A 5×8 book on IngramSpark requires a PDF/X-1a:2001 file with CMYK or grayscale color space, embedded fonts, a minimum inside margin of 0.5”–0.875” depending on page count, and spine width calculated as page count × 0.0025” (cream) or × 0.002252” (white). IngramSpark supports 5×8 for paperback only — their hardcover minimum trim is 5.5×8.5. The main difference from KDP is the PDF/X-1a requirement and stricter gutter minimums for shorter books.
IngramSpark vs KDP at 5×8
| Requirement | KDP | IngramSpark |
|---|---|---|
| PDF format | Standard PDF | PDF/X-1a:2001 |
| Color space | RGB OK | CMYK or Grayscale only |
| Min gutter (under 150pp) | 0.375” | 0.5” |
| Hardcover available | Yes (limited) | No at 5×8 (min 5.5×8.5) |
| Distribution | Amazon only | 40,000+ retailers |
Note: IngramSpark does not offer hardcover at 5×8. If you want a hardcover edition, you’ll need to use 5.5×8.5 or larger.
Margin requirements
Minimum inside (gutter) margin
| Page Count | Minimum Inside Margin |
|---|---|
| 1–150 pages | 0.5” |
| 151–400 pages | 0.625” |
| 401–600 pages | 0.75” |
| 601+ pages | 0.875” |
Minimum outside margins
| Edge | Minimum (no bleed) | Minimum (with bleed) |
|---|---|---|
| Outside | 0.25” | 0.375” |
| Top | 0.25” | 0.25” |
| Bottom | 0.25” | 0.25” |
Recommended professional margins
| Edge | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Inside (gutter) | 0.65”–0.8” |
| Outside | 0.45”–0.6” |
| Top | 0.55”–0.7” |
| Bottom | 0.65”–0.8” |
Spine width
Same formulas as KDP:
Cream (55#): page count × 0.0025” White (50#): page count × 0.002252”
| Pages | Cream Spine | White Spine |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | 0.500” | 0.450” |
| 250 | 0.625” | 0.563” |
| 300 | 0.750” | 0.676” |
| 350 | 0.875” | 0.788” |
IngramSpark requires 0.5” minimum spine for spine text. Calculate yours with the Spine Width Calculator.
PDF/X-1a requirements
Your interior PDF must be:
- PDF/X-1a:2001 compliant
- CMYK or Grayscale — no RGB elements, including images
- All fonts embedded
- Transparency flattened
- Page size exactly 5” × 8” (360 × 576 points)
- Even total page count
- No printer marks
Most formatting tools don’t export PDF/X-1a by default. Word can’t do it at all without Acrobat Pro. Cambric handles PDF/X-1a export automatically when you select IngramSpark as your target platform.
Cambric exports IngramSpark-ready PDF/X-1a files with correct color space, embedded fonts, and proper margins — no Acrobat Pro needed.
Get Cambric — $199
Page count and printing cost
| Word Count | Estimated Pages | IS Printing Cost (B&W, cream) |
|---|---|---|
| 40,000 | ~180 | ~$3.60 |
| 50,000 | ~220 | ~$4.24 |
| 60,000 | ~260 | ~$4.88 |
| 75,000 | ~305 | ~$5.60 |
| 80,000 | ~310 | ~$5.68 |
| 90,000 | ~350 | ~$6.32 |
IngramSpark printing costs are higher than KDP — roughly $0.016 per page vs KDP’s $0.012. Factor this into your pricing. Many authors set IngramSpark list prices $1–$2 higher than KDP or accept a smaller margin for the wider distribution reach.
Use the KDP Book Calculator for page count estimates (page count is the same regardless of platform).
Cover dimensions
Cover width = 5” + spine + 5” + 0.25” (bleed) = 10.25” + spine Cover height = 8” + 0.25” (bleed) = 8.25”
Use IngramSpark’s cover template generator or the Cover Size Calculator for exact dimensions.
Remember: IngramSpark requires a barcode zone on the back cover (2” × 1.2” minimum, lower-right quadrant).
Publishing on both KDP and IngramSpark at 5×8
The standard approach:
- Format your interior once using IngramSpark’s stricter margins (0.5” minimum gutter for under 150 pages, vs KDP’s 0.375”)
- Export two PDFs: standard PDF for KDP, PDF/X-1a for IngramSpark
- Use the same cover file for both (both platforms accept the same dimensions)
Cambric supports this with edition profiles — create a KDP edition and an IngramSpark edition from the same manuscript, each with the correct export settings.
Common rejections
- Not PDF/X-1a — check your export settings
- RGB images — convert all images to CMYK before export
- Cover spine mismatch — regenerate your cover template if page count changed
- Trim size mismatch — PDF must be exactly 5” × 8”, not the bleed size
Related specifications
- 5×8 on KDP — simpler PDF requirements
- 5.5×8.5 on IngramSpark — larger trim, hardcover available
- Format a romance novel — genre-specific guide for the primary 5×8 audience
- IngramSpark requirements — general platform overview
- KDP Book Calculator — page count and cost
- Cover Size Calculator — cover dimensions