Do you want your book to look brilliant in 2025? If you're trying to write a book or publish it yourself, getting the right book format is necessary. When your book looks professional, it's easier for people to read, and they'll take you more seriously. Plus, it helps your book stand out. Whether you're making a paper book or an ebook, knowing how to format a book can save you a lot of trouble later on. In this guide, we'll walk you through every step of the process so you know exactly how to format a book for today’s publishing standards.
Your book formatting work might fail or succeed based on the software you choose. In 2025, there are several reliable tools authors use for book formatting:
- Microsoft Word: People's first choice, If you know how to use the templates and styles for formatting a book, it works really well for making your book look decent.
- Scrivener: It is excellent for organizing large writing projects, and now it includes more formatting options than ever.
- Vellum (Mac-only): It is popular for its beautiful and professional book formatting, especially for eBooks.
- Adobe InDesign: Perfect for complex layouts and design-heavy books. It’s a favorite among professionals.
- Reedsy Book Editor: A free, browser-based tool that offers clean book formatting and is very user-friendly.
No matter what program or method you choose to format your book, what you're really trying to do is make it look neat and easy to read. If you’re overwhelmed, many authors turn to professional book formatting services like Ace Book Publishers to ensure the final product meets publishing standards.
How to set up your file for Amazon Book Publishing
Considering Amazon book publishing, a really popular choice, have you ever wondered about their formatting rules? Because whether your book is a helpful non-fiction guide or a captivating novel, getting the layout right is actually quite important.
Standard Book Format:
Try out below mentioned format settings:
- Trim Size: 6" x 9" is the most common for novels.
- Margins: Set your inside margin (gutter) wider to accommodate binding.
- Fonts: Stick with classic fonts like Times New Roman or Garamond.
- Line Spacing: 1.15 to 1.5 for readability.
Ebook Formatting Tips:
- Use heading styles consistently.
- Avoid tabs for indents; use paragraph styles instead.
- Keep images optimized for the web (72 dpi).
If all of this sounds too technical, consider hiring agencies who specialize in book formatting services like Ace Book Publishers. Getting it right the first time can reduce your overall Book publishing cost and make your book shine on platforms like Amazon book publishing.
How to design your pages like a pro
Want your book to look like it came from a big publishing house? Page design plays a massive role. Here’s how to master book writing format like a pro:
- When organizing your book, remember to make your chapter titles consistent. You should use bold fonts and make them larger in size.
- For running headers, include either the book title or the chapter title on alternating pages.
- Also, be sure to start your page numbers from the very first page of your actual content, not the title page itself.
- Finally, don't crowd your pages; proper use of whitespace will really enhance readability for your audience.
Working with a line editing company or a provider of book editing services like Ace Book Publishers ensures that your content is not only grammatically correct but also visually appealing. These pros can fix subtle formatting errors that might escape your notice.
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Common mistakes to avoid in Book Formatting
Errors in formatting could harm your sales and give your book an unpolished appearance. Avoiding these errors will help you to maintain a proper writing format and can significantly reduce your book publishing cost in the long run. These Includes a few major pitfalls:
- Inaccurate fonts and spacing
- Incorrect page numbering
- Overuse of bold or italics
- No gutter margin for print books
Fixing some of these errors after publishing can be both expensive and time-consuming so try to avoid such mistakes in your book publishing journey.
Understanding File Types of Book Formatting
When it comes time for you to export and upload your book, knowing the correct file type becomes key. Most book writing companies deliver files to you in formats that are ready for publishing, but if you're doing it yourself, here’s what you need to know:
- PDF: Ideal for print books. Ensures layout stays intact.
- EPUB: Preferred format for most eReaders.
- MOBI: Was used for Kindle, but now largely replaced by EPUB.
- DOC/DOCX: Editable formats, but not ideal for final uploads.
Make sure you use the format that matches your publishing platform's requirements. Incorrect file type selection may result in rejected uploads or formatting problems.
