Free tool
Add a cover to a PDF
Put your cover image on the front of an ebook PDF, sized to match its pages. Everything happens in your browser — your files are never uploaded.
The interior — the PDF you want the cover on.
PNG or JPG work best. WebP is converted for you.
How it works
- 1Choose your book PDF and your cover image — PNG and JPG work best, WebP is converted for you.
- 2Pick how to handle an image that isn’t quite the page’s shape.
- 3Press the button. A new PDF downloads with the cover as page one, the same size as the rest of the book.
Your original file isn’t changed — you get a new copy, named after the old one with “-with-cover” on the end.
Why the cover belongs inside the PDF
If you sell or give away a PDF directly — on Gumroad, Payhip, Etsy or as a lead magnet — the first page is the cover, because that is what every PDF reader shows first and what most platforms use as the thumbnail. A book that opens on a title in plain text looks unfinished, however good the writing is.
For a Kindle book it is different: KDP takes the cover as a separate image upload, so you do not need it inside the file. See ebook to PDF for how the formats differ.
Questions people ask
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. The PDF is rebuilt by your own browser, on your own computer, and the finished file is handed straight back to you. Nothing is sent to BookArc or anyone else.
What size should my cover image be?
The same shape as your book’s pages, and large enough to stay sharp: for a 6" × 9" ebook, 1,800 × 2,700 pixels is plenty. If the shape doesn’t match, choose whether to trim the edges or keep the whole image on white.
Can I replace an existing cover?
Yes. Tick “Replace the current first page” and the old first page is removed before the new cover goes on.
Is this the cover for a KDP paperback?
No — a paperback cover is a separate file that wraps around the back, spine and front, and is uploaded on its own. This is for ebooks and PDFs people read on screen. For a paperback cover, the spine width calculator gives you the size.
Why won’t my PDF open?
Almost always because it is password-protected. Open it in your PDF reader, save a copy without the password, and use that.
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