How to Format a YA Novel for KDP

To format a YA (young adult) novel for KDP, use a 5.5”×8.5” trim on cream paper, a highly readable serif font at 11–12pt with generous line spacing (1.4–1.5×), and clear chapter openings. YA readers are teens and young adults aged 13–18 — readability is paramount, and the interior should feel inviting without being childish. A typical 65,000-word YA novel produces ~245 pages at 5.5×8.5, costing about $3.94 to print. The YA market generates $2.1 billion annually in the US, with a significant crossover adult audience.

Trim size for YA

Length / Type	Recommended Trim
Contemporary YA (55K–75K words)	5.5” × 8.5”
YA Fantasy (80K–100K words)	5.5” × 8.5” or 6” × 9”
YA Thriller / Mystery	5.5” × 8.5”
Short YA / Verse novels	5.5” × 8.5”

5.5×8.5 is the standard for YA — it matches what teens see on bookstore shelves. Avoid 5×8 (too small, feels “mass market”) and 6×9 (too large, feels “textbook”) unless the book is very long.

Check page counts with the KDP Book Calculator.

Fonts for YA

YA interiors need to be extremely readable. Your audience includes developing readers — the font should be clear, open, and comfortable at speed.

Body text

Font	Why It Works for YA
Georgia	High x-height, very clear, designed for readability
Garamond	Classic, elegant, slightly smaller so it fits more per page
Palatino	Open counters, generous spacing, excellent readability
Sabon	Clean, warm, works across all YA subgenres

Set at 11–12pt with 1.4–1.5× line spacing. YA uses slightly larger text and more generous spacing than adult fiction — the reading experience should feel effortless.

Heading fonts

• Simple serif heading (larger version of body font)
• Clean sans-serif contrast (Futura, Gill Sans) for contemporary YA
• Avoid anything that looks “young” or “cute” — YA readers are teenagers, not children

Preview at your trim size: Book Fonts.

Chapter styling for YA

YA chapter openings vary by subgenre but tend to be more expressive than adult fiction:

• Chapter number + title is the most common YA format: “Chapter 3: The Message”
• First-person chapter titles work well: “The Day Everything Changed”
• Alternating POV headers: “ELENA” / “MARCUS” — common in dual-POV YA romance and thriller
• Drop caps: work well for YA fantasy, optional for contemporary
• Scene breaks: three asterisks or a simple ornament. YA contemporary can use a single line or dash.

POV and timeline markers

Many YA novels alternate perspectives or timelines. Make these visually distinct:

Element	Formatting
POV character name	Caps, centered, above chapter number
Timeline (“Three years earlier”)	Italic subtitle below chapter heading
Location	Small caps or italic subtitle

Consistency is critical — readers need to know instantly whose perspective they’re reading.

Front and back matter

Front matter

• Half-title
• Title page
• Copyright (include “This is a work of fiction” disclaimer)
• Dedication
• Epigraph (common in YA — a quote that sets the tone)

Back matter

• Acknowledgments (YA authors often write longer, more personal acknowledgments)
• About the Author
• Also By
• Discussion questions (optional — teachers and book clubs use these; adds value for school library purchases)
• Preview chapter of next book — essential for YA series

Pricing at 5.5×8.5

Word Count	Pages	Print Cost	Suggested Price	70% Royalty
55,000	~215	~$3.58	$12.99	$5.51
65,000	~245	~$3.94	$13.99	$5.85
75,000	~275	~$4.30	$14.99	$6.19
85,000	~305	~$4.66	$15.99	$6.53

YA paperbacks typically price at $12.99–$16.99. The crossover adult audience pays adult prices.

Related guides

• 5.5×8.5 KDP specs — margin and spine specs
• Format a fantasy novel — for YA fantasy crossover
• Chapter openers guide — chapter styling options
• Front matter and back matter — complete guide
• KDP Book Calculator — page count and cost