Book Sizes
Understanding Book Sizes
A guide to UK and US editions — because size actually matters
If you have been in the book collecting game for a hot minute, you will know the pain of mismatched size books. It could be something as simple as confusion between a US and a UK edition — getting a UK edition of Book 1 and a US edition of Book 2. It could be a change in printer, change in location of printing, change in publisher — honestly, it could be anything.
To try and shed a little bit of light on the murky industry that is publishing, we are going to break down the differences between book sizes in both UK and US editions.
To make it easier for you, so you don't have to dive down the rabbit hole yourself, we've put together this hopefully clear (and not too confusing) guide.
And of course, we also have to contend with the Imperial vs Metric systems — because why not make things a little trickier, right?
Because of the differences in UK and US sizes, we do our best to note with each book whether it is a UK or US edition so that you know exactly what you are getting and are comfortable it will fit in with your set or bookcase. If at any point you need some extra information, reach out to us and we will help you!
|
please note These sizes are estimates. There's always a small tolerance of a few millimeters in each direction due to the different machines used by publishers, which can affect the final size of the book. It's just the nature of the publishing world! |
|
most common in NZ UK Editions: Metric System Paperbacks (B-Format) / Softbacks / Mass Market Paperbacks (MMPB) These are the smaller, later releases that often come out a few months after the initial launch. They tend to use lower quality materials. Size: 197mm x 128mm Trade Paperbacks (TPB) / Royal The standard edition is released at launch, typically with higher quality materials. Size: 233mm x 153mm Standard Hardcovers The inside pages are the same size as the Trade Paperback, but the hardcover has larger covers to protect the pages. Often, these will come with a dust jacket. Size: 234mm x 163mm Demy Hardcovers These sit somewhere between a B-Format Paperback and a Trade Paperback for size. More often than not, these will come with a dust jacket. Size: 216mm x 147mm |
|
more variation in sizing US Editions: Imperial System Paperback / Paperbound / Digest These are smaller editions released later on, typically using lower quality materials. Size: 8.1in x 5.5in (203mm x 139mm) Large Print / US Trade This is the standard edition that launches initially, often with higher quality materials. Size: 9.1in x 6in (229mm x 153mm) Hardcover Hardcovers in the US can vary quite a bit in size, often depending on production costs and the number of pages. As with UK editions, the page size is typically the same as the Trade edition and often comes with a dust jacket. Size: 9 – 11in x 6 – 8.5in (229 – 292mm x 153mm – 215mm) Demy Hardcovers These sit somewhere between a B-Format Paperback and a Trade Paperback for size. More often than not, these will come with a dust jacket. Size: 8.5in x 5.88in (216mm x 147mm) |
