Page Margins For Printing

Page margins are the spaces between the finished page edge and the main content. They define the text area and control how the page looks when the book is opened.

Margins do not change the Trim Size, and the guides themselves will not print.

The Four Page Margins

Book layouts normally use four margin settings:

For a facing-page document, use Inside and Outside rather than fixed Left and Right margins. Their positions automatically switch between left-hand and right-hand pages.

Practical Starting Values

Margin size depends on the page dimensions, text size, layout style, and binding. For many A5 to A4 book interiors, these values are a useful starting point:

The bottom margin is often slightly deeper than the top margin, especially when it contains a page number.

The inside value should not be guessed from the outside margin. It needs to work with the separate Binding Margin and Gutter requirements.

Build a Balanced Text Area

Margins create the shape of the text block. A narrow text block gives shorter lines and more white space, while a wider one fits more words on each page.

Check the complete spread instead of judging only one page. When both pages are viewed together:

• The text blocks should feel evenly positioned.

• The space near the spine should not look cramped.

• The outer edges should not feel unnecessarily empty.

• Page numbers should line up consistently.

The margins do not need to be equal on all four sides. Equal values often make a book page feel too mechanical rather than visually balanced.

Page Margins and Safe Area

Page margins are layout choices. The Safe Area is the minimum production clearance for important content.

In most text layouts, the main content area sits comfortably inside the safe area. Full-page images and background colors can pass through the margins and continue into the Bleed.

Set Page Margins in Adobe InDesign

For a facing-page book document:

1. Select the required page, spread, or parent page in the Pages panel.

2. Open Layout > Margins and Columns.

3. Enter the Top, Bottom, Inside, and Outside values.

4. Turn on Preview to check the result.

5. Apply the setting to a parent page when it should repeat throughout the book.

A simple starting setup might be:

• Top: 12 mm

• Bottom: 16 mm

• Inside: 18 mm

• Outside: 12 mm

Changing the margin guides does not always move existing text frames. After adjusting an established layout, check the text boxes, images, page numbers, and headings on both left- and right-hand pages.

Using Different Margins in One Book

The main reading pages should usually follow one consistent margin system. Other page types may need their own layout, such as:

• Title pages

• Chapter openings

• Full-page illustrations

• Tables or charts

• Fold-out pages

Create separate parent pages for these layouts rather than manually changing individual pages throughout the document.