Size Specifications for e Book Covers – LAST Updated SEPTEMBER 2015 “ What size should an ebook cover be?” is a question often asked by ebook authors new to ebook publishing as well as by experienced authors – since specifications change from time to time. As an ebook cover designer, I attempt to stay updated on this matter. Firstly, when we talk about ebook cover size, there isn’t just one attribute to consider, but three! THREE ASPECTS TO THE SIZE SPECIFICATIONS OF AN EBOOK COVER: There is the File size – how many megabytes big your ebook cover file is, e.g. 1.35 MB. This can easily be seen if you hover over an image stored on your computer, or right-click and check “ Properties.” Under “ General” you will see the size. Then there are the Dimensions. That is the physical height and width of the image. Right-click on a saved ebook cover image on your computer, go down to “ Properties,” then select the“ Details” tab at the top, and scroll down to find the Dimensions – height and width. NOTE: This image just illustrates HOW to find the size specifications for any picture on your computer. It is NOT the size of an ebook cover. For the correct size of an ebook cover please read till the end Dimensions can be measured in inches or millimetres, but it is more usual to be stated in pixels, e.g. 1200 x 2500 pixels. This will not give you the RATIO directly, but you can use your math skills to calculate that. The 1200 x 2500 image has a ratio of (just divide 25 by 12!) Thirdly, when considering the size of an ebook cover, there is the Resolution. Once again right-click on a saved image, click on “ Properties”; select the “ Details” Tab and scroll down to Resolution. This gives you the Pixels or Dots per inch. EBOOK COVER SIZE SPECIFICATIONS/ REQUIREMENTS BY e BOOK SITES: Now this is the tricky part – different sites have different ebook cover size specifications for.
A good ebook cover is a visual, strategic and emotional glance into the contents of your writing. But if you decide to design your own ebook cover, there are some important things you need to take into consideration. This isn’t just a topic of vanity and of having a “professional looking cover”, though. It’s a truly important part of your self-publishing journey. A micro-second glance at your cover may be the only opportunity you have to persuade a potential reader to find out more. Moreover, there’s no arguing with the fact that books are judged by their covers. A shoddy cover suggests shoddy content, even when that content may be the best content in the world. You need to just browse the many free titles on Amazon to see what I mean. So, if you, as an aspiring writer, are going to dive into the deep end and rustle up your own ebook cover, here are a few things you need to take into account. Ebook And Print Book Covers Are Different This morning I was cordially informed by Good Reads (read our Unofficial Guide to Good Reads) that one of my friends had recently read the four books above. “ Interesting”, I thought. Only I had not the faintest idea what the three on the right were, nor whether I would be even loosely interested in reading them myself. Unless I strained my eyes to try and read the title. Or strained my brain trying to decipher what the images were all about. On the other hand, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes cover immediately peaked my curiosity. It’s been a book I’ve wanted to read for a long while, and knowing one of my friends has read some of Sir Arthur’s work prompted me to click through to the Good Reads page and 5 minutes later, to download the book to my Kindle. All because I received some sort of insight into the book simply from its cover. It may be the case that the Sherlock Holmes cover was never designed as an ebook, but its design features make.
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