Fixed-layout guide
Fixed-layout eBook formatting for picture books and cookbooks
Why image-heavy books need fixed layout, which tools and formats each store expects, and the details that make a picture book look right on a tablet.
By the Real Self Publishing formatting team · Updated 6 min read
Key takeaways
- Reflowable eBooks let text resize and reflow. Fixed-layout eBooks keep every page exactly as designed, like a PDF.
- Use fixed layout for children's picture books, illustrated cookbooks, comics, and photo books, where text and images must stay together.
- Amazon builds fixed-layout Kindle books with Kindle Kids' Book Creator (KPF). Apple Books and Kobo use fixed-layout EPUB 3.
- Large image files raise KDP delivery costs under the 70% royalty option, so images should be optimized, not just exported.
Reflowable vs fixed layout
| Reflowable | Fixed layout | |
|---|---|---|
| Text size | Reader can change it | Fixed (pinch to zoom) |
| Page design | Flows to fit the screen | Every page positioned exactly |
| Best for | Novels, most non-fiction | Picture books, cookbooks, comics, photo books |
| Best devices | Any, including e-ink | Tablets and phones in color |
| Typical cost | Lower | Higher: built page by page |
When does a book need fixed layout?
- Text is placed on top of or around illustrations, as in most picture books.
- Two-page spreads must stay together.
- A recipe's photo, ingredients, and method must appear on the same screen.
- Panels, captions, or speech bubbles must stay aligned, as in comics and graphic novels.
If your book is mostly text with occasional images, reflowable is better: it's more accessible and works on every Kindle. See how to format a book for Kindle.
How each store handles fixed-layout eBooks
- Amazon KDP: fixed-layout children's books are usually built in Kindle Kids' Book Creator and uploaded as KPF.
- Apple Books: strong fixed-layout EPUB 3 support, including page spreads, and great for picture books.
- Kobo and Google Play Books: accept fixed-layout EPUB 3. Test on their apps, since rendering varies.
Fixed-layout production checklist
- Design at the final aspect ratio from the start, and keep it consistent across every page.
- Keep text as live text where possible rather than baked into images. It stays sharper and is readable by screen readers.
- Add alt text to every illustration.
- Optimize image files. Under KDP's 70% royalty option, larger files carry higher delivery costs.
- Check spreads, the reading order, and zoomed text on a real tablet and phone.
What does fixed-layout formatting cost?
Real Self Publishing formats kids' books, cookbooks, and other fixed-layout projects for $75 up to 100 pages, then $0.75 per page after that. Use the cost calculator for an exact figure, or browse layout samples.
Want it done for you?
Hand-formatted Kindle and ePUB files from $45, with unlimited revisions. See your exact price in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
Can a picture book be a reflowable eBook?
Technically yes, but the text and illustrations will separate as the screen size changes. Most picture books should use fixed layout so each page appears as designed.
Do fixed-layout Kindle books work on e-ink Kindles?
Many fixed-layout Kindle books are limited to tablets, phones, and the Kindle app, because they depend on color and page-accurate rendering. Check the device support KDP shows for your book.
What files do I need for a fixed-layout eBook?
High-resolution page artwork or layered design files, plus the final text. A formatter delivers a fixed-layout EPUB 3 for Apple and Kobo and a KDP-compatible build for Amazon.