TrimCalc

Enter word count and paper size, get text block, margins, and bleed instantly

Problem

Self-publishers get lost in trim size, text block, margins, and bleed. Someone built a trim-size and margin calculator, showing it's a frequent, fiddly need. Indie authors and tiny presses lack cheap, decent layout helpers.

Solution

A web calculator: pick trim size (6x9, A5, etc.), binding, page count, and font size; get suggested margins, text block, bleed, and safe area, with export to InDesign/Affinity presets or a PDF template. Includes common-mistake checks like too-narrow gutter.

Users

Self-publishing authors, small indie presses, print-on-demand creators

MVP

Trim size and binding selection; estimate pages and text block from word count/font size; visual margin and bleed preview; export PDF template and preset values; common layout mistake warnings

Revenue

Free basic calculation; paid export templates and multi-project saving; affiliate with print-on-demand services

Why now

Self-publishing and POD keep growing, and AI writing tools push more people to publish; a solo front-end build needs no backend