Choosing the Right Page Size for Your Children’s Book

Choosing the right page size is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when creating a children’s book. Your book’s trim size affects everything—your layout, illustrations, printing cost, readability, and how professional the final product looks on Amazon or any print-on-demand platform.

In this guide, we break down the most popular page sizes, what works best for each age group, and how to choose the perfect trim size for your children’s book.

Why Page Size Matters in Children’s Books

Before picking a trim size, it’s essential to understand why it’s so important.

✔ 1. It shapes the visual experience

Bigger pages allow full-page illustrations, while smaller sizes are better for early readers.

✔ 2. It affects printing and production cost

Some sizes are cheaper to print because they use standard paper sheets.

✔ 3. It impacts how your book appears on Amazon and bookstores

Trim size determines how your book competes visually with other titles in your category.

✔ 4. It influences layout, font size, and storytelling style

Certain stories look better in wide formats, square formats, or portrait formats.

Most Popular Children’s Book Page Sizes

Below are the industry-standard trim sizes used by major publishers and Amazon KDP.

1. 8.5" x 8.5" — The Most Popular Square Size

This size is ideal for:

• Picture books

• Bedtime stories

• Character-driven books

• Books with full-page illustrations

Why authors choose it:

• Perfect for colorful artwork

• Easy to hold for little hands

• Professional, bookstore-quality appearance

• Very cost-effective on KDP

2. 8" x 10" — Classic Picture Book Format

Used heavily by major publishers like Scholastic and HarperCollins.

Best for:

• Detailed illustrations

• Storybooks with more text

• Character-driven adventure stories

• Landscape or portrait illustrations

Why authors love it:

• Large enough for immersive artwork

• Works perfectly for read-aloud books

• A standard size recognized by parents and teachers

3. 7" x 10" — Great for Early Readers

This slightly narrower size is ideal for:

• Level 1–3 readers

• Transitional books (story + illustrations)

• Illustrated chapter books with bigger text

Advantages:

• Comfortable for young readers

• Fits more text while keeping illustrations large

• Works well with black & white or color interiors

4. 6" x 9" — Perfect for Chapter Books

This is the industry standard for older children's books, including:

• Chapter books

• Middle-grade novels

• Black-and-white illustrated novels

Benefits:

• Lower printing cost

• Easy to handle for ages 7+

• Works for both color and B&W interior options

5. Landscape Sizes (e.g., 10" x 8") — For Wide Illustrations

Ideal for:

• Nature books

• Educational picture books

• Books with double-page spreads

• Illustration-heavy titles

Why choose landscape:

• Allows dramatic wide scenes

• Great for panoramic artwork

• Looks premium in print

How to Choose the Right Page Size for Your Book

Use the questions below to determine the perfect trim size for your story.

1. Who is your target age group?

Ages 0–5:

Go for 8.5 × 8.5 or 8 × 10.

Ages 5–7:

Consider 7 × 10 or 8 × 10.

Ages 7–12:

Use 6 × 9 for chapter books.

2. How illustrated is your book?

• Fully illustrated: Square or large portrait sizes

• Partially illustrated: 7 × 10 or 6 × 9

• Mostly text: 6 × 9

3. What platform will you publish on (KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu)?

Some trim sizes vary slightly between platforms.
However, the following sizes are universally supported:

• 6 × 9

• 7 × 10

• 8 × 10

• 8.5 × 8.5

4. What is your printing budget?

Larger sizes cost more to print.

Cheapest options on KDP:

• 6 × 9

• 8.5 × 8.5

Higher-cost, premium look:

• 8 × 10

• 10 × 8 (landscape)

Tips for Formatting Your Chosen Page Size

✔ Keep all artwork at 300 DPI

✔ Add 0.125" bleed on each side for full-page art

✔ Keep text inside the safe margin

✔ Design illustrations at full size (never resize up)

✔ Export final files as PDF/X-1a:2001 with embedded fonts

These steps ensure your book prints perfectly on Amazon.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right page size for your children’s book is essential for creating a visually appealing, professional, and well-formatted final product. Whether you’re creating a square picture book, a classic portrait storybook, or an illustrated chapter book, selecting the right trim size will help bring your story to life.

If you need help choosing the perfect size—or want your book professionally formatted for Amazon KDP or IngramSpark—Whimsy Studios can help with:

• Custom illustration

• Print-ready formatting

• KDP & IngramSpark layout

• Professional cover design

Visit WhimsyStudios.net to start your project.