How to export a print-ready book PDF from Microsoft Word
Updated November 4, 2026 · Amazon KDP · IngramSpark · Barnes & Noble Press · Lulu
Most rejected interiors were made in Word. Word can make a good print file, if you change a few settings first.
1. The error
Interior file rejected (page size, margins, fonts or images)
Not one error, but the four most common ones a Word file runs into.
2. Why the printer rejected it
Word is built for letter-size office documents, not books. Out of the box it uses the wrong page size, its margins don't account for the spine, it can leave fonts out of the PDF and it shrinks pictures when saving. Each of those is its own rejection reason.
3. The do-it-yourself fix
1. Page size
- Layout → Size → More Paper Sizes → enter your trim size (for example 6" x 9"). Apply to: Whole document.
2. Margins
- Layout → Margins → Custom Margins → Multiple pages: Mirror margins.
- Inside margin by page count (see our KDP margin guide); at least 0.5" on every side for IngramSpark.
3. Pictures
- File → Options → Advanced → Image Size and Quality → tick Do not compress images in file, Default resolution: High fidelity.
4. Export
- File → Save As → PDF → Options → tick PDF/A compliant so all fonts are embedded.
- Open the PDF and check page size, page count and that nothing sits too close to the edges.
You can fix this by hand with the steps above. Or drop your file into SparkPrep and let it find the problem and fix it for you, in minutes. Try it on your file.
What it costs to get this fixed
| Hire a professional interior formatter | SparkPrep | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About $800 | One price per book for the cover, the inside pages, or both |
| Time | Book a freelancer, wait for their schedule, then go back and forth on changes | Upload and get your fixed, print-ready files in minutes |
| Printer check | Depends on the freelancer | Checked against your printer's own rules, every time |
Freelancer prices are Reedsy's own published figures (source). A great designer is worth it for original artwork. If you just need your files right for the printer, you don't need to pay designer prices.
4. The automated fix
Rather skip the settings? Upload your Word-made PDF and SparkPrep fixes the page size, margins, fonts and images for your printer in minutes. Or write it in Interior Studio and it's print-ready from the start.
Fix my Word PDFQuick answers
Can I use Word to format a book for KDP?
Yes. Set the paper size to your trim size, use mirror margins with the right inside margin, turn off image compression and save as a PDF/A compliant PDF.
Why is my Word PDF rejected?
Usually the page size is still letter size, the margins are too small for the page count, fonts aren't embedded or images were compressed below 300 DPI.
More guides
- How to fix "font cannot be embedded because of licensing restrictions"
- How to fix the "font not embedded" error in your book PDF
- How to fix "interior content extends outside the safety area"
- How to fix a KDP margin error (with the gutter table)
- All guides
SparkPrep is an independent tool and is not affiliated with Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press or Lulu.