If you are to undertake the design of your book cover, it is essential you know the width of your spine to integrate this into the final cover design.
NB: This is only a guide and we will confirm spine widths before final cover art submitted to us.
To calculate the estimated spine width of your book, simply use the following formula:
Spine = [(Page Extent)/2] x Paper Bulk + 0.5mm, then round up to the nearest half millimetre.
Our standard paper bulks are as follows.
Paper Type Bulk (microns)
80gsm Laserspeed White 0.100
79gsm Bulky Paperback 0.138
70gsm Creamy 0.140 (+500 book orders only)
80gsm Fine Offset 0.100
90gsm Fine Offset 0.111
100gsm Fine Offset 0.120
For example, the spine width of a 200pp book printed on 79gsm Bulky Paperback will be (200/2) x 0.100 = 13.8mm. Add approximately 0.5mm for glue, then round up to the nearest half millimetre. This gives a total spine width of 15mm.
NB: The spine width calculator is a guide only, and should be used as such.
To make your self publishing experience simpler, you can leave the most appropriate choice of paper up to our suitably knowledgable Publishing Assistants, based on your specific book requirements.
