How to Format a Book for KDP and IngramSpark: Do It Yourself or Have It Done

You can format a book for KDP and IngramSpark yourself with a tool like Atticus, or pay someone to do it. Doing it yourself costs money for the tool and a few days of your time. Paying someone costs from about $10 for a cheap gig to $800 or more, and gets you back the same files. Which is better depends on whether you want to learn the tool.

What files do KDP and IngramSpark need?

For most books, two. An EPUB for the ebook, and a print-ready PDF for the paperback or hardcover. The PDF is a fixed layout, so the page size and margins must match the trim size you pick. KDP lists the sizes it supports on its trim size help page, and says 6 x 9 inches is the most common size for books in the US.

The ebook reflows, so there are no fixed pages. I cover that side in how to format your book for Amazon KDP.

How do I format a book myself?

Use a tool that makes the EPUB and the print PDF from one project. Writing in Word and uploading the raw file is how many authors end up with a broken contents page or odd gaps on a Kindle.

These are prices as I know them. Check each tool’s own page before you buy.

Whatever you use, plan on a day or two for a first book, more if it has images, tables or footnotes. Then upload, read the previewer output page by page, and fix what moved.

When is it worth paying someone?

When your time is worth more than the fee, or the book is awkward: lots of images, footnotes, poetry, a workbook layout. Prices vary a lot. Cheap Fiverr gigs run from about $10 to $100, and you should read the reviews and ask for a sample page. Freelancers and studios charge about $150 to $460. Reedsy professionals are around $800.

What does my formatting service cost?

I offer a done-for-you service. My team formats the book and I check every book before it goes back to you. I never edit your text. It costs $67 to $127 for an EPUB and $127 to $207 for an EPUB plus a print-ready PDF, depending on whether your manuscript is under 60,000 words, up to 120,000 words, or longer. Delivery is within 3 business days of receiving your complete manuscript, with a 7-day money-back guarantee.

If that fits your book, see book formatting for KDP and IngramSpark. If you are weighing it against other costs of publishing, my post on how much an ISBN costs is the next one to read.