Rejection Messages Decoded › Amazon KDP file errors
Amazon KDP
Amazon KDP file errors, explained
KDP shows most problems in its print previewer before you can publish, sometimes with a red box on the page. Here's what each kind of message is telling you.
KDP's most common print file errors are text outside the margins (inside margin too small for the page count), missing bleed, page size not matching the trim size, fonts not embedded, low-resolution images and spine text on books of 79 pages or fewer.
“Text is outside the margins / content too close to the edge”
Paraphrased: the exact wording varies.
What it means: Something on a page sits inside KDP's no-go strip near an edge or the spine.
Most likely cause: The inside margin is too small for your page count (KDP grows it from 0.375" to 0.875"), or page numbers sit too low.
Do this: Use KDP's table for your page count and mirror margins in Word. KDP margin table and fix →
“Your cover/background doesn't extend to the bleed edge”
Paraphrased: the exact wording varies.
What it means: Art must run 0.125" past each outer edge of the cover, or of any interior page where art touches the edge.
Most likely cause: A cover made at trim size, or interior bleed chosen in setup without making the pages bigger.
Do this: Rebuild at full size with bleed, or turn off bleed in setup if nothing touches the edge of your pages. Add bleed →
“Interior page size does not match the trim size selected”
Paraphrased: the exact wording varies.
What it means: The PDF's pages are a different size from the trim size you chose in KDP.
Most likely cause: A letter or A4 Word document, or bleed chosen in KDP but not added to the PDF (or the other way round).
Do this: Set the page size in your original file to your trim size (plus bleed if needed) and export again. Fix page size →
“Font not embedded”
Paraphrased: the exact wording varies.
What it means: The PDF names a font but doesn't carry it, so KDP can't print it as you set it.
Most likely cause: Word's "do not embed common system fonts" setting, or a font whose license blocks embedding.
Do this: Turn on font embedding and re-export, or swap the font. Embed fonts →
“Image resolution is low / below 300 DPI”
Paraphrased: the exact wording varies.
What it means: A picture doesn't have enough pixels for the size it prints, so it may look blurry.
Most likely cause: A small picture stretched big, a screenshot, or Word compressing images when saving.
Do this: Use the original, larger picture and turn off compression before exporting. Fix picture quality →
“Spine text is not allowed for books under the minimum page count”
Paraphrased: the exact wording varies.
What it means: Your book has 79 pages or fewer, so its spine is too thin for text on KDP.
Most likely cause: A design made for a thicker book, or a final page count lower than planned.
Do this: Remove text from the spine (keep the color or art), or add real content to reach 80 pages. Spine rules and fixes →
“Cover dimensions do not match the required size for this book”
Paraphrased: the exact wording varies.
What it means: The full cover file isn't the width and height KDP expects for your trim, page count and paper.
Most likely cause: A spine from another printer or paper, or a page count that changed after the cover was made.
Do this: Work out the size again from the final page count and rebuild. KDP cover size chart →
KDP's previewer is your friend, up to a point
KDP's online previewer shows red boxes where it finds problems and won't let you continue until the serious ones are fixed. It won't tell you how to fix them, and some things (like a spine that's a little off-center, or colors that shift in print) only show up in a printed proof. Preflight before uploading, use the previewer, then order a proof.
Find out what's wrong with your files before the printer does
SparkPrep checks your cover and every interior page against the exact rules Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press and Lulu use, tells you each problem in plain English, and can fix it for you.
Scan my book free See how SparkPrep worksThe scan is free and shows how many problems your files have. To see every problem and where it is, the audit is $1.99 ($3.99 after January 1). The Advanced Audit checks every page, up to 300, for $9.99.
Questions people ask
Why does KDP say my text is outside the margins?
Usually because the inside margin is smaller than KDP's minimum for your page count, or page numbers and headers sit too close to the edge.
How long does KDP take to review a paperback?
KDP says books are usually live within about 3 business days after you publish, once the files pass. A rejection restarts the clock.
Free help from SparkPrep
Last updated 2026-11-01. Written by Joshua Davis, founder of SparkPrep. Numbers come from each printer's own published guides; always double-check your printer's current rules before you upload.