E-book as PDF, format, publish and distribute professionally

2 min read·25 July 2026

A PDF is one of the most popular formats for e-books, easy to create, universally openable and ready to sell or give away. This guide covers how to format a professional e-book, export it and distribute it.

Choosing format: PDF or EPUB?

PDF is ideal for e-books with lots of formatting (infographics, visuals, sidebars, colours). EPUB is better for long text e-books on e-readers. Choose PDF for a beautifully designed workbook, guide or report; choose EPUB for a novel or text-heavy book.

Format in Canva, Word or InDesign

Canva offers hundreds of free e-book templates. Export as PDF (standard quality). Word offers less design control but stronger text features. InDesign is the professional choice for book layout, steep learning curve but perfect control over typography and layout.

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Optimal PDF settings for e-books

• Page size: A4 (210×297 mm) or Letter (216×279 mm) for workbooks; or custom 1080×1080 px for social media • Font size: minimum 11 pt for long text, 14 pt for easy screen reading • Margins: minimum 20 mm so text does not press against edges • Compression: medium, file under 10 MB for easy downloading

Interactive links and table of contents

Make your e-book clickable with hyperlinks from the table of contents to chapters. In Word: use headings and export with "Keep hyperlinks". In Canva: use internal links (activate via presentation mode). External links to your website or social media are also recommended.

Distribution: give away free vs. sell

Free e-book? Send by email, share via link or embed on your website. PDF files are not DRM-protected by default, anyone can forward them. Want to sell? Use platforms like Gumroad, Payhip or Teachable that handle PDF delivery after payment. Add a personalised watermark (buyer name) via PDFrust Watermark.