Novel Formatting Guidelines
Novel formatting guidelines help ensure your manuscript looks professional and is easy to read for editors, agents, and publishers. Formatting a novel has its own set of rules. Here’s a checklist to follow for professional novel formatting:
- Font and Font Size
- Use a readable font like Times New Roman or Garamond
- Font size should be 12-point
- Avoid decorative fonts; keep it simple and clean
- Line Spacing
- Use double-spacing throughout the entire manuscript
- Do not add extra spaces between paragraphs
- Double-spacing makes it easier for editors and agents to add notes
- Margins
- Set all page margins to 1 inch (top, bottom, left, right)
- This creates a standard, balanced appearance for printing and reviewing
- Paragraphs
- Indent the first line of every paragraph by 0.5 inches
- Do not use tabs; set auto-indentation in your word processor
- Keep paragraphs consistent and avoid skipping lines between them
- Alignment
- Use left alignment, not justified text
- This maintains natural spacing and avoids awkward word spacing
- Chapter Formatting
- Start each chapter on a new page
- Position the chapter title (e.g., “Chapter 1” or “Chapter One: The Beginning”) about one-third down the page
- Use bold or all caps if desired, but stay consistent
- Headers and Footers
- Include a header with your last name, book title (shortened), and page number
- Example: Smith / Lost Shadows / Page 34
- Start page numbers on the first page of the story, not the title page
- Title Page
- Centered on the page:
- Book title in bold or caps
- Your name (or pen name) below the title
- Contact info (name, address, phone, email) in top-left if submitting to agents
- Scene Breaks
- Use a symbol like *** or ### centered on a line to indicate a scene break
- Do not simply skip a line or use extra spacing
- File Format
- Save your manuscript as a .doc or .docx file for submissions
- Use PDF for self-publishing platforms like Amazon KDP or IngramSpark
If you are formatting a book for print, consider print costs and design elements which commonly includes:
- Margins: Include a gutter margin
- Paper Type: Cream paper is often preferred for novels
- Cover Design: Match trim size and spine width
Also don't forget about what goes at the very end of your book! Things like your author bio, thank you notes, and even a sneak peek at your next story can really help keep your readers interested and connected.
Extra Tip:
Learning how to write a novel synopsis is essential if you intend to submit a pitch to publishers or agencies. It is frequently asked for with the manuscript and needs to be neatly and expertly prepared.
Bottom Line
Learning how to format a book in 2025 doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you're going the DIY route or working with a book publishing company like Ace Book Publishers, mastering the basics of book formatting will elevate your work and open the doors to more publishing opportunities.
If you have the correct things to help you, a good plan, and you pay close attention to small things, you can make a book that is easy to read and also looks like it was made by a professional. This is a very big step in getting your book published and doing well.
Frequently Asked Questions
When you're getting your book ready for publishing, the very first thing to focus on is creating a layout that's clean and easy for readers to navigate. Think about choosing a standard, widely recognized font like Times New Roman, and ensure the text size is a comfortable 12 points. To improve readability and prevent eye strain, it's generally recommended to double-space your entire manuscript. Pay close attention to your page margins as well; aiming for a uniform one-inch margin on all four sides provides a balanced and professional look. Finally, and crucially, always save your completed manuscript in the specific file format requested by your publisher. More often than not, this will be either a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx) or a portable document format (.pdf). These foundational elements contribute significantly to the overall reading experience and demonstrate attention to detail in your presentation.
The correct format depends on whether you’re self-publishing or submitting to a traditional publisher. As a general rule of thumb, for novels, it's standard practice to use a font size of 12 and ensure your text has double spacing. Maintain 1-inch margins on all sides of the page, and when starting a new paragraph, use an indent instead of leaving a blank line between paragraphs. Don't forget to include page numbers throughout your manuscript. Furthermore, your title page should clearly display your name alongside the title of your book. To maintain consistency and make it easier for anyone reviewing your work, it's also advisable to include a header on every page that features your last name and the title of your book.
A typical novel is usually 200 to 400 pages long, but it can vary a lot. Some short novels (novellas) are around 100–150 pages, while epic stories can be 500 pages or more. It really depends on the genre, story complexity, and target audience. Word count is a better guide—80,000 to 100,000 words is standard for most novels.
The first step to publishing a book is to finish writing your manuscript and revise it carefully. Once you feel confident, decide whether you want to self-publish or go through a traditional publisher. If you choose traditional, you’ll need to prepare a query letter and synopsis, and start looking for agents or publishers that accept submissions in your genre.