Paper type affects how your book looks, feels, and reads. The two main decisions are paper color (cream vs. white) and paper weight (thickness). Both should align with your genre and the type of content in your book.

Cream paper (often listed as “creme”) is the standard for most text-based books. It has a warm tone that reduces glare and eye strain, making it ideal for long reading sessions. This is the default choice for novels, memoirs, and narrative nonfiction, and it matches what readers expect from traditionally published books.

White paper is best for visual content. It has a brighter tone that makes text appear sharper and colors more vibrant. Books with images — such as children’s books, cookbooks, textbooks, business books with charts, and photography collections — should typically use white paper.

Paper weight determines thickness and feel. Heavier paper feels more premium and increases spine width, while lighter paper reduces cost and keeps longer books from becoming bulky.

Typical paper options include:

• Standard black-and-white interiors: cream or white paper
• Color interiors: white paper only
• Premium options (IngramSpark): heavier or coated paper for image quality

Coated paper produces sharper images and is commonly used for high-quality color books, but it is not appropriate for standard text-heavy books.

Cost differences are usually small for color choice, but heavier or premium paper can noticeably increase printing costs, especially for longer books. Always check your platform’s print calculator before finalizing your price.

Simple genre guidance:

• Fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction: cream paper
• Children’s books, cookbooks, photography, art books: white paper
• Business and self-help: cream if text-heavy, white if visual-heavy

Choosing the right paper type helps your book meet reader expectations and improves the overall reading experience.

Sources:

• KDP Help: Interior and Paper Type
• IngramSpark Print Specifications
• Book Design Professionals Association