Amazon Kindle Publishing Guidelines
Amazon Kindle
Publishing Guidelines
How to make books available for Kindle
devices and applications
version 2019.2
This document describes the primary ways publishers, authors, and conversion houses can
make their content available for Amazon Kindle devices and applications. This document
includes guidelines and suggestions to ensure a smooth conversion and publication process.
Copyright ? 2019 , Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Publishing on Kindle: Guidelines for Publishers
Revision History
Revision
Number
2019.2
Revision Notes
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2019.1
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Updated the following sections to add accessibility guidelines:
o 2.1.1 Kindle Create
o 3 Comparing Formats
o 6.1 Constructing Well-Formed HTML Documents (XHTML)
o 7.2 External Link Guidelines
o 8 Accessibility Guidelines
o 9 QA Standards
o 9.1 Testing Kindle Books
o 10.3.8 Using Embedded Fonts
o 10.4.1 Use Supported Input Formats
o 10.4.7 Image and Font Size Requirements for Line-Art and Text
o 10.4.11 Use Supported SVG Tags and Elements
o 10.5.1 Avoid Large Tables
o 10.5.2 Create Simple HTML Tables
o 10.5.4 Table Features with Enhanced Typesetting
o 11.3.2 Including Specific Fonts
Added 2.4 Markdown Authoring Tools.
Updated 4.1 Marketing Cover Image Is Mandatory and 4.2 Internal Content Cover Image Is
Mandatory to clarify that they don't apply to KDP.
Updated 5.2 NCX Guidelines to specify that Kindle devices and applications support two levels of
nesting.
Updated 7.2 External Link Guidelines to recommend archiving links.
Added 11.3.1 Minimum Text Size.
Updated 12.6 Text Guidelines to specify minimum text size in graphic novels.
Updated 13.2 Text Guidelines to specify minimum text size in fixed-layout books without pop-ups.
Updated 17.1 Supported Attributes to change background-size entry.
Updated 5.1, HTML TOC Guidelines, to add lists of maps and illustrations.
Updated 5.3, Guide Items, to clarify that the start reading location is defined by Amazon.
Updated 9.3.2, Body Text Must Use Defaults, to update the color converter link.
Updated 9.3.7, Use CSS for Page Breaks, to clarify requirements.
Updated 9.4.2, Image Size and Quality Standards, to remove chart.
Updated 13.7.2, Adding Video, to clarify need for poster tag.
Updated 15.5, Supported Languages, to update language list.
Kindle Publishing Guidelines
2
Publishing on Kindle: Guidelines for Publishers
Table of Contents
PART I. GETTING STARTED ................................................................................................... 8
1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 8
2 Paths to Getting Your Content on Kindle................................................................................................... 8
Amazon¡¯s Kindle Direct Publishing Platform ................................................................................................8
2.1.1 Kindle Create .............................................................................................................................................8
Creating Kindle Books In-House Using Kindle Publisher Tools ................................................................9
2.2.1 KindleGen...................................................................................................................................................9
2.2.2 Kindle Previewer .......................................................................................................................................9
2.2.3 Kindle Comic Creator ...............................................................................................................................9
2.2.4 Kindle Kids' Book Creator ......................................................................................................................10
Third-Party Conversion Services .................................................................................................................10
Markdown Authoring Tools ...........................................................................................................................10
3 Comparing Formats ..................................................................................................................................... 11
PART II. GENERAL BEST PRACTICES............................................................................... 14
4 Cover Image Guidelines .............................................................................................................................. 14
Marketing Cover Image Is Mandatory .........................................................................................................14
Internal Content Cover Image Is Mandatory ..............................................................................................14
5 Navigation Guidelines ................................................................................................................................. 15
HTML TOC Guidelines ..................................................................................................................................15
5.1.1 Using a Nested HTML TOC...................................................................................................................16
NCX Guidelines ..............................................................................................................................................17
5.2.1 Creating a Logical TOC Using a toc nav Element..........................................................................17
5.2.2 Creating a Logical TOC Using NCX .....................................................................................................18
Guide Items .....................................................................................................................................................19
5.3.1 Defining Cover and TOC ........................................................................................................................19
6 HTML and CSS Guidelines.......................................................................................................................... 20
Constructing Well-Formed HTML Documents (XHTML) ..........................................................................20
Avoid Using Negative Values .......................................................................................................................20
Avoid Using Scripting .....................................................................................................................................20
Avoid Nested Tags .................................................................................................................................20
File References Must Match Case and Spelling of Source ......................................................................21
Other Encodings Are Supported ..................................................................................................................21
Use Supported Characters and Spaces .....................................................................................................21
Design for a Good eBook Experience .........................................................................................................21
7 Hyperlink Guidelines ................................................................................................................................... 22
Internal Link Guidelines .................................................................................................................................22
Kindle Publishing Guidelines
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Publishing on Kindle: Guidelines for Publishers
External Link Guidelines................................................................................................................................22
8 Accessibility Guidelines.............................................................................................................................. 23
9 QA Standards ................................................................................................................................................ 23
Testing Kindle Books .....................................................................................................................................24
PART III. GUIDELINES FOR SPECIFIC TYPES OF EBOOKS ........................................ 26
10 Creating Text-Heavy Fiction and Non-Fiction eBooks (Reflowable) ................................................. 26
Metadata Guidelines ....................................................................................................................................26
Layout Guidelines ........................................................................................................................................26
Text Guidelines .............................................................................................................................................26
10.3.1 Specify Heading Alignment and Justification ....................................................................................26
10.3.2 Body Text Must Use Defaults .............................................................................................................26
10.3.3 Formatting Paragraphs ........................................................................................................................28
10.3.4 Avoid Using Fixed Values for Most Elements ...................................................................................28
10.3.5 Margin and Padding Formatting .........................................................................................................28
10.3.6 Drop Caps ..............................................................................................................................................28
10.3.7 Use CSS for Page Breaks ...................................................................................................................29
10.3.8 Using Embedded Fonts .......................................................................................................................30
10.3.9 Customizing Font Selection .................................................................................................................30
