KDP vs IngramSpark vs Lulu vs Barnes & Noble Press: print file rules side by side
Updated October 28, 2026 · Amazon KDP · IngramSpark · Barnes & Noble Press · Lulu
Each printer has its own rules. A file built for one can be rejected by another, which is why authors who print in two places get surprised.
1. The error
"It passed KDP, so why did IngramSpark reject it?"
Not an error message, but the question behind many of them.
2. Why the printer rejected it
Each printer sets its own numbers. Here are the main ones, from each printer's own guides:
| KDP | IngramSpark | B&N Press | Lulu | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paperback cover bleed | 0.125" | 0.125" | 0.125" | 0.125" |
| Interior safe margin | 0.25" outside (0.375" with bleed); inside grows with pages | 0.5" all sides | 0.5" (0.75" inside) | 0.5"; inside grows with pages |
| Barcode area | 2" x 1.2" | 1.75" x 1" | 2" x 1.2" | 2" x 1.2" |
| Page count | 24 to 828 | 18 to 1200 | 48 to 800 | 32 to 800 |
IngramSpark also limits total ink to 240%, which catches many dark covers and photos.
The biggest trap: KDP lets interior text sit as close as 0.25" to the outside edge, but IngramSpark wants 0.5". A KDP-ready interior often fails IngramSpark's safety-area check.
3. The do-it-yourself fix
If you publish in more than one place, build to the strictest rule:
Interior
- Use at least 0.5" margins on every side, plus the bigger inside margin your page count needs.
- Make the PDF the exact trim size.
- Embed all fonts and keep images at 300 DPI.
Cover
- Download a separate template from each printer. Spine widths differ because their paper differs.
- Keep 0.125" bleed and leave the barcode area clear for the bigger 2" x 1.2" size.
Color
- Keep total ink under 240% so the same files also pass IngramSpark.
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 cover designer and interior formatter | SparkPrep | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About $930 for the cover plus about $800 for the inside pages: around $1,730 | 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
Printing in more than one place? Pick your printer and SparkPrep checks your files against that printer's own rules, then makes a version each one accepts, in minutes.
Check my files for each printerQuick answers
Can I use the same files for KDP and IngramSpark?
Often not without changes. IngramSpark needs 0.5 inch interior margins and total ink under 240 percent, and its spine width differs from KDP's, so the cover usually needs its own template.
Which printer has the strictest file rules?
For most books IngramSpark is the strictest, mainly because of its 0.5 inch safety margin and 240 percent ink limit.
More guides
- White vs cream paper: how your paper choice changes your spine
- How to fix "your file is not PDF/X-1a compliant"
- All guides
SparkPrep is an independent tool and is not affiliated with Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press or Lulu.