Trim Sizes

Here’s an introduction to the most common types of books we print. From novels to cookbooks, we can recommend the best options to suit your needs. Interested in a size, binding, or paper type you don’t see below? No problem! Reach out and we’ll be happy to help you.

Pocket Book — 4.25” x 6.87”

These are books you will often see near the checkout line at the grocery store or at the airport. Mass-market books need to be this size to fit the specialty racks they are sold on, but since these are not often self-published books, it’s an unusual trim size for independent authors to select. However, if you have a short work of Young Adult Fiction, this trim size is worth considering.

Recommended paper types: 50# or 60# white or cream

Digest — 5.5” x 8.5”

Slightly smaller than the US Trade paperback described below, this can be an excellent choice for works of both Fiction and Nonfiction, provided they aren’t overly long. The smaller trim size means you can fill out your page count, ensuring your books don’t seem unusually short. This is also a great option for Poetry books and Spiritual Journals.

Recommended paper types: 50# or 60# white or cream

US Trade — 6” x 9”

If you close your eyes and picture a novel, this is probably the trim size you are thinking of. In fact, the page proportion here is considered ideal for a book page. That’s exactly why most self-published books (both Fiction and Nonfiction) are US trade paperbacks. It is also a popular choice for Self-Help books and Memoirs.

Recommended paper types for memoirs, fiction and nonfiction: 50# or 60# white or cream

Recommended paper types for self-help books: 50# or 60# white or cream; 70# offset (uncoated) if you are asking readers to write in the book

Square — 8.5” x 8.5”

Square trim sizes are great for books with a lot of beautiful imagery. The larger page size allows for easy referencing and shows off your gorgeous pictures. This is especially true for Children’s Books, Art Books, Cookbooks and Photography Books.

Recommended paper types for children’s books and cookbooks: 70# gloss or matte paper for books with more text than images, 80# or 100# gloss or matte for books that have more images than text

Recommended paper types for photography books and art books: 100# gloss or matte

Small Square — 7.5” x 7.5”

This can be a charming trim size for Children’s Books subce the Small Square fits perfectly in the hands of little readers.

Recommended paper types for children’s books: 70# gloss or matte paper for books with more text than images, 80# or 100# gloss or matte for books that have more images than text

Landscape — 9” x 7”

If you really want your book to make a visual impact, the Landscape trim size is worth considering. This format works beautifully for Art Books and Photography Books.

Recommended paper types for photography books and art books: 100# gloss or matte

US Letter — 8.5” x 11”

If you have a Study Guide, Textbook, or Technical Manual, this may be the trim size for you. The larger page size allows for a two-column layout, which is a very efficient use of space when getting across large amounts of information.

Recommended paper types for textbooks: 50# white or cream. If readers will be writing in the book, we recommend thicker paper of 60#. For a study guide, if there is a lot of writing, we may recommend 70# white.