10.3.10 Page Number Guidelines ..................................................................................................................32
10.3.11 Enabling Real Page Numbers ..........................................................................................................32
10.3.12 Footnote Guidelines ...........................................................................................................................33
Image Guidelines .........................................................................................................................................34
10.4.1 Use Supported Input Formats .............................................................................................................34
10.4.2 Image Size and Quality Standards .....................................................................................................35
10.4.3 Image Dimensions for Responsive Layouts .....................................................................................36
10.4.4 Use Color Images .................................................................................................................................36
10.4.5 Photographs Should Be Optimized for High-Resolution Devices ..................................................36
10.4.6 Use GIF or PNG for Line-Art and Text ..............................................................................................37
10.4.7 Image and Font Size Requirements for Line-Art and Text .............................................................37
10.4.8 Prefer HTML to Images ........................................................................................................................37
10.4.9 Positioning Image Captions.................................................................................................................38
10.4.10 Controlling Image Aspect Ratio ........................................................................................................38
10.4.11 Use Supported SVG Tags and Elements .......................................................................................38
Table Guidelines ..........................................................................................................................................39
10.5.1 Avoid Large Tables ...............................................................................................................................39
10.5.2 Create Simple HTML Tables ...............................................................................................................40
10.5.3 Split Tables as Needed ........................................................................................................................40
10.5.4 Table Features with Enhanced Typesetting .....................................................................................40
MathML Support ...........................................................................................................................................42
11 Creating Fixed-Layout Books with Text Pop-Ups ................................................................................ 43
Metadata Guidelines ....................................................................................................................................43
Cover Image Guidelines: Including Back Cover for Children's Content ...............................................45
Text Guidelines .............................................................................................................................................45
Kindle Publishing Guidelines
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Publishing on Kindle: Guidelines for Publishers
11.3.1 Minimum Text Size ...............................................................................................................................45
11.3.2 Including Specific Fonts .......................................................................................................................45
Content Requirements ................................................................................................................................45
11.4.1 Requirement #1: Using HTML File Structure ....................................................................................45
11.4.2 Requirement #2: Using Region Magnification (Pop-Ups) ...............................................................46
HTML and CSS Guidelines.........................................................................................................................48
11.5.1 Applying CSS Reset .............................................................................................................................48
11.5.2 CSS Files For Fixed-Layout Books ....................................................................................................48
11.5.3 Optimizing Content for Full Screen ....................................................................................................48
11.5.4 Using Large Region Magnification Tap Targets in Fixed-Layout Books with Text Pop-Ups .....48
11.5.5 Using position:absolute for Text on Image ........................................................................................48
11.5.6 Future-Proofing Fixed-Layout Content with Text Pop-Ups .............................................................49
Creating Fixed-Layout Books with Text Pop-Ups with Multipage Background Images and Text ....49
11.6.1 Using Side-by-Side Images When Orientation-Lock Is Set to Landscape ...................................49
11.6.2 Positioning Text Blocks ........................................................................................................................51
11.6.3 Aligning Text ..........................................................................................................................................51
12 Creating Fixed-Layout Books with Image Pop-Ups or Virtual Panels .............................................. 51
Metadata Guidelines ....................................................................................................................................52
Image Guidelines .........................................................................................................................................53
Panel View (Region Magnification)............................................................................................................54
Virtual Panels in Comics and Manga ........................................................................................................56
12.4.1 Requirement #1: Using a Synthetic Spread When Orientation-Lock Equals None ....................57
Optimizing Content for the Graphic Novel Experience ...........................................................................60
12.5.1 Optimizing Tap Targets ........................................................................................................................60
12.5.2 Optimizing View Panels .......................................................................................................................60
Text Guidelines .............................................................................................................................................61
Guided View ..................................................................................................................................................63
12.7.1 About Guided View ...............................................................................................................................63
13 Creating Fixed-Layout Books Without Pop-Ups................................................................................... 63
Metadata Guidelines ....................................................................................................................................63
Text Guidelines .............................................................................................................................................65
14 Creating Kindle Edition with Audio/Video Content .............................................................................. 67
Audio Requirements ....................................................................................................................................67
Video Requirements ....................................................................................................................................68
File Requirements ........................................................................................................................................69
14.3.1 Multimedia Directory .............................................................................................................................69
14.3.2 Confirm Correct Mime-Type ................................................................................................................69
14.3.3 File Size ..................................................................................................................................................69
Navigation Guidelines ..................................................................................................................................69
14.4.1 Including an Audio and Video TOC ....................................................................................................69
14.4.2 Including Audio and Video Assets in NCX File .................................................................................70
Text Guidelines .............................................................................................................................................70
Image Guidelines .........................................................................................................................................70
Audio and Video Guidelines .......................................................................................................................70
14.7.1 Adding Audio .........................................................................................................................................70
Kindle Publishing Guidelines
5
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