What are the technical book specs for each book size Trafford Publishing offers?

Trafford Publishing titles are printed using high-quality paper and materials. We will help guide you through our publishing process to meet the technical requirements for publishing a book. Below are the general technical requirements for each trim size.

Softcover Black-and-White Interior:

• 5" x 8"
• 5.5" x 8.5"
• 6" x 9"
• 7.5" x 9.5
• 8.25" x 11"

Hardcover Black-and-White Interior:

• 5.5" x 8.5"
• 6" x 9" book

(NOTE: By upgrading to the hardcover option, the softcover version of your book must also be in one of the available hardcover format trim sizes and must meet the 108 page minimum.)

Softcover Color Interior:

• 8.5" x 8.5"
• 8" x 10"
• 8.5" x 11"

Hardcover Color Interior:

• 8" x 10"

Binding:

Fiction, Nonfiction and Children's:
Our black-and-white and color books are "perfect bound," which is the standard binding style for most books. The pages are cut evenly and bound into the spine, which has a flat surface upon which text may be placed if the width is sufficient.

• Black and white book binding requirements: Minimum of 48 pages for softcover. Minimum of 108 pages for hardcover (if applicable).
• Color binding requirements: 24 to 480 pages

Cookbooks: Regardless of whether your cookbook is printed in color (standard) or black and white (optional), these books are "perfect bound."

Margins:

All books must be formatted within the margins required for the book trim size of your choice. Trafford Publishing will lay out your manuscript to fit the margins during the production process. But if you happen to be formatting your own book, you can adjust the page layout on a standard Microsoft® Word 8.5" x 11" document page. The margin requirements in Microsoft® Word are as follows:

5" x 8" and 5.5" x 8.5" book

• Page size: 5" x 8" or 5.5" x 8.5"
• Top margin: .75"
• Bottom margin: .75"
• Outside left and right margin: .5"
• Gutter: .125"
• Header/Footer: .5"

6" x 9" and 7.5" x 9.25" book

• Page size: 6" x 9" or 7.5" x 9.25"
• Top margin: .75"
• Bottom margin: .75"
• Outside left and right margin: .5"
• Gutter: .125"
• Header/Footer: .5"

8.25" x 11" book

• Page size: 8.25" x 11"
• Top margin: .75
"
• Bottom margin: .75"
• Outside left and right margin: .5"
• Gutter: .125"
• Header/Footer: .5

*For color books, speak with your publishing consultant about margin sizes.