Publishing a low-content book on KDP
Notebooks, journals, planners, log books and similar books are what KDP calls low-content books: the interior is mostly repeated pages for the buyer to fill in. This tool makes those interiors, or turns your own page design into one, at any KDP paperback trim size.
The inside margin (gutter)
KDP needs a wider inside margin as the page count grows, so nothing disappears into the binding. The outside margins need to be at least 0.25 in without bleed.
| Page count | Inside margin (minimum) | Outside margins (no bleed) |
|---|---|---|
| 24 to 150 | 0.375 in (9.6 mm) | At least 0.25 in (6.4 mm) |
| 151 to 300 | 0.5 in (12.7 mm) | At least 0.25 in (6.4 mm) |
| 301 to 500 | 0.625 in (15.9 mm) | At least 0.25 in (6.4 mm) |
| 501 to 700 | 0.75 in (19.1 mm) | At least 0.25 in (6.4 mm) |
| 701 to 828 | 0.875 in (22.3 mm) | At least 0.25 in (6.4 mm) |
The generated pages add 0.125 in to the minimum inside margin and use 0.5 in outside, so they sit comfortably within KDP's limits. Right-hand pages (odd numbers) have the wide margin on the left, and left-hand pages (even numbers) have it on the right.
Page count
Every sheet has two sides, so KDP rounds page counts up to an even number. The tool does the same, so your cover's spine width matches. Use the cover template with the same trim size, paper and page count.
Black and white books on white paper can have 24 to 828 pages at most trim sizes (fewer on the largest trims). If your combination isn't allowed, the tool says so.
Page styles
- Lined: wide (8.7 mm), college (7.1 mm) or narrow (6.4 mm) ruling
- Dot grid: dots every 1/4 in, 5 mm or 4 mm, popular for bullet journals
- Graph: 4 squares per inch, 5 mm squares or 8 squares per inch
- Journal: a date line at the top, then lined
- Planner: date and days of the week, top priorities, an hourly schedule from 6am to 9pm, a to-do list and notes
Customising the pages
Most low-content books that sell have their own look. Download a single page as an editable SVG or a transparent PNG, design on it in Canva, Affinity, Illustrator or Inkscape, then export it at the trim size and use Assemble your own design to build the full interior.
- Choose your trim size and page count on the Generate tab, then download the right-hand and left-hand pages.
- Design on top. Keep anything important inside the margins, and keep the wider margin on the binding side.
- Export each page as a PNG or JPG at the trim size, ideally 300 dpi (1,800 × 2,700 px for 6 × 9 in).
- On the Assemble tab, add your pages and page count, then build the PDF. It alternates left and right pages, rounds up to an even count, and can add page numbers.
When you publish
- Tick the Low-content box under Categories. KDP says books that should have it ticked and don't may be rejected.
- You don't need an ISBN, and low-content books can't use KDP's free ISBN. Without one, KDP adds a barcode to the back cover in a 2 × 1.2 in box at the bottom right, and Look Inside isn't available.
- Low-content books can't use Expanded Distribution or be part of a series, with or without an ISBN.
- Choose No bleed when you upload, because these files are made at your exact trim size with nothing printed near the edge.
For the full process from interior to listing, read our guide to publishing a low-content book on KDP.
Questions
Can I sell books made with these pages?
Yes. The pages you generate here are yours to use in books you sell.
What's the "This book belongs to" page?
An optional first page with a name line, common in notebooks and journals. Turn it off if you'd rather start straight away with ruled pages.
Why does KDP limit blank pages?
KDP's guidelines allow up to 4 consecutive blank pages at the start or in the middle of a manuscript and up to 10 at the end. Ruled, dotted and planner pages aren't blank, so they're not affected.
Figures from KDP's help pages, checked 28 October 2026.