Book Formatting & Interior Layout
A book needs two layouts: a print interior (trim size, margins, bleed, running heads) and a reflowable eBook. Text-driven books can start from a template; illustrated books, children's books and workbooks need a designer. Book interior design is in every package; from Complete we format the eBook too.
Included in our packages from $699
We do not sell formatting as a separate line item. Tell us about your manuscript and we will recommend the package that fits, or compare the packages and prices.
Get a quotePrint interior and eBook: what changes
| What | Print interior | eBook |
|---|---|---|
| Page size | Fixed trim size, for example 152 × 229 mm (6 × 9 in) | None: the reader chooses the size |
| Margins | Set per trim, with a wider inner (gutter) margin | Set by the reading app |
| Images and bleed | Bleed of 0.125 in (3.2 mm) where art runs to the edge | Images scale to the screen |
| Final file | Print-ready PDF | EPUB |
See the common sizes in our trim sizes guide, and read how eBook conversion works.
Formatting, interior layout and typesetting
People search for all three, and they describe one service. Here is what each word covers:
Book formatting
The everyday name for the whole job: turning your edited manuscript into files a printer and the eBook stores accept.
Interior layout
How each page is designed: trim size, margins and gutter, fonts and spacing, chapter openers, running heads and page numbers, and where images sit.
Typesetting
Setting the text itself on those pages: line breaks, hyphenation, widows and orphans, and even spacing, so the page reads cleanly.
Book layout for illustrated and children's books
Picture books, workbooks and cookbooks are laid out page by page around the images, often in full colour and with bleed on every spread. Plan the trim size before the illustrations are drawn, so the art fits the page. See children's book publishing and children's book printing.
How we format your book
Send your manuscript
Word .docx, any genre, any length. Tell us the trim size you want, or ask us to recommend one.
We format it
We typeset your manuscript into a professional interior for the trim size you choose (and edit it first, from Premium).
Cover and ISBN
We design your cover to fit the final page count, and assign the ISBN and barcode.
You approve
You approve the final files: a print-ready PDF for any trim size, plus the eBook file from Complete.
A full package takes 4–6 weeks standard; occasionally up to 8 weeks. Formatting follows editing, and the cover is built from your final page count. Related services: editing, proofreading and cover design. All of it is in the publishing packages.
FAQs
What is the difference between book formatting and interior layout?
They describe the same job. Interior layout (or typesetting) turns your edited manuscript into the pages of the book: trim size, margins, fonts, running heads and page numbers. We use "formatting" for the print file and the eBook file together.
Do I need a different file for print and for eBook?
Yes. A print book is a fixed layout set to one trim size. An eBook is reflowable, so the text adapts to each reader's screen. Packages from Complete include both the printed book and the eBook interior formatting.
Which trim size should I choose?
It depends on genre and length. Our trim sizes guide lists the common sizes with their dimensions, and we confirm the size with you before layout starts.
Is book formatting included in your packages?
Yes. Book interior design is in every publishing package, from Essentials ($699). Complete and above add eBook formatting alongside the print interior. We do not sell formatting as a separate line item.
How long does it take?
A full publishing package, including layout, takes 4–6 weeks standard; occasionally up to 8 weeks.
Do I keep the rights to my formatted book?
Yes. You keep 100% of your rights and royalties.