Trade Paperback
Book & Publishing Formats · 6 specs
Direct Answer
A Trade Paperback (TPB) is a higher-quality commercial softcover book format measuring typically 6.0 × 9.0 inches (152 × 229 mm) or 5.5 × 8.5 inches (140 × 216 mm). Printed on archival acid-free text paper with high-grade coated covers, it is sold through traditional trade bookstores for non-fiction, academic literature, and premium fiction.
Source: Association of American Publishers (AAP) / Book Industry Study Group (BISG) · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Standard US Dimensions | 6.00 × 9.00 in (152 × 229 mm) — dominant US non-fiction trade format |
| Compact Trade Dimensions | 5.50 × 8.50 in (140 × 216 mm) — common for trade fiction and poetry |
| UK B-Format Trade | 5.12 × 7.80 in (130 × 198 mm) — dominant British trade paperback size |
| Paper Quality | 50 lb to 60 lb acid-free woodfree offset paper (does not yellow with age) |
| Cover Finishing | 10 pt to 12 pt C1S cardstock with matte or gloss film lamination and spot UV |
| Print-on-Demand Standard | Universal default format for Amazon KDP and IngramSpark self-publishing |
Trade Bookstores and Print-on-Demand
Trade paperbacks share the interior typesetting, generous margins, and acid-free archival paper of hardcover books while eliminating the cost and weight of hard cloth casebinding. It is the primary format used by university presses, independent publishers, and print-on-demand services (Amazon KDP, IngramSpark).
Trade Paperback vs Mass Market
- Trade Paperback: Larger (6 × 9 in), acid-free archival paper, higher retail price (15–22), returnable as whole books to publisher.
- Mass Market Paperback: Smaller (4.25 × 6.87 in), cheap groundwood newsprint pulp, budget price (8–10), cover-strippable.