What You’ll Learn
This guide shows you how to design a professional book cover using Photoshop, free tools, or by hiring a designer — with genre-specific examples so you can see exactly what sells in each category. Every step includes the real tools and websites the pros use.
Time needed: 2–4 hours (DIY) or 3–7 days (hiring) | Cost: $0 (free tools) to $500+ (pro designer) | Skill level: Beginner-friendly
I was just reviewing my old book cover design gallery and thought I’d share a modern update on how book cover design works. This will include important things to watch out for, whether you’re going design your own book cover or hire a professional.
What IS a book cover?
Your book cover is packaging. It’s 75% of whether a reader will even begin the process of considering buying your book. Most cheap book cover solutions look homemade and unprofessional, but the process is the same – it’s just putting it all together takes time and skill.
Best photos and images for book cover design
Book designs spend hours searching for stock images for book cover designs. These are mostly photographs. So for book cover “art” we typically photobash – which means blending layers together in photoshop. We might add a big face and a landscape. Or a small figure and a scene.
The *size* of your main character on your cover depends on the genre. Closeup is more personal. Urban fantasy is more action and character-driven. Usually the top half of a character in an action pose. An epic fantasy would have a big sweeping landscape, and a small character, to show it’s a story-driven world.
All stories are about people: so you need a *humanizing element.* It doesn’t have to be a model or stock photography image. It could be a scene with some personal items.
Making a book cover scene illustration
Most book cover designers aren’t actually illustrators, and illustrations in genre fiction don’t sell. Photobashing stock photos is the best option. The *quality* of the book cover will depend on how well they can blend images together to look aesthetically pleasing. It should look like one scene, but sometimes it’s a blended scene of two images.
For nonfiction, one perfect stock photo might work; but there’s a chance someone else will publish a similar book with the same stock photo. That’s the problem with using stock images, but it’s the only real option (more on that later). Most authors want a specific scene from their book… but that probably won’t work.
The cover doesn’t tell them what the book is about or what happens. It only needs to communicate the genre to the right readers, and look professional and beautiful enough to catch their attention and get the click. Also traditionally published or classic books need different covers: they sell in bookstores or through marketing, or because the author is famous. They can take risks with covers because the books will sell anyway.
Indie authors have a huge advantage online, selling ebooks and controlling our own platform. But you need book covers that look great on Amazon and convert well so you don’t go broke. For most genre fiction, you don’t want a detailed illustrated scene. You want one character in one environment, looking cool and hinting at the unique and intriguing world you’ve bet.
But you also want to fit in, not stand out. Don’t whine that “all book covers look the same” – and try to do something *different*. You need your cover to look vaguely like the bestsellers in your genre, so readers can judge in a glance if it’s what they’re searching for. But it also needs to be better than your competition.
A great book cover will have depth: a background, a character, and a foreground. Usually, a book cover designer will buy about 10 images for a cover, and build everything together. It’s tricky to make it look natural and like one realistic scene, so it takes a lot of time to blend layers. And you need photoshop… unless you use my free online book cover maker, which does most of the same things.
Book cover design process
Some of the stuff I made on this website is over 10 years old, I started in 2012 – the same year I got married. A few are just sample projects. Since then I’ve designed hundreds of covers, earning over $200K in 5 years. But then I kind of dropped the ball. I was getting too much work and I didn’t feel confident in my design abilities.
You see, some genres aren’t too difficult to find stock photos for. I was good enough to be competitive and get clients, but it was difficult to make really powerful covers with limited stock photo options. But around 5 years ago, Daz 3D – a software to render character models – got really good. So a *lot* of new, cheaper designers were making really stunning art.
It’s like creating a virtual doll; you buy the character, the poses, the costumes, dress them up and then take pictures of them in different positions. This 3D character is a transparent PNG, so you just toss it against a background and add text – and the cover looks pretty great already. But the faces look plasticky, so most designers do a “headswap” replacing the face with a stock photo portrait, add some lighting and texture to the background, maybe some sparks or leaves to the forground, add some text… done.
