Getting your ebook cover dimensions right matters more than most authors realize. An undersized file looks soft on Retina displays; an oversized one gets resampled by the retailer and loses its edge. Worst of all, the wrong aspect ratio crops your title off.
The short answer
For Amazon KDP, the recommended size is 2,560 × 1,600 pixels at 300 DPI. That's a 1.6:1 aspect ratio. Use this file as your master and you will cover every major retailer with minor adjustments.
Platform-by-platform
Amazon KDP
- Minimum: 1,000 × 625 px
- Recommended: 2,560 × 1,600 px
- Format: JPEG or TIFF
- Color: RGB (sRGB)
Apple Books
- Minimum: 1,400 × 2,100 px
- Recommended: 2,000 × 3,000 px
- Format: JPEG or PNG
- Color: RGB
Kobo
- Minimum: 1,600 px on the longest edge
- Recommended: 2,400 × 3,600 px
- Aspect ratio: 2:3 is ideal
Google Play Books
- Minimum: 1,400 × 2,100 px
- Recommended: 2,400 × 3,200 px
Why thumbnails win or lose the sale
Over 90% of book discovery happens at thumbnail size — typically 160 × 100 px or smaller in search results. A cover that reads clearly at that size almost always outperforms a prettier cover that doesn't.
Design for the thumbnail first, the full-size display second.
Quick test: shrink your cover to 150 px wide. If you can't read the title, something needs to change.
Print vs. ebook — don't confuse them
Ebook covers are the front only, RGB, and measured in pixels. Print covers are a full wrap (front + spine + back), CMYK, sized in physical inches, and depend on your trim size and page count. You need both files for a modern book launch, and they are not interchangeable.
