SIZE & FORMAT

The standard term “Trim Size” represents the final size after all edges have been trimmed, something that happens after it has been printed and bound (paperbacks). Pages of hardcover books are also trimmed which happens before insertion in the cover.

The book size impacts on the finished look as it influences everything from type size, illustration sizes, white space and binding method. It also impacts on the final page count of your book – the smaller the page, the less type each carries and subsequently an increase in pages. If your book production price is being calculated based on pages count, smaller pages can increase overall cost.

A last consideration when determining the size are standards for specific genres. There are conventional sizes that optimize both print production and final space requirements on the shelf.

Here are some standard book sizes by type:

Paperbacks

Includes pocket-size, oversize, novellas and many other types of fiction ands non-fiction books. Within this category there are multiple sub-categories with their own size conventions. These books are commonly the cheapest to produce as they are usually black-only text and a small format.

Print Options: Black-Text, Black-Photo, Colour Inserts
Sizes:
Fiction: 4.25″ x 6.87″, 5″ x 8″, 5.25″ x 8″, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 6″ x 9″
Novella: 5″ x 8″
Children’s: 7.5″ x 7.5″, 7″ x 10″, 10″ x 8″
Textbooks: 6″ x 9″, 7″ x 10″, 8.5″ x 11″
Non-fiction: 5.5″ x 8.5″, 6″ x 9″, 7″ x 10″
Memoir: 5.25″ x 8″, 5.5″ x 8.5″
Binding: Perfect
Paper: 20-50lb text, 24-60lb text, 28-70lb text

Photo Books

Includes art books, photographic collections. These are amongst the most expensive books to produce due to the use of full-colour and sopecialty papers intended to provide hi-resolution output. A lot of time can be spent in pre-press getting colour just right. These books are frequently printed in landscape format to better suit photographic dimensions and oritentation.

Print Options: Black-Photo, Colour
Sizes: 7 x 7, 5 x 8, 9 x 9, 8 x 10, 8.5 x 11, 9 x 12, 11 x 8.5, 12 x 9
Binding: Stitched, Perfect, Coil
Paper: Dull Coated. Silk, Gloss Coated

Specialty Books

Includes cook books, geneology, illustrated books. These books frequently include photos, both colour and black and may feature unusual layouts and include full-bleed images.Like photo books, A lot of time can be spent in pre-press getting colour just right.

Print Options: Black-Photo, Colour
Sizes: 7 x 7, 5 x 8, 9 x 9, 8 x 10, 8.5 x 11, 9 x 12
Binding: Stitched, Perfect, Coil, Case (hard-cover)
Paper: Dull Coated. Silk, Gloss Coated

Trade Books

Includes paperbacks and text-based books on inexpensive stock.

Print Options: Black-Text, Black-Photo, Colour
Sizes: 5 x 8, 6 x 9, 8 x 10
Binding: Stitched, Perfect
Paper: 20-50lb text, 24-60lb text,

Manuals

Includes full-colour or black-only on a variety of coated and plain stocks. These books are commonly used as reference material and include illustrations, diagrams and photos requiring a larger overall size with 8.5 x 11 (letter-size) and 9 x 12 being the most common. Coil bindings, wire or spiral are frequently chosen to allow these books to “lay flat” when being used.

Print Options: Black, Black-Photo, Colour
Sizes: 5.5 x 8.5 – 18 x12 (max size depends on binding method)
Binding: Stitched, Perfect, Coil
Paper: 80-100lb coated, gloss or matte, 20-50lb text, 24-60lb text, 28-70lb text

Magazines

Includes full-colour or black-only on a variety of coated and plain stocks. These are really small books with pages counts from as little as 20 to over 200. Coated stocks are commonly preferred as they carry advertising and full-colour illustration and photos. Page counts up to 8- can be stitched (stapled) for an inexpensive binding method.

Print Options: Black-Photo, Colour
Sizes: 5 x 8, 6 x 9, 8 x 10, 8.5 x 11, A4, 9 x 12
Binding: Stitched, Perfect
Paper: 80-100lb coated, gloss or matte, 20-50lb text, 24-60lb text,