Age & Reading Experience
Designed for Different Age Groups
Smaller board books are easier for babies and toddlers to hold with little hands, while larger formats provide more space for illustrations and storytelling as children grow.
6 x 6
0–2 years
7 x 7
2-4 years
8 x 8
3-6 years
Large Format
7+ years
Storytelling & Illustration
More Space for Creative Layouts
The size of a board book influences far more than its appearance. Larger formats provide more room for illustrations, longer sentences and interactive page layouts, while smaller formats create a compact, easy-to-hold reading experience for babies and toddlers.
6 × 6 in
Compact illustrations
Short text
Simple layouts
Easy for babies to hold
8 × 8 in
Larger, more detailed artwork
Longer storytelling
Rich page compositions
Better for immersive picture books
If your story relies on detailed illustrations or full-page artwork, a larger format such as 8 × 8 inches will usually create a more engaging reading experience. Smaller sizes are ideal for first books designed for little hands.
Printing Cost
Size Directly Affects Production Cost
Larger Books Require More Materials and Shipping Space. The size of a board book has a direct impact on production costs. Larger formats require more paperboard, larger printing sheets, more lamination material and bigger cartons for shipping. However, a larger book isn’t always the best choice. The ideal size is the one that balances your content, target audience and budget while delivering the reading experience you want.
Size
6 x 6 in
7 x 7 in
8 x 8 in
Custom
Material Usage
Low
Medium
High
Varies
Shipping Cost
Low
Medium
High
Varies
Overall Cost
⭐
⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐
Depends on specifications
More Paperboard
Larger pages require more paperboard for every copy.
More Lamination
A larger surface area means more lamination film is needed.
Larger Cartons
Bigger books occupy more space in each export carton.
Higher Shipping Cost
Shipping costs generally increase with carton size and total shipment volume.
Shipping & Retail Display
Easier Shipping and Better Shelf Presence
The size of your board book affects much more than its appearance. It influences international shipping costs, retail presentation, carton efficiency and how customers interact with your book on the shelf.
Lowest Shipping Cost
- Lowest shipping cost
- more books per carton
- Ideal for mail orders
- Easy for toddlers to hold
Balanced Retail Choice
- Good shelf visibility
- Efficient packaging
- Popular with publishers
- Balanced cost and presentation
Maximum Shelf Impact
- Larger illustrations
- Strong retail presence
- Premium appearance
- Higher shipping cost
Premium Display
- Eye-catching display
- Perfect for gift editions
- Higher production costs
- Larger export cartons
Quick Decision Chart
If you wan to...
- Baby board books
- Educational books
- Storybooks
- Gift editions
- Unique branding
Recommended
Recommended Size
- 6 × 6 in
- 7 × 7 in
- 8 × 8 in
- 9 × 9 in
- Custom Size
