A large print book on KDP uses a larger trim size (typically 6×9 or 7×10), 16–18pt body text, increased line spacing (1.5–1.8×), and wider margins than a standard edition. There’s no official “large print” standard enforced by KDP — you self-certify by selecting the large print tag in your book metadata. An 80,000-word novel at 16pt on a 6×9 trim produces roughly 480 pages, costing about $7.84 to print. Large print editions are a real revenue opportunity: roughly 28% of US adults have uncorrected vision problems, and large print editions face far less competition than standard editions.

What qualifies as “large print” on KDP

KDP lets you tag any book as “Large Print” in the metadata — it’s a checkbox, not a file validation. But to avoid negative reviews, your book should meet these industry norms:

SpecificationIndustry StandardMinimum
Body text size16pt14pt
Line spacing1.5–1.8×1.4×
Trim size6×9 or larger5.5×8.5
Font typeSerif, clear, high x-height—
Paper colorCream (easier on eyes)—

The Library of Congress considers 14pt+ as large print, but most readers expect 16pt. Going to 18pt earns the “I can actually read this without glasses” reviews.

SettingValue
Trim size6” × 9” (or 7” × 10” for very long books)
Body font16pt (Garamond, Caslon, or Georgia)
Line spacing1.6× (25.6pt leading at 16pt)
Inside margin0.85”–1.0”
Outside margin0.65”–0.8”
Top margin0.75”–0.85”
Bottom margin0.85”–1.0”
PaperCream (reduces glare, easier on aging eyes)

Page count impact

Large print dramatically increases your page count. Here’s what happens to the same manuscript:

Word CountStandard (11pt, 5.5×8.5)Large Print (16pt, 6×9)Page Increase
50,000~195 pages~320 pages+64%
60,000~230 pages~380 pages+65%
70,000~260 pages~430 pages+65%
80,000~280 pages~480 pages+71%
90,000~315 pages~535 pages+70%
100,000~345 pages~590 pages+71%

Printing cost impact

Word CountStandard CostLarge Print CostExtra Per Copy
50,000~$3.34~$5.16+$1.82
70,000~$4.12~$6.98+$2.86
80,000~$4.36~$7.84+$3.48
100,000~$5.14~$9.68+$4.54

Large print editions cost $2–$5 more to print per copy. Most authors price large print editions $2–$4 higher than their standard paperback. Readers expect and accept this — they’re paying for accessibility.

Use the KDP Book Calculator to run exact numbers for your word count at 16pt.

Large print editions in minutes
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Font choices for large print

Not all fonts work well at 16pt. The best large print fonts have:

  • High x-height — the lowercase letters are tall relative to the capital letters, making text more readable
  • Open counters — the holes inside letters like ‘a’, ‘e’, ‘g’ are generous
  • Clear letterforms — no ambiguity between similar characters (Il1, O0)
FontWhy It Works
GeorgiaDesigned for screen, high x-height, very clear at large sizes
GaramondClassic, elegant, reads well at 16pt with generous spacing
CaslonWarm, traditional, good counters
BookmanWide, open, extremely readable — purpose-built for accessibility
PalatinoGenerous proportions, beautiful at large sizes

Fonts to avoid for large print

  • Times New Roman — too narrow, cramped at any size
  • Condensed faces — defeats the purpose
  • Decorative or script fonts — even for headings, keep it clear

Preview fonts at large sizes with the Book Fonts tool.

Margin adjustments for large print

At 16pt with 480+ pages, you’ll likely hit a higher margin tier than your standard edition:

  • Standard 80K-word book: 280 pages → 0.5” minimum gutter
  • Large print 80K-word book: 480 pages → 0.625” minimum gutter

Your recommended 0.85”–1.0” gutter exceeds both minimums, but double-check: if your large print edition exceeds 500 pages, the minimum jumps to 0.75”.

Metadata and ISBN

  • Separate ISBN recommended — large print is a distinct edition. If you’re using IngramSpark for library distribution, libraries require a separate ISBN for each format.
  • KDP metadata: check the “Large Print” box in the book details
  • Title format: add “Large Print Edition” to the title or subtitle so readers find it in search
  • Cover: most authors use the same cover design but add a “LARGE PRINT” badge

Revenue opportunity

Large print editions are low competition, high value:

  • Most indie authors don’t bother making a large print edition
  • Library buyers actively seek large print for accessibility collections
  • Large print readers are loyal — if they find an author with large print editions, they buy the whole backlist
  • Higher list price is expected and accepted
  • Same content, minimal extra work = pure incremental revenue

A romance author with 10 books can add large print editions of all 10 in a single session. At even 5 extra sales per month per title, that’s $500+/month in additional revenue.

Publishing on both KDP and IngramSpark

Large print editions are especially valuable on IngramSpark because of library distribution. Libraries are the largest buyers of large print books.

  • KDP: tag as Large Print, price $2–$4 above standard
  • IngramSpark: enable returnability + library discount (55% wholesale discount) for library orders. Export as PDF/X-1a.
  • Both: use the same interior file (same margins work for both), export format differs (standard PDF for KDP, PDF/X-1a for IS)

Cambric supports separate edition profiles — create your standard and large print editions side by side, each with its own trim, font size, and export settings.