It could take dozens of hours, or it could take one. It depends on the amount of time searching for the right images to use. People started selling these 3D images and other stock assets *just* for book cover design – which was great – but increased the chances that designers would use the same stock people or backgrounds and have too similar designs.
7 Must-have Qualities for a Book Cover That Sells
Whether you design your own book or hire a professional cover designer, you must learn the rules to avoid the expensive and embarrassing mistakes most first-time authors make. Watch this free, 40-minute presentation on book cover design and discover 3 foolproof layouts that work for any genre, and the one thing every cover has to do (it’s not what you think).
Prefer to Watch? Free 13-Episode Video Course
The same material in video form — hosted on YouTube, embedded below. Click any thumbnail to watch without leaving the page.
Cover Power
Ground Rules
What Makes a “Good” Cover?
What Makes a “Bad” Cover?
Market Research
Watch Out For…
Fiction Cover Samples
Nonfiction Cover Samples
Common Mistakes
Ugly Book Covers
Where to Find Fonts
Where to Find Stock Images
Stock Photo Rights
Click any thumbnail to expand and watch the video.
This week I spent redesigning one of my fantasy series, and it was maddening. I probably spent 20 hours staring at the computer for each cover. Making tiny changes to the lighting, the characters pose and clothing and face and hair, trying to make the scene look natural. It’s honestly a lot of work to get good results. You can make a passable cover pretty fast with the right stock resources and assets. But it will look flat and lifeless, without getting the depth and lighting right and making everything cohesive – including the typography!
It can be a lot of fun, or it can be work. And some things like fantasy and science fiction are really hard… no pictures! So we had to photobash or find creative solutions to make spaceships or spellcraft. Stock resources like Daz renders made it easier to put things together. The best designers did overpainting of illustration for that illustrated vivid look.
I know about 20 really good book designers. Some of their samples are better than mine (though I haven’t updated my gallery in awhile. I’m still pretty good). That list represents what I think is peak commercial genre book design – for the hard stuff like scifi/fantasy.
Choosing fonts for book cover design
The other huge part of book cover design is the typography. Designers have to purchase stock photos, and also the fonts they want to use on your cover. They will have invested a lot of money into design resources so that they have the capabilities to do things in photoshop you can’t do, like textured font effects (my free tool does that too)… but you’ll also need to choose the right fonts for your genre. That’s something a professional book cover designer would know.
*Tip* don’t just hire some illustrator or artist to create something, and then add your own text. Use my templates at least. Each genre has 10 or 20 fonts that everybody uses, it’s not that hard to get right but you need to try – or hire someone really good. Not all artists are book cover designers, and you have to get the typography right. Here’s a list of best fonts for book cover design.
Book cover premades and templates
So here’s the thing: designers often make stuff that looks pretty similar. And they can do it fast, by making a cover that is awesome and would sell a story. These are premades, and they sell for $150~$750 depending on quality. Big authors buy these. I’ve bought a ton even though I’m a designer! They are great for inspiring a story and staying motivated; a small author treat for yourself.
But they don’t always get used, cover design trends change, and once a book is written we may decided the cover doesn’t work anymore. (I’m sitting on a horde of premades). But premades can be a good, affordable option: designers can make something cool and pretty and sell it right away, no fuss. Authors can get something immediately, exactly as they see it. No complicated process trying to express their story and ideas.
Book cover templates are something else: it’s a sample cover, with typography that you can edit and save yourself. There are some options for online design software, like Canva, but they usually make flat covers (no blending, no erasing) and have limited fonts and text effects, that don’t work for most genres. Years ago I made a package of book cover templates in microsoft word and they’ve been popular – but they’re a makeshift solution. A few sites sell “ebook covers” that are loud and poorly designed, meant for online marketing and salesy stuff.
So I’m excited about the new cover design tool and templates I’m making for DIYcovers.com, and I think they’ll be a great, cheaper option (you provide your own art, but I have tutorials and resources for that). Basically unlimited book covers you can easily design yourself.
