How to Format a Book in 2024: The Ultimate Guide for Print and Ebook

Up until now, your goal has been writing the best book you can. Now that it’s finished, you’re ready to take the next step toward publication.

So, how do you make a book look like a book and not a 5th-grade creative writing assignment?

Some people hire professional designers to do it for them. While this can save time, it’s also expensive. If you have the time, you can do it yourself and save money.

With the help of this article, you can cut costs and design your book on your own. You’ll learn a new skill and still end up with a professional-looking book.

1. Which program or software to use
2. How to set up your file
3. How to design your pages like a pro
4. Common mistakes to avoid

The Importance of Book Formatting

Before diving into the details of book formatting, it's essential to understand the significance of proper formatting for authors. Formatting is more than just making your book look good; it plays a crucial role in several aspects, including the following:

• Readability: Enhances the reader's experience by ensuring easy navigation and understanding.
• Aesthetics: Creates a visually appealing and professional-looking book.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates commitment to quality, attracting readers, reviewers, and publishers.
• Consistency: Ensures a smooth and cohesive reading experience throughout the book.
• Meeting Publishing Requirements: Adheres to technical requirements of various publishing platforms.
• Accessibility: Makes the book more inclusive for readers with disabilities.
• Branding and Author Identity: Establishes a unique style and recognition across all your books.

With that knowledge in mind, let's talk about how to make the best formatted book possible.

Why You Should Trust Me

So I've been writing and formatting books for a long time. 10+ years as of this writing.

But I actually found formatting to be a huge pain, which is why I actually created my own formatting software that solved all my problems. I called it Atticus.

But this isn't meant to be a sales pitch. I just want to make sure it's clear that I know what I'm talking about. The amount of research that went into not only formatting my own books, but also creating a formatting software is huge.

I researched everything, from tiny margin requirements, to the specific type of quotes to use (curly or straight, it makes a difference).

So if all that makes sense, hopefully you'll come along with me as show you everything I've learned.

Understanding File Types of Book Formatting

Before you get too excited about publishing your book, you need to understand the different file formats. Each marketplace accepts specific file formats, and you’ll need to create the correct one for your chosen venue.

To make your life easier, I created a table of all the major publishing platforms and the file formats they accept.

Platform	EPUB	PDF	DOCX	KPF (Kindle Create)	HTML	TXT	Multi-Touch Books (.ibooks)
Amazon
IngramSpark
Barnes & Noble Press
Apple Books

If looking at this table makes your head spin, don’t worry. The primary columns you need to pay attention to are EPUB and PDF.