KDP Cover Validator

How to validate your KDP cover

1. 1

   Select your cover type

   Choose "Ebook Cover" if you are uploading a JPEG or TIFF image, or "Paperback Cover" if you have a PDF. The validator applies different rules for each format.

2. 2

   Drop or browse your cover file

   Drag your cover file into the drop zone or click to open a file browser. The tool accepts JPEG, TIFF, and PDF files up to 100 MB.

3. 3

   Wait for instant analysis

   The validator reads your file entirely in the browser — no upload required. Within seconds it checks dimensions, aspect ratio, color space, file size, and DPI against Amazon KDP's official requirements.

4. 4

   Review each check result

   Results are grouped by severity: errors (KDP will reject), warnings (KDP may flag), and passed checks. Each result includes a plain-English explanation and the specific value detected in your file.

5. 5

   Fix errors before uploading to KDP

   If any errors are found, fix them in your design tool before uploading to KDP. Common fixes: resize to 1600×2560px, convert color space to sRGB, re-export as JPEG instead of PNG, or reduce file size via JPEG compression.

KDP cover requirements: ebook vs paperback

Amazon KDP has different technical requirements depending on whether you are publishing an ebook (Kindle) or a print paperback. The table below summarises every check this validator runs.

Common reasons KDP rejects cover files

Most KDP cover rejections fall into five categories. All of them are caught by this validator.

• Wrong file format (PNG, WebP). Canva exports PNG by default. KDP does not accept PNG for covers — you must re-export as JPEG or TIFF. This is the single most common rejection reason for first-time authors.
• Image too small in pixels. Exporting from Canva, Photoshop, or Illustrator at "72 DPI for web" often produces covers that are 800×1280px or smaller — below the 625×1000px minimum. Always export at the full pixel count (1600×2560px recommended).
• Wrong aspect ratio (square or landscape). Social-media–style square covers (1:1) and wide landscape covers fail the minimum 1.6:1 portrait requirement. A 1000×1000px or 1600×900px cover will be rejected immediately.
• CMYK color space. Adobe Illustrator and InDesign documents default to CMYK. Exporting a CMYK JPEG to KDP causes an immediate rejection. In Photoshop: Image → Mode → RGB Color, then re-save. In Illustrator: File → Document Color Mode → RGB Color.
• File over 50 MB. Uncompressed TIFF files at 4000×6400px can easily be 70–100 MB. Resize to 1600×2560px and save as JPEG at quality 85–90 — the result will typically be 3–8 MB and visually indistinguishable on Kindle screens.

Frequently asked questions

What are the KDP ebook cover requirements?

Amazon KDP ebook covers must meet all of the following: file format JPEG or TIFF, minimum size 625×1000 pixels, maximum size 10,000×10,000 pixels, height-to-width aspect ratio of at least 1.6:1, RGB (sRGB) color space, and file size under 50 MB. The recommended ideal size is 1600×2560 pixels. Covers that fail any of these checks will be rejected during the upload process.

What is the ideal KDP ebook cover size?

The ideal KDP ebook cover size is 1600×2560 pixels (width × height). This produces a 1.6:1 aspect ratio that matches the Kindle display proportions and looks sharp on all Kindle devices and in the Amazon store. KDP accepts covers as small as 625×1000px, but larger covers render much better as thumbnails. Save as JPEG at quality 85–95 to stay well under the 50 MB file size limit.

Does KDP accept CMYK covers?

No — Amazon KDP does not accept CMYK color space for ebook covers. Ebook covers must be RGB (sRGB). If you design in Adobe Illustrator or InDesign, make sure to export with the document color mode set to RGB before saving as JPEG or TIFF. For KDP paperback covers, CMYK is actually preferred since the file goes to a print press, but RGB is also accepted with a warning that colors may shift slightly.

What DPI does a KDP ebook cover need?

For KDP ebook covers, DPI metadata is irrelevant — what matters is the actual pixel count. A 1600×2560px image at 72 DPI is identical to 1600×2560px at 300 DPI in terms of on-screen quality. KDP ebook covers are displayed on screens, not printed, so only pixel dimensions matter. For KDP paperback covers, however, 300 DPI minimum is required because the file is sent to a physical press.

What aspect ratio does KDP require for book covers?

KDP requires a height-to-width aspect ratio of at least 1.6:1 for ebook covers. This means the cover must be taller than it is wide, in portrait orientation. A 1600×2560px cover has exactly a 1.6:1 ratio (2560 ÷ 1600 = 1.6). Wider covers, square covers, or landscape covers will be rejected. The maximum accepted ratio is not officially specified, but very tall and narrow covers are accepted.

Why does KDP require a border on light covers?

Amazon KDP recommends adding a visible 1–3 pixel border around covers with white or very light backgrounds. When a light-background cover is displayed on a white page in the Kindle store, the edges of the cover can disappear — making the cover look unfinished or like it has no boundary. A thin dark or colored border visually separates the cover from the background. This is a recommendation, not a hard rule, but KDP may flag it during manual review.

What file formats does KDP accept for ebook covers?

KDP accepts JPEG (extensions .jpg and .jpeg) and TIFF (extensions .tif and .tiff) for ebook covers. PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, and other formats are not accepted and will be rejected immediately. JPEG is the most commonly used format for KDP covers — TIFF files tend to be much larger and can easily exceed the 50 MB size limit unless compressed. For paperback covers, KDP requires a single-page PDF file.

What is the maximum file size for a KDP cover?

The maximum cover file size for KDP ebook covers is 50 MB (52,428,800 bytes). Most well-optimized JPEG covers are 2–8 MB. Uncompressed TIFF files at 1600×2560px can easily exceed 10–15 MB. Files exported from Photoshop as uncompressed TIFF at 4000×6400px can exceed 50 MB and will be rejected. To reduce file size: use JPEG format, export at quality 85–90, and resize to 1600×2560px before uploading.

Can I use this tool without uploading my file to a server?

Yes. This KDP cover validator is 100% client-side — your file is never uploaded to any server. All validation happens locally in your browser using the Canvas API and browser-native image decoding. The tool reads the file from your device, analyzes it in memory, and displays results. Closing the tab discards everything. No data leaves your computer.

What are the KDP paperback cover requirements?

KDP paperback covers must be submitted as a single-page PDF file. The cover must include the front cover, spine, and back cover as one continuous wrap-around file. Resolution must be at least 300 DPI. CMYK color space is preferred for print accuracy; RGB is accepted but colors may shift. The exact dimensions depend on your book's page count, trim size, and paper type — KDP provides a Cover Calculator tool to generate the correct template size.