AI art and midjourney for book cover design
I’m suddenly demotivated and galvanized (at the same time). I was building templates for my new tool and playing with midjourney… and I stumbled on some prompts to get amazing AI art for book cover design. Combined with my templates (I spent months just coding the text effects), you can seriously make an amazing, $1000-cover for nearly free. It’s too powerful, it’s too easy. It makes me feel like quitting cover design and focusing exclusively on my writing – to make sure I have the best covers before anyone else does.
I’ll probably share the templates first, and then start building the new cover design tutorials, which will include a section on AI art and midjourney (with the exact prompts I’m using). But I’ll do it later, in a few months. I want to publish full series with my new AI covers and really establish a strong branded author platform, before everybody else starts using my resources to upgrade their covers. I think we’re going to see some huge shifts in publishing and book design, so there’s a lot of controversy right now.
But authors will continue to seek solutions, so they can get a great cover and publish their book, whether that’s custom, premade or DIY template book covers. Whatever you’re looking for, we have it! So stick around to watch tutorials and learn more about book cover design – or just let us do it for you!
Free ISBN barcodes
You’re also going to need a barcode for the back cover. KDP/kindle will add an ISBN barcode in the lower right hand side of your back cover. IngramSpark puts it in the middle. So you don’t have to make your own, and I recommend going with KDP’s free ISBN’s too – there’s not really any value in paying Bowker.
However if you are trying to get your book in bookstores… which you really shouldn’t… they will require a price in the back cover, and the free ISBN barcodes don’t usually have that – so you can use my own free ISBN barcode maker to include a price as well; but then you need a graphic design solution that allows layers so you can add the barcode to your cover.
How to Make a Book Cover in 7 Steps
Whether you’re designing in Photoshop, using a free tool, or hiring a pro — every good book cover follows the same process. Each step below includes the specific tools and websites the pros use.
Study Your Genre
Browse the Amazon Top 100 in your genre. Screenshot 20–30 bestselling covers. Note the patterns: color palette, font style, imagery type, layout. Your cover needs to fit in before it can stand out.
30 min
Get Your Dimensions Right
Amazon recommends 2,560 × 1,600 px (1.6:1 ratio) for ebooks. Print covers need exact trim size + bleed (typically 0.125″). Use your printer’s cover calculator — KDP, IngramSpark, and Barnes & Noble all have one.
10 min
KDP Cover Calculator,
IngramSpark Cover Template,
DIY Book Covers (free cover templates)
Find Your Image
Stock photo sites: Depositphotos, Adobe Stock, Shutterstock ($10–$30/image). Free: Unsplash, Pexels. For unique covers, consider AI image generation or commissioning original art. Avoid overused stock — search the image on Google first.
1–2 hrs
Adobe Stock,
Depositphotos,
Unsplash (free),
Pexels (free),
Midjourney (AI)
Choose Your Typography
Title font = genre signal. Serif fonts say literary/historical. Bold sans-serif says thriller. Script says romance. Use 2 fonts max (title + author name). Make the title readable at thumbnail size — that’s how most buyers first see it.
30 min
Google Fonts (free),
Font Squirrel (free),
MyFonts,
300 Best Fonts by Genre (our guide)
Design the Layout
Title goes top or center (never bottom — Amazon crops thumbnails). Author name at bottom. Leave breathing room. Add subtle effects: drop shadows on text, gradient overlays on dark images, border/frame elements for nonfiction.
1–2 hrs
Test at Thumbnail Size
Shrink your cover to 100px wide. Can you read the title? Does the image still make sense? Does it look professional next to bestsellers? If not, simplify. Most amateur covers fail the thumbnail test — too much detail, too-small text.
15 min
Photoshop’s “Save for Web” preview,
BookBrush thumbnail preview,
or paste your cover into a blank Amazon search page screenshot
Export & Upload
Ebook: RGB color, 72–300 DPI, JPEG or PNG. Print: CMYK color, 300 DPI, PDF with bleed marks. Save your working file (PSD/AI) — you’ll need it for series branding, audiobook covers, and future editions.
