Why your book passed KDP but failed IngramSpark

It's one of the most common surprises in self-publishing. KDP printed your book happily, then IngramSpark sent the same files back. Nothing is wrong with you: the two printers simply use different rules.

Quick answer

IngramSpark is stricter than KDP in five places: 0.5" margins on every edge (KDP allows 0.25" outside), a 240% ink limit, a different spine width (different paper), a different barcode box, and a preference for PDF/X-1a files. Files built for KDP's minimums often fail one of these.

Want the answer for your book? Upload it and SparkPrep checks it against your printer's own rules.Scan my book free

The five differences, in order of how often they bite

1. Margins

KDP lets text sit 0.25" from the outside edge. IngramSpark wants 0.5" from every edge, including page numbers. If you used KDP's minimums, IngramSpark will say your content "extends outside the safety area". Margin fix.

2. Ink

KDP doesn't publish a total ink number. IngramSpark rejects anything over 240%. Dark covers and black and white interiors saved in color are the usual culprits. Ink fix.

3. Spine width

The papers are different. A 300-page book on white paper has a spine of about 0.676" at KDP and about 0.586" at IngramSpark. The KDP cover is almost 0.1" too wide for IngramSpark. Spine chart.

4. Barcode

KDP adds its barcode in a 2" x 1.2" box if you leave the space. IngramSpark's template has its own barcode position and size. A KDP cover with a blank corner may need a barcode added for IngramSpark. Barcode rules.

5. File type

KDP accepts a normal print PDF. IngramSpark prefers PDF/X-1a, which rules out live transparency and RGB color. A Canva or Word PDF can fail on this alone. Flatten and convert.

One interior for both printers

Margins: 0.5" or more on every edge, plus KDP's inside margin for your page count if it's bigger.
Black and white: grayscale only. Color: CMYK under 240%.
Fonts embedded, pictures 300 DPI, PDF/X-1a.

Built this way, the same interior usually passes both.

Two covers, always

Because of the spine and barcode, build each printer's cover from its own template. It's the same art, re-fitted. SparkPrep re-fits a cover from one printer to another in a few minutes, and checks the ink and barcode at the same time.

Find out what's wrong with your files before the printer does

SparkPrep checks your cover and every interior page against the exact rules Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press and Lulu use, tells you each problem in plain English, and can fix it for you.

Scan my book free See how SparkPrep works

The scan is free and shows how many problems your files have. To see every problem and where it is, the audit is $1.99 ($3.99 after January 1). The Advanced Audit checks every page, up to 300, for $9.99.

Questions people ask

Can I use my KDP files on IngramSpark?

The interior often works if it already has 0.5 inch margins and stays under 240% ink. The cover almost always needs re-fitting to IngramSpark's spine width and template.

Why is IngramSpark stricter than KDP?

IngramSpark prints for bookstores and libraries worldwide on many presses, so it holds every file to one strict print standard.

More on this site

Book rejection messages decodedGot a rejection from KDP or IngramSpark? Look up the message, see what it really means in plain English, the most likely cause, and exactly what to do next.IngramSpark rejection messagesBleed, bookblock safety area, 240% ink, jacket layout, spine, template and ISBN messages.Amazon KDP file errorsMargins, bleed, page size, fonts, image resolution and spine text errors on KDP.What to do after a rejectionA calm, step-by-step plan so the next upload is the last one.Lulu and Barnes & Noble Press errorsThe rules Lulu and Barnes & Noble Press check, and how they differ.

Free help from SparkPrep

Book Preflight, ExplainedWhat book preflight is, who needs it and what gets checked before KDP or IngramSpark prints your book.Print File FixesStep-by-step fixes for bleed, margins, fonts, transparency, picture quality, color and spine problems.Print Cover SizesFull cover size charts, spine widths, barcode space and hardcover rules for KDP and IngramSpark.First Book GuideYour first print book, step by step: costs, timeline, words to know and the mistakes to skip.Free book toolsCover calculator, spine width, margins, DPI checker and page count, on sparkprep.legenddary.com.

Last updated 2026-11-01. Written by Joshua Davis, founder of SparkPrep. Numbers come from each printer's own published guides; always double-check your printer's current rules before you upload.