Your cover design is the most important thing when it comes to selling your book, whether it’s a thriller, romance, or nonfiction guide. People who self-publish often judge a book by its cover. A bad cover can bury your work under thousands of better-looking ones, but a good, genre-appropriate design can make you much more likely to succeed.
So, how do you make a book cover that stands out, fits your genre, and sells books?
Here are ten tips from professionals on how to make a book cover that looks good and sells.
Let’s get started.
1. Understand Your Genre Before Anything Else
You need to know what your genre expects before you even open your design software or hire a designer.
Each genre has its way of showing things:
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- Bold fonts, dark colors, and high-contrast images are common in thrillers.
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- Romance novels usually have softer colors, elegant fonts, and pictures that make you feel something.
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- Most children’s books are bright, colorful, and have fun pictures in them.
Tip: Look at the top 50 books in your genre on sites like Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Think about this:
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- What are some common fonts?
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- Are pictures or drawings more popular?
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- How are colors used?
Why it matters: Even if your book is great, a cover that doesn’t match can confuse readers and lower conversions.
Pro tip: Before we design a cover at Book Artistry, we look at genre trends in depth. That’s how we make covers that not only show what your book is about but also draw in the right readers.
2. Make sure your title and author name are easy to read.
You could have the most beautiful background picture in the world, but if people can’t read your title or author name, they won’t read your book.
Your book cover needs to look good when it’s small, like on Amazon, Apple Books, and Kobo. That little cover is all that most readers will see before they decide to click or scroll past.
Key Tips:
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- Use fonts that are bold, easy to read, and stand out.
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- Put font hierarchy first: The title should be the biggest, then the subtitle (if there is one), and finally your name.
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- Don’t use fancy or script fonts unless they fit your genre and are still easy to read.
Check this out: Make your book cover smaller, to 100×150 pixels. Can you still make out the title?
Pro tip: We make sure that all of our covers can be read as thumbnails. What do we want? Get people’s attention right away, even on the smallest screen.
3. Use the Right Imagery (Or None at All)
The pictures you choose can make or break the cover of your book. Sadly, a lot of self-published authors make the mistake of using generic stock photos or pictures that don’t connect with their target audience.
Smart imagery choices:
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- When you can, use custom drawings or professional photos.
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- Pick pictures that represent your story instead of just showing it.
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- In minimalist genres like poetry and literary fiction, no images at all may be better. Just the typeface can make a strong point.
Avoid:
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- Too many stock photos
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- Collages that are too busy
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- Scenery or things that don’t matter
Here’s a tip: Book Artistry can make custom images and illustrations that fit your genre. We can help you with anything from hand-drawn pictures for a kids’ book to a dramatic composite for your thriller.
4. Nail the Typography
It’s not enough to just pick a font; you also need to make sure that your text, images, and genre all look good together.
No matter how good the rest of the cover is, bad typography makes it look like an amateur. But if you do it right, it can make your design look like a pro’s.
Typography tips:
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- Choose your font pairs carefully: Use one for the title and another, related one for the author’s name or subtitle.
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- Keep things balanced by not using fonts that are too fancy or too thin, especially if your background is busy and heavy.
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- Try playing with contrast and spacing. A clean layout with enough white space makes the text easier to read and lets it breathe.
Font vibes by genre:
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- Fantasy: serif fonts that are pretty
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- Non-fiction: Sans-serif fonts that are clean
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- Romance: a combination of elegant script and serif
Pro tip: At Book Artistry, we try out different font combinations to make sure your cover is easy to read, looks good, and fits the mood of your book.
5. Let Color Speak
Color isn’t just something you see; it’s something you feel. The right color scheme can quickly let potential readers know what your book is about, what kind of book it is, and what mood it is in.
Color psychology at a glance:
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- Red means passion, danger, and intensity (in romance and thrillers).
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- Blue = Trust, calm, and professionalism (business and self-help)
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- Yellow means happiness and creativity (like in kids’ books and feel-good fiction).
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- Black is a color that means mystery, elegance, and power (thrillers and memoirs).
Design tips:
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- Use only two or three main colors to keep things looking clean and together.
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- To make it easier to read, make the text and background very different from each other.
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- Don’t just follow the latest trends; your palette should fit your book.
Avoid:
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- Neon colors or colors that clash and hurt the eyes
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- The background and font color are too similar (not enough contrast).
Pro tip: At Book Artistry, we use design principles and market research to come up with color schemes that fit the genre of your book. This makes your cover stand out and connect with readers on an emotional level.
6. Make the Composition Even
It’s not enough for a book cover to just look good; it also needs to have visual balance. Your title, images, author name, and other elements should all feel like they belong there and not be too busy.
Principles of design that help:
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- Rule of Thirds: Split your cover into a 3×3 grid and place important parts along the lines or at the points where they meet.
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- One clear focus: Don’t let other things compete with your vision. The title or the picture should be the most important thing to look at, but not both at the same time.
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- Use white space wisely. Adding space to your design gives it a professional and polished look.
Common mistakes:
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- Putting all the parts together in the middle
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- Putting too many fonts or icons on a page
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- Visual elements competing for attention
Pro tip: At Book Artistry, we make sure that every design is as harmonious as possible by leading the viewer’s eye from top to bottom in a natural, effective way.
7. Look Beyond the Front Cover
Most people only think about the front when we say “book cover.” But the spine and back cover of a print book are just as important, especially if you want your book to look professional on bookshelves or in online previews.
Things to add besides the front:
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- On the spine, there should be the title, the author’s name, and the publisher’s logo (if there is one). Check that the text is still easy to read on thin spines.