15 min
What Sells in Each Genre: Cover Design Rules
Every genre has unwritten visual rules. Break them and readers won’t recognize your book as “theirs.” Here’s what actually works — click any genre for the full guide.
Romance
Couple or shirtless man. Warm tones (pink, gold, red). Script or decorative title font. Illustrated covers trending hard in 2024+.
Thriller / Suspense
Dark backgrounds. Bold sans-serif title (often embossed). Single object or lone figure. High contrast. Muted palette — black, navy, blood red.
Fantasy
Rich, saturated colors. Ornate or medieval-style fonts. Illustrated characters, weapons, or magical elements. Series branding (consistent frame, color, logo).
Science Fiction
Cool tones (blue, purple, teal). Futuristic sans-serif fonts. Space imagery, tech elements, or dystopian landscapes. Clean, modern layouts.
Horror
Very dark backgrounds. Distressed or dripping fonts. Single creepy element (face, house, eye). Minimal color — often just red + black. Texture and grain.
Mystery / Crime
Dark with a spotlight effect. Bold serif or slab-serif fonts. Lone figure, cityscape, or symbolic object (gun, key, shadow). Cinematic feel.
Literary Fiction
Minimalist. Elegant serif fonts. Abstract or symbolic imagery. Muted, sophisticated palette. Lots of negative space. Think “New Yorker” aesthetic.
Self-Help / Business
Bold, clean title (often 60%+ of the cover). Bright, solid background color. Minimal imagery. Author photo or endorsement. Think “airport bookshelf.”
Memoir
Personal photo or evocative image. Warm, human tones. Mix of serif + sans-serif. Subtitle common. Feels intimate, not corporate.
Should You Design Your Own Cover or Hire a Designer?
Design It Yourself If…
- Your budget is under $100
- You enjoy visual design (even a little)
- You’re publishing frequently and need speed
- You’re willing to study genre conventions
- You’re doing ebook-only (more forgiving)
- You have a template or cover tool to start from
Hire a Designer If…
- Your book is your primary income source
- You’re doing print + ebook (spine/bleed is tricky)
- Your genre demands illustration (fantasy, romance)
- Your covers keep getting compared unfavorably to comp titles
- You need series branding consistency across 3+ books
- Design isn’t your strength and it’s slowing you down
What Does a Book Cover Actually Cost?
- Free design tool (Canva, GIMP, DIY Book Covers)
- Free stock photos (Unsplash, Pexels)
- Free fonts (Google Fonts, Font Squirrel)
- Your time: 3–6 hours
- Premade cover ($50–$150, exclusive to you)
- Budget designer on Fiverr/Reedsy ($100–$300)
- Stock photo + template combo ($30–$60)
- Print-ready files included
- Custom illustration or photo manipulation
- Multiple revision rounds
- Series branding package
- Print + ebook + audiobook formats
The Real Question
A bad cover costs you far more than the $200–$500 you’d spend on a good one. If your book is getting clicks but not sales (or worse, not getting clicks at all), the cover is almost always the problem. A professional cover typically pays for itself within the first month of sales.
8 Book Cover Mistakes That Kill Sales
1. Wrong Genre Signals
A romance cover with horror fonts. A thriller with pastel colors. If readers can’t instantly identify your genre from the thumbnail, they scroll past.
2. Unreadable Title
If the title disappears at thumbnail size (the size most people see on Amazon), no one clicks. Shrink it to 100px wide — can you still read it?
3. Too Many Fonts
Three or more fonts looks chaotic. Professional covers use 1–2 fonts max. One for the title, one for the author name. That’s it.
4. Overused Stock Photos
That one woman looking over her shoulder? Every indie author used it. Google Image search your stock photo — if it’s on 10 other covers, pick a different image.
5. No Visual Hierarchy
Your eye should flow: title → image → author name. If everything competes equally, nothing wins. Use size, contrast, and position to guide the eye.
