Trim size is the finished width x height of your paperback. Picking a standard size for your genre keeps printing cheap and your book looking right on the shelf.
Common trims
- 5 x 8 and 5.25 x 8 — compact; common for fiction and poetry.
- 5.5 x 8.5 — a popular all-rounder for novels and non-fiction.
- 6 x 9 — the workhorse for non-fiction, business, and many trade paperbacks.
How to choose
- Match your genre. Look at comparable paperbacks and pick the size readers expect.
- Page count vs price. A larger trim fits more words per page, lowering page count and print cost — see printing costs.
- Set it before you format. The trim drives your interior layout and margins — see print file requirements.
Once you pick a trim, build your interior PDF and cover to match it exactly. Changing trim later means re-formatting.
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