choosing your dimensions, consider:
- What type of book are you producing?
- Will it contain mostly text, images, or a combination of both?
- How portable should the finished book be?
- What font size and reading experience do you want?
- Are you planning a paperback, hardcover, or both?
- How will the size affect your page count?
- Will the finished book be practical to ship and handle?
- What does the size mean for your printing budget?
Whether you're printing a novel, children's book, cookbook, workbook, photography book, or coffee-table publication, choosing the right trim size early in the process can help ensure that the finished book looks and feels the way you envisioned.