KDP paperbacks can be printed on white or cream paper, and more recently on a lighter groundwood paper. The choice changes how the book looks, which inks you can use, and how thick the spine is — so decide before you design the cover.
The three papers side by side
| White | Cream | Groundwood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inks allowed | Black, standard colour, premium colour | Black only | Black only |
| Spine per page | 0.002252 in | 0.0025 in | See KDP |
| Printing cost | Standard | Standard | About 5% less per page |
| Usually chosen for | Non-fiction, images, workbooks, puzzles | Novels and narrative non-fiction | Cost-sensitive black-ink books |
When to choose white
White is the only choice for colour interiors, and the usual choice for anything with images, charts, puzzles or worksheets, because contrast is higher. Coloring books, workbooks, cookbooks and most non-fiction are printed on white.
When to choose cream
Cream is the traditional paper for fiction and long-form reading: it is softer on the eye and looks like a trade paperback from a bookshop. It is black ink only, and each page is slightly thicker than white, so the same book has a wider spine on cream.
Groundwood, the newest option
Groundwood is a lighter paper for black-ink paperbacks, and KDP says it costs about 5% less per page to print than white or cream. You can switch an existing black-ink book between cream or white and groundwood after publishing, but not a colour title. On a thin-margin book, a cheaper print cost goes straight into your royalty — and into how much you can afford to spend on ads.
How the choice changes your cover
Because cream is thicker, a 300-page book has a 0.676 in spine on white paper and a 0.75 in spine on cream. Change the paper after the cover is designed and the cover no longer fits. Work out your cover size.
Does paper choice matter for ads?
Indirectly. Shoppers never see the paper in an ad, but they read reviews that mention it, and the printing cost feeds your royalty. A lower printing cost raises your break-even ACOS, which gives your ads more room. See the effect on your royalty.
Common questions
Should I use white or cream paper on KDP?
Cream for novels and text-heavy books you read cover to cover; white for anything with images, colour, puzzles or worksheets. Colour interiors must be on white.
Can cream paper be printed in colour on KDP?
No. Cream paper is black ink only. Standard and premium colour are only available on white paper.
Is cream paper thicker than white on KDP?
Yes. KDP uses 0.0025 in per page for cream and 0.002252 in for white, so a 300-page book’s spine is 0.75 in on cream and about 0.68 in on white.
What is groundwood paper on KDP?
A lighter paper for black-ink paperbacks that KDP says costs about 5% less per page to print than white or cream. Black-ink books can be switched to it after publishing.
Does paper colour change the KDP printing cost?
White and cream cost the same; groundwood is about 5% cheaper per page. Colour ink, which needs white paper, costs considerably more.
- White: any ink, best for images, colour, puzzles and non-fiction.
- Cream: black ink only, the classic choice for fiction; slightly thicker pages.
- Groundwood: black ink only, about 5% cheaper per page to print.
- Paper changes spine width — decide it before the cover is designed.
- A lower printing cost raises your royalty and your break-even ACOS.