6. Amateur Typography
Default fonts (Arial, Times New Roman), poor kerning, text crammed to the edges. Typography is 50% of what makes a cover look professional.
7. Ignoring the Spine
Print covers need a spine with readable text. Under 100 pages? Most printers won’t let you put text on the spine. Plan for the full wrap (front + spine + back).
8. Designing for Yourself
You love your cover but it doesn’t sell? The cover isn’t for you — it’s for your target reader browsing Amazon at 11 PM. Show it to 5 people in your genre before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Book Cover Design
How much does a book cover cost?
DIY covers can be free using tools like Canva or DIY Book Covers. Premade covers run $50–$150. Custom designs from professional designers cost $300–$1,000+. The right budget depends on your genre and publishing goals — romance and fantasy readers expect higher production value than most nonfiction genres.
Can I make my own book cover for free?
Yes. Use free tools like Canva, GIMP, or our DIY Book Covers tool with free stock images from Unsplash or Pexels. The biggest cost is your time (3–6 hours for a first cover). The key is studying your genre’s visual conventions so your DIY cover doesn’t scream “self-published.”
What size should a book cover be?
For ebooks, Amazon recommends 2,560 × 1,600 pixels (1.6:1 ratio) at 72 DPI minimum. For print, you need the exact trim size (common: 6″ × 9″) at 300 DPI, plus 0.125″ bleed on all edges, plus spine width calculated from page count. Use your printer’s cover template calculator for exact dimensions.
What software do professional book cover designers use?
Most professionals use Adobe Photoshop for image manipulation and cover design, Adobe InDesign for print layout (especially full wraps with spine and back cover), and Adobe Illustrator for vector elements and typography. Budget alternatives include Affinity Photo ($70, one-time) and Canva Pro ($12.99/mo).
How do I make a book cover in Canva?
Search “book cover” in Canva’s template library. Choose a template in your genre, swap the image and text, adjust fonts and colors, then export as PNG (ebook) or PDF (print). Canva’s limitation: it works in RGB only, so print covers may have slight color shifts vs. what you see on screen.
Where can I find a good book cover designer?
Top sources: Creativindie Covers (our team — custom covers from $349), Reedsy (vetted designers, $300–$800+), 99designs (competition-based, $300+), Fiverr (budget options, $50–$300 — check portfolios carefully). Always ask for genre-relevant portfolio samples before hiring.
Should my ebook cover and print cover be different?
The front cover should be identical for brand consistency. But print covers need additional elements: a spine (with title, author, publisher), back cover (with blurb, barcode, ISBN), and bleed area. Always design the front cover first, then extend to the full print wrap.
How important is the book cover for sales?
Critical. The cover is the single biggest factor in whether someone clicks on your book listing. Studies show readers make judgments in under 2 seconds. A professional cover signals quality content. A bad cover — even on a great book — means invisible on Amazon. It’s the best marketing investment you can make.
Can I use AI to generate my book cover?
AI image generators (Midjourney, DALL·E, Stable Diffusion) can create unique cover imagery, but there are caveats: you still need to add professional typography, ensure correct dimensions, and verify you have commercial usage rights. AI images alone rarely match the polish of a professional designer. If you already have AI art and want it finished properly, our AI Cover Finishing service handles typography, back cover, and spine for $150.
Do I need a different cover for each format (Kindle, Apple, Kobo)?
No. One ebook cover file works across all platforms. The recommended specs (2,560 × 1,600 px, JPEG/PNG, RGB) are accepted by Amazon KDP, Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Draft2Digital. Just make sure file size stays under 50MB.
Genre-Specific Design Guides
Romance Covers
Thriller & Mystery
Sci-Fi Covers
Horror Covers
Literary Fiction
Memoir Covers
Self-Help & Business
More Cover Design Resources
8 Cover Design Secrets
7 Foolproof Design Tips
7 Secrets to Sell More Books
Free DIY Cover Templates
Free 3D Mockup Generator
Vellum Formatting Review
Browse Premade Covers
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