Most Popular Trim Sizes in Book Publishing and When to Use Them

Writing a book isn't just about writing. Authors spend considerable time preparing to write their books, including writing, conducting in-depth research, obtaining editing and cover design, and marketing and promoting their books. Upon having the above items completed, an author must also consider the trim size of the book.

In basic terms, the trim size of a book refers to the final size of the book; meaning that once the paper has been cut, the book reaches its intended height and width.

Authors choosing the correct trim size for their printed book will help it to look professional, have good readability by the end-user, and in some cases, impact the overall cost of printing to the author. Publishers are very interested in the trim size of books because it can significantly impact how the book appears on the shelf and how comfortable it is for the user.

In this book, we're going to explain the most popular trim sizes of books, when to use the different trim sizes, and provide guidance for selecting the right trim size for the various types of books based on genre.

What Are Book Trim Sizes?

The trim size of a book is its finished size on paper, and here is how it fits into a book.

In most cases, a book is printed on a larger sheet of paper, then trimmed to size after it has been printed.

After it has torn and it has beaten to size is when the definition of the trim size is defined. 

For example:

-> A 6"x9" means that each page of that book will be 6" across and 9" tall respectively.

-> A 5"x8" will have a smaller size than a book with a trim size of 6x9. 

Because most publishers will choose to use standard trim sizes when doing books, this makes the process of printing and distributing the books much easier for the publisher.

Why Trim Size Matters in Book Publishing

The trim size of a book is much more than just a design element. It has an impact on multiple areas of the production of a book.

Reader Comfort

The size of the book will also change how it feels to hold in your hand. A smaller book will be more easily held for long periods of time than a larger book when reading.

Printing Efficiency

Printers utilize standard paper sizes to print their products, and thus, when publishers utilize standard trim sizes for their published products, the efficiency/cost to produce printed books becomes more affordable.

Bookstore Shelving

Most bookstores utilize the standard trim size of a book for creating their shelving units. Books published in common trim sizes will fit on the appropriate shelf next to other books in that same trim size.

Genre Expectations

Readers of a genre are accustomed to specific sizes for that genre. As an example, the typical size of a novel is much smaller than the size of a workbook or a text/book.

Most Popular Book Trim Sizes

There are many different trim sizes that publishers use for their various types of books.

You will find that there are some very common trim sizes used when printing.

5 × 8 Inches

This is one of the smallest and easiest to read book sizes.

This size is a common size for:

-> Fiction

-> Memoirs

-> Poetry

-> Collections of Short Stories

Why do publishers use this size?

-> It is easy to carry.

-> It is comfortable to read.

-> It is cheaper to print.

Many independent writers print their first book using this size.

5.5 × 8.5 Inches

This size has a little bit more room than the 5 x 8 example given earlier.

This size is a good size to print: 

-> Non-fiction

-> Self-help

-> Personal development

-> Essays 

This size will allow you to have a larger layout but be able to hold it with both hands easily.

6 × 9 Inches

The trim size of 6" x 9" is a format utilized by many different publishers.

They generally utilize this trim size for:

-> Business

-> Non-fiction

-> Biography

-> Educational

The popularity of this trim size can be attributed to its:

-> Balanced page layout

-> Professional appearance

-> Success with print and digital formats

Publishers typically believe that 6" x 9" is the standard size for non-fiction books.

7 × 10 Inches

This larger format works best when the book includes structured content.

You will often see it used for:

-> Workbooks

-> Study guides

-> Activity books

-> Training manuals

The extra page space allows room for exercises, diagrams, and instructions.

8.5 × 11 Inches

This is the same size as standard printer paper.

It is commonly used for:

-> Academic textbooks

-> Technical manuals

-> Instruction guides

-> Educational materials

Because of its larger size, it works well for books that include charts, images, or complex layouts.

How to Choose Book Trim Size

When you are writing a book and have finished your manuscript, you may wonder what the best way to select a trim size for your submitted manuscript is. There are multiple practical factors to consider. 

1. Consider the Genre

Examples of this include:

Readers can easily determine the genre of the book by matching it up to the trim size/design conventions of their genre.

2. Think About Word Count

The size of the trim will also directly impact how many pages your finished book will be.

A small trim size will fit fewer words per page, therefore creating an increased number of total pages in the finished book.

For example:

-> If you were to write a 70,000-word novel, it would be in 320 pages in a 5 × 8 format.

-> However, if you were to write that same book in a 6 × 9 format, it would be 260 pages.

It has not been uncommon for publishers to change the trim sizes of books to keep them from being too thick.

3. Consider Printing Costs

Book trim sizes should be standardized because printing companies maximize their machines for standard sizes.

If you choose non-standard book sizes, you will encounter:

-> Increased manufacturing costs

-> More waste of paper

-> Reduced availability of printers

If you use common book sizes for printing, production is much simpler.

4. Look at Your Book’s Content

Books with a lot of visuals normally require larger trim sizes.

Examples of books that would require larger trim sizes are:

-> Cookbooks

-> Almost all Photography Books

-> Most Educational Textbooks

-> Most Instruction Manuals

Books that contain a lot of visuals benefit from larger trimming sizes because this gives extra room for images and diagrams.

5. Check Publishing Platform Requirements

Most authors self-publish through POD (Print on Demand) publishing platforms.

Both Amazon KDP and IngramSpark have standard trim sizes they will permit:

-> 5 x 8

-> 5.5 x 8.5

-> 6 x 9

-> 7 x 10

-> 8.5 x 11

If you pick any of these sizes, your book will be printed and distributed without issue.

How Trim Size Affects Book Formatting

The trim size you choose dictates how your interior layout will be laid out.

To accomplish this, you will need to make some formatting adjustments to your book's pages; including the following:

-> Page Margins

-> Line Spacing

-> Font Size

-> Chapter Layout

-> Header / Footer Placement

When formatting your book professionally, you will keep your book as easy to read as it can be.

Trim Size and Book Cover Design

When designing your book's cover, you should take into consideration:

-> Front Cover

-> Back Cover

-> Spine Width

-> Bleed

The width of the spine of the book is determined by the total number of pages contained in the book plus the thickness of the paper used to print it.

It is important for designers to know the exact trim size of a book prior to creating cover files.

Common Mistakes Authors Make

Designing the trim size of your book may be the first thing you do as a new author, but it shouldn’t be the last. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Mistakes to Avoid

1. Trying to create a trim size that is unusual or too big; this will increase the cost of printing your book significantly.

2. Creating a book that is formatted according to the wrong genre; for example, making a workbook too small (e.g., 5” x 8”) can be awkward for a reader.

3. Formatting the interior pages of your manuscript before you select your trim size; it is best to do the interior formatting AFTER you’ve selected your trim size.

Conclusion

Understanding trim size is an essential part of the process of getting published. Choosing an appropriate trim size will enhance the readability of your book, control your printing costs, and help your book be published according to the industry standard.

Most publishers use standard trim sizes for their books because they are efficient and compatible with most printers.

When deciding how to select a trim size for your book, consider the genre of your book, the number of pages in your book, and the specific type of content in your book. Selecting a standard trim size will simplify the printing process and help your book to be a professional looking product.

Not only does a correctly sized book appear more attractive as compared to an incorrectly sized book, it also creates a better reading experience.