Creating a Kindle eBook cover that meets Amazon KDP’s specs is straightforward: the ideal size is 2560 × 1600 pixels, which gives a 1.6:1 height‑to‑width ratio. Follow these four steps to resize, compress, and convert your image using free in‑browser tools that never upload your file.
Amazon KDP checks the pixel dimensions of every cover file before it accepts the upload. If the image is smaller than 2560 × 1600 px, the preview will appear blurry on high‑resolution Kindle devices; if it is larger, KDP will automatically down‑sample the file, which can introduce unwanted artifacts and change the aspect ratio. Sticking to the exact dimensions guarantees that the cover looks crisp on all screens and that the title text remains legible.
The 1.6:1 ratio (height : width) is also enforced because Kindle’s thumbnail grid expects a consistent shape. An image that deviates from this ratio will be cropped by KDP, potentially cutting off important visual elements. By preparing the image at the correct ratio yourself, you retain full control over what appears in the final thumbnail and on the product page.
Open FileZap’s Image Resizer tool in any modern browser. Drag your source file onto the drop zone; the entire process stays on your computer, so no data ever leaves your device. In the “Resize” panel, enter 2560 for width and 1600 for height. FileZap automatically locks the aspect ratio when you type both numbers, so the tool will stretch or shrink the canvas without distorting the picture.
If the original photo has a different aspect ratio, click the “Fit & Crop” option. First, choose “Fit” to scale the image so the longer side matches the target dimension, then select “Crop” to trim the excess from the opposite side until the canvas reaches 2560 × 1600 px. This two‑step approach preserves the central composition while eliminating unwanted borders.
When you’re satisfied, click “Apply”. The preview shows the exact pixel count and a visual overlay of the 1.6:1 frame, letting you verify that title and author text won’t be clipped. Finally, hit “Download” to save the resized PNG or JPEG to your computer. No account, no upload, and the file is ready for KDP.
A Kindle cover should stay under 2 MB, but you also want the image to look sharp. In FileZap’s “Compress” tab, drag the newly resized file. Choose “Target size” and type, for example, 800 KB. The slider shows a live estimate of visual quality; move it until the preview still looks crisp at 100 % zoom. Because the compression runs locally, you can experiment freely without worrying about bandwidth or privacy.
If you notice banding or loss of detail, lower the target size in small increments (e.g., 850 KB → 800 KB) and compare the before‑and‑after. JPEG is usually best for photographic covers, while PNG retains crisp edges for illustrated designs. FileZap automatically strips metadata, which reduces size further and protects any personal information embedded in the original file.
Remember to re‑check the dimensions after compression; some tools unintentionally strip the canvas size, but FileZap preserves the 2560 × 1600 px setting, so the file remains KDP‑ready.
KDP accepts JPEG, TIFF, and PNG for cover uploads, but JPEG is the most common because it balances quality and file size. In FileZap’s “Convert” section, select your compressed file and choose “JPEG”. Set the quality to “High” (usually 85‑90 %); this matches the compression level you already applied and avoids an extra lossy pass.
Before you upload to KDP, open the final file in any image viewer and verify three things: (1) the pixel dimensions are still exactly 2560 × 1600, (2) the file size is below 2 MB, and (3) the visual composition looks centered and legible at thumbnail size. If any element appears too close to the edge, return to the “Fit & Crop” step and adjust the crop area by a few pixels. Because all steps happen in the browser, you can iterate quickly without re‑uploading to a server.
Once the file passes these checks, go to your KDP dashboard, click “Browse” on the cover upload field, and select the JPEG you just saved. KDP will display a preview; if it matches what you saw in FileZap, you’re done.
Switch the orientation in FileZap’s “Rotate” tool before resizing. Rotate 90° to make it landscape, then follow the Fit & Crop steps to achieve the 2560 × 1600 canvas.
Use the “Canvas” option to add a thin border around the image before cropping. This gives you extra space to shift the crop area so all text stays within the final frame.
FileZap works with RGB files only; KDP expects RGB for eBook covers. If your source is CMYK, convert it to RGB in a desktop editor first, then upload to FileZap.
All FileZap tools run entirely in the browser using client‑side JavaScript. The image data is processed in memory and never sent to a server, guaranteeing privacy.
FileZap’s bulk resize feature lets you drop multiple files at once, set the 2560 × 1600 dimensions, and apply the same compression settings to every image in one click.
Return to the “Compress” tab, lower the target size by 100 KB, and preview the quality. A small reduction usually brings the file under 2 MB without noticeable loss.