Glossary
What is trim size?
Updated
Trim size is the finished width and height of a printed book after the pages have been cut. It is chosen before the interior is laid out, because changing it later re-flows every page and changes the page count.
The sizes people actually use
| Trim | Usually used for |
|---|---|
| 6 × 9 in | The self-publishing default. Non-fiction, memoir, most trade paperbacks. |
| 5.5 × 8.5 in | A slightly more compact non-fiction and workbook size. |
| 5.06 × 7.81 in | Mass-market-ish fiction; feels like a novel from a shop. |
| 8.5 × 11 in | Workbooks, manuals, anything with worksheets to fill in. |
What it decides for you
- The page count, which sets the printing cost and therefore your royalty.
- The spine width, which is calculated from the page count — so the cover artwork cannot be finished until the interior is.
- The margins. The inner margin has to be wider than the outer one, because the binding swallows part of the page. That extra is called the gutter.
Related terms
- BleedBleed is the extra artwork extended past the edge of the page so that when the pages are trimmed, no white sliver shows. The standard allowance is 0.125 inches — about 3mm — on every edge that runs off the page.
- Print on demandPrint on demand means a single copy is printed and shipped only after a customer orders it. There is no print run, no minimum order and no box of unsold books in your hallway — you are paid the difference between the list price and the printing cost.
- Front matterFront matter is everything printed before chapter one — half title, title page, copyright page, dedication, contents, and sometimes a foreword or preface. It is what makes a book look like a book rather than a document.
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