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- Back cover: Book summary, short bio of the author, short reviews, barcode, and ISBN.
Design tips:
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- Make sure the front, spine, and back all have the same style and color.
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- Make sure that all the text lines up correctly in print specs and use high-resolution images.
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- Leave room for things that are specific to printing, like a white box for the barcode.
Why it matters: A polished back and spine show readers and stores that you take your work seriously. It makes people trust you more and makes them think your product is worth more.
Pro tip: We make full wrap-around covers for both paperback and hardcover books at Book Artistry. These covers work with platforms like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark.
8. Test on All Sizes and Types of Devices
Your book cover might look great on a big screen, but what about on phones, Amazon thumbnails, or eReaders? Testing your cover on different platforms makes sure that your design works on all the sites where your readers are looking.
This is how to check your cover like a pro:
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- Test your thumbnail by making your cover about 160 x 250 pixels, which is the size of an Amazon thumbnail. Can you still see the title and the name of the author?
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- Mobile check: Look at the design on your phone and tablet. Fonts should be easy to read, and important parts should be easy to see.
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- eReader preview: If you’re publishing on Kindle, use KDP’s preview tool or upload the book to your device to test it.
Bonus tools:
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- Amazon KDP Cover Creator (to check the trim and bleed)
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- Preview of the export from Canva or Photoshop
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- Adobe Digital Editions (for testing ePub)
Last piece of advice: Always export at a high resolution (300 DPI for print and 72 DPI for the web) and check the size for each platform (for example, 1600 x 2560 px for Kindle).
Pro tip: We test each design on a wide range of devices and sizes to make sure your book looks professional, sharp, and clickable no matter where it is.
9. Don’t try to do it yourself if you’re not a designer.
We understand that DIY tools like Canva and BookBrush are appealing. And while they work well for mockups or early ideas, DIY covers often don’t have the polish and impact that can sell your book.
Mistakes that people often make when doing things themselves:
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- Bad font choices: Using fonts that are too fancy or hard to read
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- No order of importance in the visuals: The title, subtitle, and author’s name are all fighting for attention.
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- Images that are low-res or stocky: Generic pictures that scream “template”
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- Bad contrast: Light text on a light background makes it impossible to read.
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- Too much stuff on the cover makes the layout look messy.
What happened? A cover that looks like it was made by an amateur, readers can tell right away. A weak cover can stop people from clicking, even if the content inside is great.
Pro tip: People do judge a book by its cover. If your design doesn’t look like it belongs in the genre right away and looks professional, it could hurt your sales and credibility.
Tip: If you have to do it yourself, only use a few professional templates, test them on different devices, and get honest feedback from readers in your genre.
10. Get a Professional (Yes, It’s Worth It)
You’ve heard all the steps, but let’s be honest: designing a book cover is both an art and a science. Getting a “pretty” cover isn’t the only reason to hire a professional. You also need a design that will help sell your book in the right genre.
Here are some things a pro can do:
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- A deep understanding of reader psychology and genre trends
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- You can get custom illustrations, licensed fonts, and premium assets.
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- Technical know-how for print specs, eBook formats, and what publishers need (like Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, etc.)
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- Branding that is the same on the front, spine, and back
Sometimes, even if you’re a good designer, an outside eye can tell the difference between “good” and “can’t-stop-scrolling amazing.”
Do You Need Assistance Creating a Cover That Sells?
Custom book cover designs that are intended to convert are our specialty at Book Artistry. We create covers that reflect your vision and the expectations of your target audience, whether you’re publishing poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or children’s books.
Completely original designs
All-platform optimized (Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books, etc.)
Both print-ready and compatible with eBooks
Paperback and hardcover full-wrap covers
Quick turnaround and limitless changes*
Check Out Our Portfolio of Book Covers
Obtain a Free Quote Right Now
Questions and answers about designing book covers
Q1: Is it possible to make a book cover with Canva?
Yes, Canva can help you get started with mockups or draft ideas. But if you want a professional, print-ready cover—especially for Amazon KDP or IngramSpark—you’ll need to know exactly how big, how much bleed, and what resolution settings to use. Canva doesn’t always do these things well.
Q2: How big should my book cover be?
It depends on the size of your trim and the platform. A 6″ x 9″ book with 300 pages on KDP will need a different cover file than a 5″ x 8″ book with 100 pages. Always use the cover calculator that your publishing platform gives you.
Q3: Do I need different designs for eBooks and print?
Yes. Covers for eBooks are only on the front and are made for screens. For print covers, the front, spine, and back must all be covered, and the bleed and spine width requirements must be met.
Q4: What is the price of a professional book cover design?
Depending on how complicated it is, how many illustrations it needs, and how experienced the designer is, it can cost anywhere from $100 to $800 or more. We have packages for both new and experienced authors that are affordable and include everything.
Q5: Is it okay to use pictures I found on the internet for my book cover?
Only if you have the right license. Using random pictures from Google could get you in trouble with the law. Use stock libraries or illustrations made just for you by your designer.
Q6: How long does it take to make a professional book cover?
Usually, it takes 5 to 10 business days. We can work with your schedule at Book Artistry and give you quick turnaround times if you need to publish quickly.
Q7: What kinds of files will a professional designer give me?
You should get:
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- PDF for printing with bleed at a high resolution
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- For the web, use JPG or PNG
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- eBook cover (usually 1600×2560 or specific to the platform)
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- Source file (optional, on request)
Q8: Can you change the design of my current cover?
Of course! We can help you rebrand with impact, whether you need to update your current design or completely change it.
