Why KDP Rejects Covers
The Complete Rejection Checklist
1. Incorrect Spine Width
White paper: pages × 0.002252 inches
Cream paper: pages × 0.0025 inches
Color paper: pages × 0.002347 inches
2. Missing or Incorrect Bleed
3. Wrong DPI (Resolution)
4. Safe Zone Violations
5. Wrong File Dimensions
6. Low-Quality Images
7. Barcode Area Blocked
8. Text in the Gutter
9. Incorrect Color Mode
10. PDF Compression Issues
Quick Pre-Upload Checklist
Spine width matches KDP's formula for your page count and paper
Bleed is exactly 0.125" on all sides
Resolution is at least 300 DPI
All critical text is 0.25"+ from trim edges
Barcode area (lower right back) is clear
File is under 650MB
File format is PDF
What Happens When KDP Rejects Your Cover
"The cover file you uploaded does not meet our specifications"
"The resolution of your cover image is too low"
"Your spine width does not match the specifications for your page count"
Ready to Create Your Cover?
Use our free tools to apply everything you just learned.