- Rachel Bistricer
- Apr 8
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 10
A well-designed book cover is more than just a protective layer; it’s the face of your story, your brand and your promise to the reader. It’s the first thing people notice when they pick up a book or scroll through an online bookstore. A great cover, crafted with thoughtful graphic design, has the power to connect with your audience, spark curiosity and compel readers to choose your work over thousands of others.
Designing a book cover can be broken into manageable steps, allowing you to create a cover that’s not only beautiful but also aligned with your story’s message and your audience’s expectations. This guide will walk you through ten steps to creating a professional and compelling book cover, offering tips, technical details and examples along the way.
How to make a book cover in 10 steps
01. Define your target audience
Before you even open a design tool, identify who your book is for. Are you writing for young adults, mystery lovers or sci-fi enthusiastxs? Understanding your audience will guide every design decision, from the imagery to the typography.
For instance, if your audience is young adults, you might favor dynamic and illustrative designs with playful typography. On the other hand, a business book could benefit from sleek, modern lines and a clean, professional color palette. Your audience is your compass—every stylistic choice should speak directly to them and align with your marketing strategy.
02. Research your genre
Different genres have visual cues that readers expect. Study other books in your genre—note the commonalities in color schemes, font styles and imagery. While you want your book to stand out, it should still feel familiar to your target audience.
For example, fantasy and science fiction covers typically feature immersive illustrations and intricate details, while thrillers are often defined by sharp contrast, dark tones and minimalist typography. Non-fiction covers, especially in self-help and business, focus on simplicity with bold, attention-grabbing focal points.
Explore creative book cover ideas that resonate with your genre while making a lasting impression.
03. Choose a design platform
Selecting the right design platform is crucial when creating a professional and captivating cover. A reliable platform like Wixel offers the tools and versatility needed to bring your vision to life. When evaluating a platform, prioritize ease of use, the availability of customizable templates and high-quality export options to ensure your design meets industry standards.
Wixel excels in these areas, providing an intuitive interface that caters to both beginners and experienced designers, while offering extensive customization features. With Wixel, you can focus on crafting a design that resonates with your audience without being overwhelmed by complex software.
Transform your ideas into stunning visuals with our AI image generator. Whether it's for a project, your business or just for fun—simply describe your vision and let AI turn it into an eye-catching image in seconds.
04. Select your cover dimensions and trim size
Once you’ve chosen your digital design software, it’s time to consider the technical aspects of your cover—dimensions and trim size. These measurements are crucial because they determine how your cover will fit both in print and digital formats.
Your choice depends on your target audience and distribution requirements. Standard sizes include:
Trade paperbacks: 6" x 9", 5.5" x 8.5" or 8" x 10"
Mass-market books: 4.25" x 6.87"
E-books: Aspect ratio of 2:3 for a clean appearance on most digital platforms
Leave sufficient margins and account for “bleed” space, ensuring the design extends slightly beyond trim edges for a professional finish.
05. Pick a color scheme
Color is one of the most powerful design tools—it evokes emotion, sets the tone and creates visual cohesion. Understanding color theory is essential to selecting the perfect palette. Use a tool like Wixel to experiment with various palettes that align with your story. The right color scheme can instantly communicate your book’s mood and genre. Here are some examples:
Try the Wixel color palette generator to discover the perfect colors for your book cover design.
06. Choose the right typography
Typography is a subtle but powerful part of your design. Serif fonts, with their traditional and elegant touches, are ideal for literary or historical fiction. Sans-serif fonts feel modern and clean, making them great for non-fiction or contemporary works. Script or decorative fonts can add personality but should be used sparingly to avoid overwhelming the design.
Pay attention to hierarchy by emphasizing the title with a larger font size. Subtitles and authors’ names should complement the title size without competing for attention.
Discover more about the art and impact of font choices—learn what is typography and transform your book cover designs.
07. Select imagery that speaks volumes
Imagery should not only be striking but also relevant to the story. This could be illustrated art, photography or abstract shapes. Use high-resolution artwork to ensure clarity in both print design and digital formats.
