Getting your ebook cover dimensions wrong means a rejected upload, a stretched image, or a blurry thumbnail that kills your sales before anyone reads the description. Every platform has different "official" specs, but there is one size that works everywhere. Here is the full breakdown so you never have to guess.
Ebook Cover Specs by Platform
| Platform | Minimum Size | Recommended Size | Aspect Ratio | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindle (KDP) | 625 x 1000 px | 2560 x 1600 px | 1.6:1 | JPEG, TIFF |
| Apple Books | 1400 x 1873 px | 2560 x 1600 px | 1.5:1 (3:2) | JPEG, PNG |
| Kobo | 1400 x 1873 px | 2560 x 1600 px | 1.5:1 (3:2) | JPEG, PNG |
| Nook (B&N Press) | 750 x 1200 px | 2560 x 1600 px | 1.6:1 | JPEG, PNG |
| Google Play Books | 640 x 1024 px | 2560 x 1600 px | 1.6:1 | JPEG, PNG |
Notice the pattern. Every platform accepts 2560 x 1600 pixels. Some have lower minimums, but uploading at the minimum means a fuzzy thumbnail on high-resolution devices. Always go with the recommended size.
Why 2560 x 1600 Is the Universal Safe Size
Amazon recommends this size because it looks sharp on every Kindle device, including high-DPI tablets. Apple Books and Kobo both perform well at this resolution. And every distributor (Draft2Digital, PublishDrive, Smashwords) uses this as their recommended upload size.
The One-Size Formula:
- Width: 1600 pixels
- Height: 2560 pixels
- Ratio: 1.6:1 (height to width)
- Format: JPEG at maximum quality
- Color space: RGB (sRGB preferred)
- File size: Under 50 MB (most platforms cap here)
Create one file at this size, upload it everywhere. No cropping, no resizing, no platform-specific versions. This is the approach The Art Director Method recommends for every indie author going wide.
File Format Requirements
JPEG is the universal standard. Every single ebook platform accepts it. Export at maximum quality to avoid compression artifacts, especially around text on your cover.
- JPEG: Accepted everywhere. Use quality 95-100% or level 10-12 in Photoshop. Best balance of quality and file size.
- PNG: Accepted by Apple Books, Kobo, Nook, Google Play. Larger file sizes but lossless quality. Not accepted by KDP for ebook covers.
- TIFF: Accepted by KDP. Overkill for ebooks. Very large file sizes with no visible quality benefit on screens.
Important: always use RGB color space. CMYK is for print. If you export in CMYK, colors will look washed out on screens and some platforms will reject the file outright.
How to Export AI-Generated Covers at the Right Size
AI image generators do not output at 2560 x 1600 by default. You need to bridge the gap between what the AI gives you and what the platforms require.
Step 1: Generate at the right aspect ratio
Use a 2:3 or 1.6:1 aspect ratio when generating. In Midjourney, use --ar 2:3. In other tools, select the closest portrait option. This prevents awkward cropping later.
Step 2: Upscale to at least 2560 pixels tall
Use Upscayl (free) or Topaz Gigapixel (paid) to upscale your AI output. Most generators output 1024-2048 pixels, so a 2x upscale is usually enough. Save as PNG during this step to avoid double compression.
Step 3: Crop and resize to exactly 2560 x 1600
Open in Photoshop, GIMP, Affinity Photo, or Canva. Set your canvas to 2560 x 1600 pixels. Position your artwork, add typography, and export as a high-quality JPEG.
The Art Director Method walks through this entire workflow in detail, including which AI tools produce the best results for specific book genres and how to add professional typography that matches reader expectations.
Common Ebook Cover Mistakes
- ✗ Uploading at the minimum size. Just because KDP accepts 625 x 1000 does not mean you should use it. Your cover will look blurry on tablets and in the Kindle store on desktop browsers.
- ✗ Using CMYK color space. CMYK is for print. Ebook covers displayed on screens need RGB. Uploading CMYK files results in dull, desaturated colors.
- ✗ Ignoring the thumbnail test. Your cover will appear as a tiny thumbnail in search results. If the title is unreadable at 80 pixels wide, your cover is not working.
- ✗ Different files for different platforms. One file at 2560 x 1600 works everywhere. Creating platform-specific versions wastes time and introduces inconsistency.
- ✗ Low-quality JPEG compression. Exporting at medium quality introduces visible artifacts around text edges. Always use maximum quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
2560 x 1600 pixels (1.6:1 ratio) is the safest universal ebook cover size. It meets or exceeds the requirements for Kindle (KDP), Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes and Noble (Nook), and Google Play Books. Upload one file at this size and every platform will accept it.
JPEG is accepted by every ebook platform and is the recommended format. Use maximum quality (level 10-12 in Photoshop, 95-100% elsewhere). Some platforms also accept PNG and TIFF, but JPEG keeps file sizes small while maintaining quality. Always use RGB color space, not CMYK.
No. Ebook covers are displayed on screens, which measure in pixels, not inches. DPI metadata is ignored by every ebook retailer. What matters is your total pixel dimensions. As long as you meet the minimum pixel requirements for each platform, the DPI setting is irrelevant.
If your cover is below the platform minimum, the upload will either be rejected outright or the image will be stretched to fit, resulting in a blurry, pixelated cover in the store. KDP requires a minimum of 625 pixels on the shortest side but recommends 2560 pixels on the longest side for best quality.
Generate your image at the largest available size with a 1.6:1 aspect ratio (or close to it, like 2:3). Upscale if needed using Upscayl (free) or Topaz Gigapixel. Open in an image editor, crop to exactly 2560 x 1600 pixels, and export as a high-quality JPEG in RGB color space. This single file works on every platform.
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