If you’ve wandered the aisles of a bookstore, you know that book sizes can vary a lot. But did you know each book genre has a standard set of trim sizes? Plus, the trim size and final page count of a book contribute to the retail price of each book. These choices are made by the publisher when books are traditionally published, but if you self-publish your book you’ll be responsible for choosing the trim size for your book.
Choosing the right trim size is determined by the genre of your book and a few other factors. For example, if you’re going to publish a children’s picture book, you may want to opt for a larger trim size to showcase your vibrant illustrations.
In this article, we’ll help you choose the best trim size for your book based on your genre.
What is a Trim Size?
Before we delve into the standard book sizes, let’s first understand what a trim size is. A trim size is the final size of the book after it has been printed and trimmed. It is the physical dimensions of the book that readers will hold in their hands.
Industry Terms for Trim Sizes
In the publishing industry, there are several important terms associated with trim sizes that you should become familiar with. These terms will help you understand the different aspects of book production and design. Here are three terms to know:
- Trim size: This refers to the final size of the book, as we mentioned above after it has been printed and trimmed. It’s important to choose a trim size for your book that meets industry standards and reader expectations.
- Bleed: Bleed refers to the extra space around the edges of each page that is added to account for trimming once the pages have been printed. Bleed ensures that there are no white borders or large margin gaps when the book is trimmed to its final size.
- Gutter: The gutter is the inner margin of a book where the pages are bound together. It’s important to consider the gutter when designing a book layout to ensure that the text or images do not get lost in the binding.
Our production team of typesetters and book designers automatically implement the required bleed and gutter specs to each book based on the trim size that is selected. The bleed and gutter specs are provided by our printer partners and ensure consistency as they print, trim, and bind books.
Standard Trim Sizes in Publishing
Fiction books come in various trim sizes depending on the genre and target audience. Here are some common trim sizes for fiction books:
- 4.25 x 7 inches: Also referred to as “mass market paperback,” this compact size is often used for popular fiction genres like romance and mystery.
- 5.5 x 8.5 inches: Referred to as “trade paperback,” this is a slightly larger size that is typically used for general fiction and literary fiction.
- 6 x 9 inches: Fiction hardcover books are most often printed in this trim size because the dimensions provide a more substantial experience when readers hold the book
Infographic of Standard Trim Sizes for Fiction
Nonfiction
Nonfiction books also have a range of trim sizes based on the subject matter and intended readership. You’ll most often see 5.5 x 8.5 inches, 6 x 9 inches, and 7 x 10 inches used for various types of books within the nonfiction category. Memoirs are typically printed in the following trim sizes: 5.25 x 8 inches and 5.5 x 8.5 inches.
Infographic of Standard Trim Sizes for Nonfiction
Devotional Trim Sizes
Devotional books tend to appear in a variety of trim sizes, with many of them falling with the 5.25 x 8-inch and 5.5 x 8.5-inch trim sizes. However, a growing number of hardcover devotionals are also being printed in (or close to) the 6 x 9-inch trim size or specs super close to this trim size.
Infographic of Standard Trim Sizes for Devotional Books
Poetry Trim Sizes
When it comes to poetry books, several standard trim sizes are commonly used in the publishing industry. Here are a few examples:
- 5.5 x 8.5 inches: This is the most common trim size for poetry books, which is a standard trade paperback size.
- 6 x 9 inches: This is another popular trim size for poetry books because it’s a bit larger and provides more space on the page for longer poems
- 7 x 10 inches: This larger trim size is good for poetry that will be accompanied by artwork.
Infographic for Standard Trim Sizes of Poetry Books
Workbooks
Workbooks and other activity books cater to different target audiences and their specific needs. When it comes to choosing the right size for these books, there are a few standard trim sizes available. We often recommend trim sizes of 6 x 9 inches, 7 x 10 inches, and 8.5 x 11 inches for workbooks. If you want to provide room for users to write within your workbook, the two larger trim sizes work best. If you’re producing more of a study guide, you may find the 6 x 9 to be the right size for your book.
Infographic of Standard Trim Sizes for Study Guides and Workbooks
Cookbooks
Cookbooks come in various trim sizes, depending on the layout and inclusion of photographs and/or illustrations. a cookbook’s trim size needs to accommodate and enhance readers’ overall cooking experiences. For cookbooks, we recommend no smaller than 8 x 8 inches. The largest size for cookbooks would be 8.5 x 11 inches.
Infographic of Standard Trim Sizes for Cookbooks
Children’s Books
Children’s books come in a wide range of trim sizes to cater to different age groups and reading levels. You should choose a trim size that takes into consideration your illustrations, font size, and overall design of the book. You’ll find 7.5 x 7.5 inches, 7 x 10 inches, and 10 x 8 inches used most often for children’s books. And the 11 x 8.5 inches for a landscape book are a great size for large illustrations in a children’s book, too.
Infographic of Standard Trim Sizes for Children’s Books
How to Choose a Trim Size for My Book
Now that we’ve explored the standard trim sizes in publishing, let’s look at how to choose the right trim size for your book. Here are a few factors to consider:
1. Genre
The genre of your book is the singular biggest influence on your book’s trim size. Different genres have different reader expectations when it comes to the physical dimensions of a book. For example, romance novels often have smaller trim sizes, while coffee table books and workbooks often require larger trim sizes for readers to enjoy the photography or to find the workbook user-friendly.
2. Word Count and Page Count
The word count directly correlates to your total page count, and these also play a role in determining your book’s trim size. A book with a higher word count requires more pages to accommodate the text. So, you may decide to select a larger trim size within the standard set of book sizes for your genre, so your printed book isn’t too thick for readers to comfortably hold.
3. Retail Book Pricing
It’s also important to note that trim size, final page count, and interior ink colors (black and white or color) determine a book’s production costs and retail pricing. Book retail pricing is set by book printers and they follow a standard pricing chart for all books—traditionally published or self-published.
Here’s an example:
A 100,000-word fiction manuscript formatted with black text and set in a mass market paperback size of 4.25 x 7 inches will produce a higher final page count number, which directly affects the retail price of the book.
Whereas, that same 100,000-word fiction manuscript formatted with black text in a 6 x 9-inch trim size will have a lower final page count number, which results in a lower retail price for the book.
