Europe's print-on-demand landscape runs on metric, ISO-standard paper sizes rather than the US inch-based trim sizes, and the two names that come up most for European authors are IngramSpark (a global distributor with strong EU reach) and Books on Demand (BoD), a Europe-based POD publisher.
What You'll Need
- A decision on trim size: European readers and retailers are used to A-series sizes (A5, A4), not just the US 6"×9" standard.
- A decision on which POD publisher(s) you're using, since their exact specs differ.
European Trim Sizes
The standard European trim size is A5 (148mm × 210mm), the closest metric equivalent to a US trade paperback, and the size most UK/EU readers expect for novels and memoirs. IngramSpark also offers a "Royal" size (156mm × 234mm) as a European-market alternative, closer to the US 6.14"×9.21" KDP size.
IngramSpark's Requirements (Same Spec Globally, Including Europe)
IngramSpark uses one global specification, not a separate European rule set:
- Margins. A flat minimum of 0.5" (roughly 13mm) on all sides for non-bleeding text and art.
- Gutter (bind side). A separate 0.125" (~3mm) no-ink strip on the bind edge, in addition to the margin.
- Bleed. 0.125" (3.175mm) on top, bottom, and outside edges, never on the bind side.
These are the exact same numbers covered in more detail in the US print requirements article, worth reading alongside this one if you're comparing publishers.
Books on Demand (BoD)
BoD is a Hamburg-based POD publisher popular with European authors, especially in Germany and other EU markets. BoD publishes its own margin and trim specifications through a downloadable Word template package (10 standard formats) rather than a public web page. The numbers below are read directly from that package's actual page setup, not a secondhand summary.
BoD's real margins by trim size (identical between their fiction "Roman" and non-fiction "Sachbuch" templates; margins are size-driven, not genre-driven):
| Trim size | Top | Bottom | Inside (spine) | Outside |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 135mm × 215mm (BoD Pocket) | 15.0mm | 26.0mm | 18.0mm | 15.0mm |
| 148mm × 210mm (A5) | 14.0mm | 22.0mm | 18.0mm | 16.0mm |
Note the bottom margin is meaningfully larger than the top on both sizes (roughly 1.7-1.9× top), matching classical book-typography convention (a page's visual center sits slightly above its physical center), not a rounding artifact.
A Couple of Things Worth Knowing
💡 A5 is the safer default if you don't know your audience's region yet. It's the standard European trim size and reads as normal to UK/EU buyers, the way 6"×9" does to US buyers. See Styling Your PDF for Print Publication for how to set it in Deckle.
💡 BoD's own templates explicitly call themselves a recommendation, not a mandatory layout. Their own usage notes say you can adjust margins and fonts to taste, so treat the table above as BoD's own default starting point rather than a hard requirement.
FAQ
What's the standard European book trim size?
A5 (148mm × 210mm), the metric equivalent of a US trade paperback, and what most UK/EU readers and retailers expect.
Does IngramSpark have different requirements for Europe versus the US?
No. IngramSpark uses one global specification (margins, gutter, and bleed) regardless of region; only the popular trim size choices differ by market.
Is Books on Demand a good choice for authors outside Germany?
BoD serves the broader European market, though it's most established in Germany and neighboring countries. Check their current distribution reach for your specific target market before committing.
Are BoD's margin recommendations the same for every trim size?
No. BoD's own templates use different margins per size (e.g. a noticeably larger bottom margin for 135×215mm than for A5), not one flat number reused everywhere.