# eBook Design Basics: What Makes a PDF Look Professional When You're Not a Designer

> Typography, spacing, and structure so your eBook PDF looks professional without custom design.

Source: https://buildpdfs.com/guides/ebook-design-basics
Published: 2025-02-13

> **What makes an eBook PDF look professional when you're not a designer?** (1) **Typography** — One body font, one heading font (or one font family). Consistent size and weight. (2) **Spacing** — Margins so the page doesn't feel cramped; space between sections. (3) **Structure** — Clear hierarchy: title, chapters, sections. Table of contents. (4) **Consistency** — Same treatment for every chapter opener and body. No random font or size changes. You don't need custom graphics. You need clear hierarchy, readable type, and a consistent system.

"Professional" doesn't mean "fancy." It means **clear, consistent, and readable**. You can get there without a designer if you follow a few rules.

This guide is **design basics** for eBook PDFs—with a checklist and what to do next. For structure (chapters, sections) see [how to structure an eBook](/guides/how-to-structure-ebook). For creating the PDF see [eBooks without design skills](/guides/ebooks-without-design-skills).

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## Typography

| Element | Rule |
| ------- | ---- |
| **Body** | One font, one size (e.g. 11–12 pt). Serif or sans-serif; pick one and stick to it. |
| **Headings** | One font (can be same family, different weight). Chapter titles larger; section titles smaller. Consistent. |
| **Don't** | Mix many fonts. Use tiny type (below 10 pt for body). Use decorative fonts for long text. |

**Simple combo:** One sans-serif (e.g. Inter, Open Sans) for everything: bold for titles, regular for body. Or one serif (e.g. Georgia, Lora) for a more "book" feel.

## Spacing

- **Margins** — At least 0.5–1 inch (or 15–25 mm) on all sides. Cramped margins feel cheap.
- **Between sections** — Space after headings; space between paragraphs. White space = readability.
- **Line height** — Body text: 1.2–1.5× the font size. Too tight = hard to read.

## Structure (hierarchy)

- **Title** — Biggest. Centered or left. One clear line.
- **Chapters** — Clear chapter title. Same style every time.
- **Sections** — H2/H3. Smaller than chapter; same style across the book.
- **Body** — Same font and size. No random bold unless it's for emphasis.

Readers should **see** the structure (title → chapter → section) without thinking. That's hierarchy. For full structure see [how to structure an eBook](/guides/how-to-structure-ebook).

## Table of contents

- **Place** — After title page (or short intro).
- **Content** — Chapter titles (and optionally key sections). Page numbers if your tool adds them.
- **Style** — Same font as body or headings. Clear and scannable.

For 20+ pages, a TOC is expected. See [long-form PDF tool comparison](/guides/long-form-pdf-tool-comparison).

## Consistency checklist

- [ ] Same body font and size throughout.
- [ ] Same heading style for all chapters and sections.
- [ ] Same margin and spacing system.
- [ ] No one-off "special" pages with different fonts or layout (unless it's intentional, e.g. part opener).

## Common mistakes

1. **Too many fonts.** Two is enough (one for body, one for headings—or one family, two weights).
2. **No margins.** Text to the edge. Add margins.
3. **No TOC.** Long eBook with no map. Add one. See [how to structure an eBook](/guides/how-to-structure-ebook).
4. **Inconsistent headings.** Chapter 1 is big and bold; Chapter 2 is small. Same style every time.

## Our recommendation

**One font system, clear hierarchy (title → chapter → section), margins and spacing that breathe, TOC for 20+ pages.** Run the consistency checklist before you export. For structure and outline see [how to structure an eBook](/guides/how-to-structure-ebook) and [eBook outline template](/guides/ebook-outline-template). For creating the PDF see [eBooks without design skills](/guides/ebooks-without-design-skills) and [best tool for eBooks and long-form PDFs](/guides/best-tool-for-ebooks-and-long-form-pdfs).

## What to do with this information

1. **Lock typography** — One body font, one heading style. Use the typography table above.
2. **Set margins and spacing** — At least 0.5–1 inch margins; space between sections; line height 1.2–1.5×.
3. **Use clear hierarchy** — Title, chapters, sections. Same style every time. See [how to structure an eBook](/guides/how-to-structure-ebook).
4. **Add TOC** — For 20+ pages. For structure see [how to structure an eBook](/guides/how-to-structure-ebook).
5. **Run the checklist and build the PDF** — Use a [long-form PDF tool](/guides/best-tool-for-ebooks-and-long-form-pdfs). See [eBooks without design skills](/guides/ebooks-without-design-skills).

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*To generate a laid-out eBook PDF with consistent typography and TOC, you can [try BuildPDFs](/dashboard). No commitment.*