Amazon KDP Ebook Cover Requirements
Amazon KDP requires a cover image inside every EPUB and MOBI file — separate from the cover image you upload to the KDP product listing. Both must meet KDP's size and format requirements. The most common cover rejection reasons are images below the minimum dimensions and CMYK color profiles that KDP's system cannot process.
Specifications at a glance
Detailed requirements
KDP states a minimum of 625px wide by 1000px tall, but recommends the ideal of 1600px × 2560px for the sharpest display across Kindle devices and the Kindle app. The 1.6:1 height-to-width aspect ratio is required — covers with a significantly different ratio will be stretched or cropped to fit KDP's display templates. Images must be in RGB color mode; CMYK images are rejected by KDP's image processor even though CMYK is standard for print covers. The maximum file size is 50MB, though standard cover images are well under 5MB in practice.
KDP accepts JPEG and TIFF. PNG is not listed as an accepted format in the current official specification — authors using PNG covers from design tools should convert to JPEG before including the image in their EPUB package.
Common mistakes
Using a print cover directly
Print covers are designed at 300 DPI in CMYK color mode. KDP rejects CMYK images. Always export a separate RGB JPEG at the correct pixel dimensions for the ebook cover — do not reuse the print-ready PDF or TIFF.
Dimensions below the minimum
The 500px minimum cited by some older tools and blog posts is outdated. KDP's current official minimum is 625px wide × 1000px tall. Covers below this threshold are rejected or display at poor quality on high-DPI screens.
Wrong aspect ratio
A 1:1 square cover or a landscape-oriented image will be stretched or letterboxed by KDP's display system. Start from a canvas with the correct 1.6:1 height-to-width ratio — 1600×2560px is the standard working size.
Common questions
Does KDP accept PNG cover images?
PNG is not listed as an accepted cover format in the current KDP specification. Use JPEG or TIFF. Most design tools export covers as PNG by default — export as JPEG at maximum quality before including the image in your EPUB.
Can I use the same cover image inside the EPUB and for the KDP product listing upload?
Yes. KDP accepts the same JPEG for both the embedded EPUB cover and the separate product listing cover upload. The listing upload has slightly different display requirements (it shows in search results and the product page), but the same 1600×2560px JPEG works for both.
Why does my cover look fine in Kindle Previewer but appear as a gray placeholder on the product page?
A gray placeholder on the product page usually means the cover image is embedded in the EPUB but not declared with properties="cover-image" in the OPF manifest. The image is physically present but the platform cannot identify it as the cover.
Check your cover against Amazon KDP requirements
The free Cover Checker validates dimensions, color mode, and file format against publishing platform requirements — no signup required.
Check Your Cover Free →Platform rejection guides: Why Amazon KDP rejects ebooks
Common EPUB errors: Cover image not declared in OPF manifest
Cover requirements: Apple Books ebook cover requirements