What are the exact KDP ebook cover size requirements?

Let’s get a little technical for a minute. When you create an ebook cover, you’re making an image for a digital device, not a physical object. That means you can forget about spines, bleed, and barcodes. However, your file still needs to meet Amazon’s strict digital standards, or you’ll face rejection or a cover that looks blurry on modern screens.

Amazon’s Ebook Cover Requirements

Here are the exact specifications you must follow for Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

Most common problems come down to just three rules. Ignoring them is the fastest route to a cover that looks unprofessional.

Going too small. Hovering near the bare minimum of 625 × 1000 pixels will often trigger a quality warning from Amazon. More importantly, it will look fuzzy and soft on high-resolution tablets and phones. There’s no benefit to skimping here; always aim for the recommended 1600 × 2560 pixels.

Using the wrong shape. If your cover has a different aspect ratio, like a standard 3:4 (for example, 1600 × 2133), Amazon will force it to fit. This often results in awkward letterboxing or distorted scaling, making your book look out of place next to others. If you’re adapting a print design, crop it to the correct 1:1.6 shape instead of squeezing or stretching it.

Saving in the wrong color mode. Software designed for print can sometimes export JPEGs in CMYK color. When viewed on a screen—like in a web browser or on a Kindle—these files will appear dull and off-color. Ebook covers exist only on screens, so your entire design process must stay in RGB. (For a deeper dive on this, see RGB vs CMYK).

Why Your Print Cover Isn’t Your Ebook Cover

Think of your print and ebook covers as siblings, not twins. The front panel of a standard 6” x 9” print book has an aspect ratio of about 1:1.5. An ebook cover is a slightly taller, narrower 1:1.6. Trying to use one file for both will force a compromise—either a minor crop or a slight stretch.

The professional solution is to create one master design, then export two final versions: one cropped for print (with bleed), and one cropped to the exact 1:1.6 ebook dimensions. Keep all your text and critical artwork safely within the boundaries of both formats.

Never forget the primary battleground for your ebook cover: the search results thumbnail. A cover that’s stunning at full size but becomes an illegible blob at 160 pixels tall has failed its most important test. Make sure yours passes the thumbnail test.

How to Export Your Final Cover File

Follow these settings to ensure a clean, high-quality upload:

• Format: Save as a JPEG with a quality setting of 90 or higher. Amazon advises against heavy compression, as artifacts are most visible in solid colors and smooth gradients.
• Color Profile: Always embed the sRGB color profile.
• A Note on Borders: If your cover has a very light or white background, Amazon recommends adding a thin (3–4 pixel) border in a medium gray. This prevents your cover from visually disappearing into the store’s white page background.

Sources

• KDP: eBook Cover Guidelines — dimensions, ratio, formats, 50 MB, RGB
• BeYourCover: Amazon book cover dimensions — spec summary with store-display context