Lulu Cover Size Calculator
Full-wrap cover dimensions for a Lulu paperback (perfect bound), with the spine calculated from your page count and a guide template at 300 DPI.
Lulu's cover rules in brief
Lulu prints covers with 0.125 in of bleed on every outside edge, and wants important content at least 0.5 in inside the trim, which is more than KDP's 0.125 in. The spine is (pages ÷ 444) + 0.06 in, so a Lulu spine is a little wider than a KDP spine for the same page count. A KDP cover file usually needs resizing before it will fit Lulu.
Making a hardcover? Lulu uses a fixed spine table for casewrap and linen hardcovers. See the Lulu spine width calculator.
Lulu cover sizes by trim
Specs last checked against Lulu's published specs in September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a Lulu paperback cover size?
Width = 0.125 in bleed + trim width + spine + trim width + 0.125 in bleed. Height = trim height + 0.25 in. The spine is (pages ÷ 444) + 0.06 in. For example, a 6 × 9 in book with 300 pages needs a 12.986 × 9.250 in cover.
Does paper type change the Lulu spine width?
Lulu publishes a single formula for standard paperbacks, (pages ÷ 444) + 0.06 in. The exception is its magazine and comic book paper, which uses 460 pages per inch instead of 444.
What safety margin does Lulu need on a cover?
Lulu asks for 0.125 in of bleed and a 0.5 in safety margin inside the trim edge. Keep text, faces and logos inside the safety margin.
When can a Lulu book have spine text?
Lulu advises against spine text for books with 80 pages or fewer, because even a small shift in the fold can push the text onto the front or back cover.