When selecting imagery, think about what metaphorically or literally represents your story:
A memoir might include a personal photo or subtle texture.
A mystery novel could suggest intrigue through silhouettes or foggy visuals.
For non-fiction, clean icons or graphs can work wonders.
If you’re working with stock images, try platforms that offer high-quality visuals tailored for book designers. Alternatively, use a photo editor to tweak images to match your vision or create custom visuals with the Wixel AI image generator for unique, personalized designs that fit your project perfectly.
08. Add the required content
Creativity is at the heart of a great book cover, but there are certain key elements that no cover should be without. A well-designed book cover not only captures attention but also conveys the essence of the story, enticing readers to pick it up. Here’s what to prioritize when designing your book cover:
Title: The centerpiece of your cover, acting as your book’s identity.
Author’s name: Its placement should work harmoniously with the title’s design. (Tip for first-time authors: Keep your name understated if you’re not widely known yet.)
Imagery/graphics: Use visuals or illustrations that connect to your story (steer clear of overused stock images).
Tagline or subtitle (optional): Ideal for non-fiction or novels with a strong hook, this adds extra context or intrigue.
Space for reviews or awards: Leave room to showcase reviews or accolades if your book earns them.
09. Design your back cover and spine
Don’t overlook these areas. While the front cover grabs attention, the back cover and spine seal the deal. These areas need to be clean, informative and visually consistent with the main cover.
Your back cover typically includes a book blurb, a brief author bio and publication details like ISBN numbers. Use subtle design elements—like faint borders, textures or graphics—that complement the front but don’t overshadow the text.
The spine is just as crucial. It must include the title and author’s name, formatted for readability even at a glance. For books with a thin spine, simplicity is often better to ensure legibility.
10. Adapt the design to all formats
Book covers need to work on more than just a shelf. They’ll be displayed on e-readers, small online thumbnails and promotional materials. Ensure your design remains impactful across the following formats and sizes.
Paperback: Generally lighter and smaller, requiring a flexible but polished design.
Hardcover: These often include both a dust jacket and the underlying cover, so think about how your design translates into different layers.
E-book: Since digital covers are often viewed at thumbnail size, simplicity and clarity are key.
Audiobook: If you're creating a cover for audio, you might rely more heavily on bold, striking visuals, as text areas are smaller.
Platforms like Wixel make it easy to resize designs for various use cases, from digital listings to social media promotions. Test your design in each format to ensure it maintains readability and visual appeal across all platforms.
Try the Wixel image resizer today to effortlessly optimize your visuals for any platform:
Why book covers matter
They say not to judge a book by its cover, but let’s face it—we all do. In fact, studies reveal that 79% of people decide whether to pick up a book based purely on its cover. When designing a book cover, there are three key roles to keep in mind:
Attracting attention: A book cover functions much like a poster—it needs to be bold, eye-catching and instantly appealing. A strong design helps the book stand out on shelves, encouraging readers to pick it up, flip through it and eventually, read it.
Conveying the book’s essence: A good cover reflects the story inside, offering a glimpse of its key themes. With one image, it can hint at the book’s ideas, setting, time period or evoke the emotions readers might experience.
Signaling the genre: Most books fall into defined genres and a well-designed cover can use visual cues to connect with the right audience. For instance, an alien landscape suggests science fiction, while a serene sunset often signals self-help. Just be sure to balance genre conventions with the unique elements of the book to make it stand out.
Additional design projects to explore
How to craft YouTube thumbnails that boost clicks and viewer engagement
How to make an infographic that captivates and informs your audience
How to create invitations that set the tone for your big event
How to make a banner that communicates your message perfectly
How to make a flyer that captures attention and delivers your message
How to make a moodboard that inspires your best creative work
How to make a YouTube banner that captures your channel's personality
How to make a book cover FAQ
What if I’m not a designer?
Tools like Wixel are designed with non-designers in mind. Our editor makes it simple for anyone to create a professional-looking book cover. You don’t need any design experience – just your creativity. However, if you'd prefer a custom touch, you can always hire a professional designer to bring your vision to life.
