How to make a large-print edition of your book
What makes an edition large print
The type size is the headline, but it is not the whole of it. Large-print standards from libraries and accessibility bodies converge on the same list:
- Type at 16 points or more. Amazon lists a book as large print from 16 points; 18 points is the common target for a comfortable edition.
- Generous leading. Line spacing of around 1.4 to 1.5 times the type size, so that the eye can find the next line.
- A clear, sturdy typeface. A serif or sans with open letterforms and no thin hairlines. Very light or highly contrasted faces disappear at low vision.
- Ragged right, no hyphenation. Unjustified text avoids the stretched spaces that make lines hard to track, and no hyphenation means no broken words.
- Short-ish lines. Still 50 to 65 characters, which at 16 points needs a wider page: 6 × 9 is the smallest comfortable trim, and 7 × 10 is common.
- High contrast. Black ink on white or cream paper. No gray text, no text over images.
- Wide margins, so the text is not lost in the gutter of a thicker book, and a page number large enough to read.
- The words "Large Print" on the cover and the title page, so shops, libraries and readers can identify it.
Type sizes and page counts
| Edition | Type | Leading | Trim | Pages for 90,000 words |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 11 pt | 1.42 | 5.5 × 8.5 | about 340 |
| Regular | 11.5 pt | 1.42 | 6 × 9 | about 290 |
| Large print | 16 pt | 1.45 | 6 × 9 | about 520 |
| Large print | 16 pt | 1.45 | 7 × 10 | about 400 |
| Large print | 18 pt | 1.5 | 7 × 10 | about 500 |
The page count matters twice. It sets the print cost, which is what you have to price against, and it sets the gutter: KDP's minimum inside margin rises to 0.75 in past 500 pages and to 0.875 in past 700. See margins, gutter and bleed.
Why publish one
Libraries buy large-print editions deliberately, and so do readers over sixty, who are a large share of fiction buyers. With print-on-demand there is no stock to hold. The edition costs an ISBN, a slightly taller cover, and an afternoon. The interior is the same text at different settings; the cover is the same design with a taller spine and "Large Print" added. Price it a few dollars above the regular paperback to cover the extra pages.
Setting one up
- Duplicate the book file so the regular edition is untouched.
- Change the trim size to 6 × 9 or 7 × 10.
- Set the type to 16 to 18 points, leading around 1.45, ragged right, hyphenation off, a slightly smaller indent.
- Check the inside margin against the new page count.
- Add "Large Print" to the title page and the cover. Some publishers add "Large Print Edition" to the subtitle in the store listing so it appears in search.
- Export a fresh cover for the new spine width.
- Give it its own ISBN and list it as a separate edition, linked to the regular one in the store.
Questions
What type size counts as large print?
Sixteen points is the usual minimum, and Amazon uses 16 points as the threshold for listing a book as large print. Eighteen points is more comfortable; the standards for libraries and accessibility bodies generally start at 16 to 18 points.
Does a large-print edition need its own ISBN?
Yes, if you use ISBNs. It is a different edition with a different page count and trim size, and it needs to be listed separately so libraries and shops can order it.
How much longer is a large-print book?
Roughly 1.6 to 2 times the pages of the regular edition, depending on the trim size. A 300-page 5.5 × 8.5 novel becomes about 500 pages at 16 points on 6 × 9. Pick a larger trim to keep the page count and the spine manageable.
Is large print the same as a big-font ebook?
No. Every ebook can be read at a large size, which is why some readers prefer them. Large print is a print edition, for readers who want paper or who cannot use a screen, and it has its own design rules beyond the type size.