Book size
The height against the width of a leaf, or sometimes the height and width of the book’s cover, is used by libraries and publishers to describe the general sizes of modern books, which include folio (largest), quarto (smaller), and octavo (even smaller).
Book formats
The vast majority of books were printed in folio, quarto, octavo, or duodecimo formats. Folios (from Latin, foliu014d, ablative of folium, leaf[3]) were made by folding paper into a group of leaves or gathering.
Modern book production
Larger sheets or rolls of paper became possible as printing and paper technology advanced, and modern books are commonly referred to as folio, quarto, and octavo based on their size rather than the format in which they were printed; the actual printing format for perfect bound books cannot be determined.
Largest book
According to Guinness World Records, Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom by Michael Hawley was the world’s largest book in 2003; the largest published book is The Little Prince, which was printed in 2007 and measures 2.01 m u00d703.08 m (6 0ft 7 in u00d7 010 0ft 1 in).
Smallest book
The world’s thinnest book measured 0.07 mm (0.00280in) in diameter; the smallest book ever published was a picture book by Guinness World Records holder David Attenborough measuring 0.10 mm, or 0.01 cm.
Largest manuscript
The Codex Gigas or ‘Devil’s Manuscript,’ which measures 920cm tall by 500cm wide (36 inches tall by 20 inches wide) and is one of the largest examples of its kind from the Middle Ages to the 14th century, is the largest surviving medieval manuscript.
Paper sizes
A typical octavo printed in Italy or France in the 16th century was roughly the same size as a modern paperback book, but an English Octavo in the 18th century was noticeably larger.
United States
US trade size corresponds to octavo and is popular for hardbacks, while mass market paperback corresponds to duodecimo. Trimmed pages will be slightly smaller, often by about 1u20444 inch or 5 mm, according to the American Library Association.
United Kingdom
B-format, which is slightly narrower than ISO B6, and C-format are common paperback sizes in the UK; previously, the terms octavo, quarto, duodecimo, and so on were used (see table under United States above).
Japan
The most commonly encountered sizes are listed below. A- and B-Series signatures are folded from a sheet slightly larger than A1 and B1, then trimmed to size, with dimensions based on sheets of 788 mm u00d7 1,091 mm (31.0 in u00d7 43.0in).
Notes
The term octavo refers to a book with eight leaves per gathering whose format is unknown, but which should be translated into Latin as octavo (Latin for eight) or eccelvo (Greek: u00e2u201ac1).
References
A glossary of library terms, with a selection of terms from related fields. “Largest book published.” Guinness World Records. Smallest reproduction of a printed book. American Encyclopaedia of Printing.
Further reading
Caspar’s directory of the American book, news, and stationery trade. Books and book collecting. Voet, Leon (1972), “Appendix 8: Impositions and folding schemes.” Caspar’s directory of the American book, news, and stationery trade.
What size are books usually printed in?
The standard book size is six inches wide by nine inches tall (6″x 9″), which is the most cost-effective to print, read, and sell (because it fits on bookstore shelves). Larger books are more difficult to hold, carry, or place on a shelf.
What font size are most books written in?
Though some agents and editors may prefer other serif or sans serif fonts such as Arial or Courier New, Times New Roman with a 12 point font size is the industry standard.
What are the different sizes of books?
What are the typical book sizes in the publishing industry?
- 4.25 x 6.87, 5 x 8, 5.25 x 8, 5.5 x 8.5, 6 x 9.
- Novella: 5 x 8.
- Children’s: 7.5 x 7.5, 7 x 10, 10 x 8.
- Textbooks: 6 x 9, 7 x 10, 8.5 x 11.
- Non-fiction: 5.5 x 8.5, 6 x 9, 7 x 10″
- Memoir: 5.25 x 8, 5.5
What size is a book CM?
Novel (20.3cm x 12.7cm) (203mm x 127mm) u2013 A popular size for trade paperbacks in the UK. A5 (21cm x 14.8cm) (210mm x 148mm) u2013 This size is usually used for novels, notebooks, and pocket books.
What size font is used in large print books?
Large or giant print may be for you if you have some vision but find it difficult to read regular print. The size of a font is described in point size, and large print is generally 16 to 18 point size.
What font size is Harry Potter written in?
The Sorcerer’s Stone was set in 12 point Garamond, while the new one was set in 11.5 point Garamond.
Are most books double spaced?
Most publishing houses and editors will double-space your novel, which means there will be more space between lines. If you’re not sure, ask editors what format they prefer, or look at their websites for a style guide.
Why are books all different sizes?
Because the size of paper used has changed over time and in different places, the sizes of books in the same format will also vary.
What is the most common paperback size?
4 Common Trim Sizes in Publishing Here are some common trim sizes for popular genres: Mass market paperback books: This type of book is nearly always 4.25 x 6.87u201d. Comic books: Comic books are nearly always 6.625 x 10.25u201d. Trade paperbacks: Most fiction and general nonfiction books are between 5 x 8u201d and 6 x 9u201d.
What is the best size for a book?
What Are the Typical Book Cover Dimensions?
- Fiction books: 4.25 x 6.87, 5.25 x 8, 5.5 x 8.5, 6 x 9.
- Nonfiction books: 5.5 x 8.5, 6 x 9, 7 x 10.
- Novellas: 5 x 8.
- Children’s books: 7.5 x 7.5, 7 x 10, 10 x 8.
- Hardcover books: 6 x 9 to 8.5 x 11.
- Fiction books: 4.25 x 6.87, 5.25 x
How do I find out the size of a book?
Place your ruler on the flat surface with the long edge of your book lined up against the sturdy object, and the short edge against the sturdy object, with the long edge flush against the bottom of your book; this will tell you the book’s width.
How tall is a normal book?
The most common size for a book is 8vo (pronounced “octavo” or “eight-vo”), which is roughly 8 to 9 inches tall. 8vo is the most common size for fiction and poetry, as well as biographies and history books.
How thick is a normal book?
Bond) paper: 1 mm (0.04 inches) for 10-sheet book blocks, 3 mm (0.12 inches) for 30-sheet book blocks, and 5 mm (0.20 inches) for 50-sheet book blocks