Cover rejected?
Why Amazon rejects KDP covers — and how to fix each one
1. The full-cover size is wrong
Why it happens. By far the most common rejection. The cover file has to be back cover + spine + front cover + bleed as one flattened image. People design at the trim size (say 6×9) and forget the spine and the 0.125" bleed, so the file ends up too narrow.
The fix. Build the canvas at the full-cover size: width = (2 × trim width) + spine + 0.25", height = trim height + 0.25". The spine depends on your exact page count, so calculate it for this book — not a round number.
2. Resolution is under 300 DPI
Why it happens. KDP needs at least 300 DPI across the whole cover. Low-res stock images, screenshots, or a file scaled up to force-fit the dimensions all land below it, and print comes out fuzzy.
The fix. Use art that's 300 DPI at full-cover size (600 DPI is the recommended ceiling — higher can time out). Never upscale a small file to hit the size; rebuild at the right resolution instead.
3. The file is RGB, not CMYK
Why it happens. Print covers should be CMYK. RGB is the eBook answer, and it's the default in most design tools — so an exported print cover is often RGB without you realizing.
The fix. Export the print PDF in CMYK. Convert any spot colors to CMYK too; embedded color profiles get stripped on upload.
4. There's no bleed
Why it happens. Printers can't cut to the exact millimeter, so background art has to run 0.125" past the trim line on every outside edge. If it stops at the trim, you get thin white slivers along the printed edges — or a rejection.
The fix. Extend background art a full 0.125" beyond trim on the top, bottom, and outside edges. The bleed is already baked into the full-cover size if you calculated it correctly.
5. Fonts aren't embedded
Why it happens. If the fonts you used aren't embedded in the PDF, KDP's system can't render them reliably and flags the file. This one surprises people because the cover looks fine on their own screen.
The fix. Embed all fonts when you export the PDF (most tools have an 'embed fonts' option), or flatten the cover so text becomes part of the image.
6. Spine text on a book that's too thin
Why it happens. KDP only allows spine text at 79 pages or more. Add text to a thinner spine and it gets rejected. Even above 79 pages, text crammed against the fold can bounce.
The fix. Leave the spine blank under 79 pages. At 79+, keep spine text at least 0.0625" off each spine edge so it can't wrap onto the covers.
7. Important content sits inside the safe margin
Why it happens. Anything critical — title, author name, logos — within 0.125" of the trim line risks being cut off, because the trim itself can shift slightly during printing.
The fix. Keep all text and key elements at least 0.125" inside the trim line, and use a cover font no smaller than 7 pt.
8. Art covers the barcode zone
Why it happens. Amazon places a barcode in the bottom-right of the back cover. If your design puts text or busy art there, it can be obscured — or the cover gets flagged.
The fix. Reserve a clear 0.25" margin in the bottom-right of the back cover. Leave it light and empty so the barcode prints cleanly.
Not sure which one bounced your cover?
Enter your trim size, page count and paper. Get the exact full-cover size KDP needs and a correctly-sized template, before you upload. No login, no subscription.
Common questions
Why did Amazon reject my KDP cover?
The most common reason is the file is the wrong full-cover size, because the spine width and bleed weren't included — so the upload comes out a few hundred pixels short. The other frequent rejections are resolution under 300 DPI, RGB color instead of CMYK, missing bleed, fonts that weren't embedded in the PDF, and spine text on a book under 79 pages.
What size does my KDP cover actually need to be?
Your full cover is wider than the book. Width = (2 × trim width) + spine width + 0.25" of bleed, and height = trim height + 0.25". The spine grows with page count, so a 120-page 6×9 book on white paper needs a 12.52" × 9.25" cover (3756 × 2775 px at 300 DPI), while a 200-page book of the same trim is wider.
How do I fix a cover that's the wrong size?
Don't stretch the file — that drops your resolution and triggers a second rejection. Rebuild the canvas at the exact full-cover size for your trim, page count, and paper, then place your artwork inside it with the spine and bleed accounted for. Running the free checker gives you the exact target size and a correctly-sized template to design on.
Does Amazon reject covers for being RGB instead of CMYK?
Yes, for print. KDP wants print covers exported in CMYK; RGB is for eBook covers. Spot colors aren't supported either and should be converted to CMYK. Mixing up the two is an easy way to get a print file flagged.
Can I put text on my spine?
Only if your book has 79 pages or more. Below that, the spine is too narrow and KDP prints it blank — putting text there gets the cover rejected. At 79+ pages, keep spine text at least 0.0625" away from each fold so it doesn't wrap onto the front or back.
Numbers verified against Amazon KDP's Create a Paperback Cover help page. Updated for KDP's 2026 spec.