Free book templates give you a pre-formatted starting point so you can focus on writing instead of fighting margins and headings. Whether you need a novel manuscript template, a nonfiction chapter structure, or a print-ready layout for self-publishing, the right template saves hours of setup.
This list covers the best free book templates available in 2026 — from AI-powered custom generators to downloadable Word and Google Docs files — ranked by usefulness and ease of use.
At a Glance
| Template Source | Best For | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapter | Custom AI-generated templates | Web app | $97 one-time |
| Amazon KDP Templates | Print-ready self-publishing | Word (.docx) | Free |
| Reedsy Studio | Writing + formatting in one tool | Web app | Free |
| DIY Book Formats | Professional Word & InDesign layouts | Word, InDesign | Free |
| Google Docs Templates | Quick-start writing | Google Docs | Free |
| Atticus | All-in-one writing + formatting | Web app | $147 one-time |
| Vellum | Beautiful print + ebook formatting | Mac only | $199-$249 |
| Scrivener Templates | Organizing complex manuscripts | Mac, Windows | $59 one-time |
| William Shunn Templates | Standard manuscript submission | Word (.dotx) | Free |
| Canva Book Templates | Visual books + covers | Web app | Free tier available |
1. Chapter
Our Pick — Chapter
Chapter generates a custom book template tailored to your specific project using AI. Instead of downloading a generic document and adapting it to your topic, you describe your book and Chapter builds a complete structure with chapter breakdowns, section prompts, and content guidance shaped around your subject.
Best for: Authors who want a template built around their specific book, not a one-size-fits-all download
Pricing: $97 one-time (nonfiction) | Varies (fiction)
Why we built it: Every book is different, so your template should be too
Chapter works especially well for nonfiction books where the chapter structure depends entirely on your topic. A business book about leadership needs a different framework than a memoir about career change. Chapter analyzes your subject and generates a template with logical chapter flow, suggested subtopics, and writing prompts for each section.
The generated templates include front matter (title page, copyright, table of contents) and back matter (about the author, resources) already in place. You write directly into the structure and export when finished.
Limitations: This is a paid tool, not a free download. If you just need a blank formatted document and already know your structure, a simpler template might be enough.
2. Amazon KDP Manuscript Templates
Best for: Self-publishing authors formatting for Kindle Direct Publishing
Amazon KDP provides official Microsoft Word templates for the most common US trim sizes. These come pre-formatted with correct margins, gutters, and page dimensions designed specifically to pass KDP’s upload validation without errors.
Templates are available as blank files or with sample content showing proper formatting. They cover standard sizes including 5” x 8”, 5.5” x 8.5”, 6” x 9”, and more. The templates handle the technical details that trip up most first-time self-publishers — bleed settings, gutter widths, and page numbering.
If you are publishing through Amazon KDP, starting with their official templates eliminates the most common formatting rejections.
Pricing: Free
Limitations: Word-only format. No built-in writing tools or structural guidance — these are pure formatting templates.
3. Reedsy Studio
Best for: Authors who want to write and format in one free tool
Reedsy Studio combines a distraction-free manuscript editor with planning templates and professional export. You can outline characters, plot points, and chapters, then write your draft and export a typeset EPUB or print-ready PDF from the same tool.
The free tier includes access to their full formatting engine. No payment is required until you need advanced features. For authors who want to go from blank page to publish-ready file without switching between apps, Reedsy is hard to beat as a free option.
Pricing: Free (premium features available)
Limitations: Browser-based only. If you prefer working offline in Word or Scrivener, this is not the right fit.
4. DIY Book Formats
Best for: Professional-grade Word and InDesign templates
DIY Book Formats offers templates designed by publishing industry professionals. Over 50,000 authors have used these templates to format their books for both print and digital distribution.
The collection covers a broad range of genres and trim sizes in both Microsoft Word and Adobe InDesign formats. Each template includes correct margins, headers, page numbering, and chapter title formatting. If you are comfortable working in Word and want your interior to look like it was done by a professional typesetter, these templates deliver.
Pricing: Free
Limitations: Requires familiarity with Word or InDesign formatting. No writing tools included — these are strictly layout templates.
5. Google Docs Book Templates
Best for: Writers who want a quick start with zero software installation
Google Docs is free, works in any browser, and auto-saves everything. Several sites offer free book templates for Google Docs that you can copy and start writing in immediately.
TheGoodocs has over 200 free book templates including novel, poetry, and children’s book formats. SpreadsheetPoint offers five template types — novel, children’s book, recipe book, photo book, and comic book — each with pre-built cover pages, table of contents, and chapter structures.
For authors already comfortable with Google Docs, these templates remove the friction of formatting without requiring new software.
Pricing: Free
Limitations: Google Docs formatting options are basic compared to dedicated tools. Exporting to a print-ready PDF requires additional steps and may not produce professional-quality results for complex layouts.
6. Atticus
Best for: Indie authors who want writing and formatting in one cross-platform tool
Atticus is a browser-based tool that combines Scrivener-style chapter management with Vellum-quality formatting templates. Unlike Vellum (Mac-only), Atticus works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook.
You can import manuscripts from Word, Google Docs, or Scrivener, then choose from customizable style templates covering major genres. The nonfiction support is strong — Atticus handles H2 through H6 headers, which is essential for structuring chapters with subsections. Export to ebook and print-ready PDF formats.
Pricing: $147 one-time (lifetime updates included)
Limitations: Not free. Template polish does not quite match Vellum’s refinement yet, though the gap narrows with each update.
7. Vellum
Best for: Mac users who want the most polished formatting with minimal effort
Vellum has been the gold standard for book formatting among indie authors for years. Its templates produce beautifully typeset books with ornamental breaks, drop caps, and professional design touches that make self-published books look traditionally published.
Vellum is free to try — you can spend weeks experimenting with fonts, designs, and device previews before paying. You only pay when you are ready to export for publication.
Pricing: $199 (ebooks only) or $249 (ebooks + print)
Limitations: Mac-only. Vellum has stated they do not intend to make a PC version. It is also purely a formatting tool — you write elsewhere and import your manuscript. Limited nonfiction support compared to Atticus.
8. Scrivener Templates
Best for: Writers organizing complex, research-heavy manuscripts
Scrivener is a complete writing studio that breaks large projects into manageable pieces. It ships with templates for novels, short stories, nonfiction books, screenplays, and academic papers. Each template includes a pre-built binder structure with folders for chapters, research, character notes, and settings.
About 85% of surveyed authors prefer Scrivener for drafting and organizing, though most switch to a dedicated formatting tool for final output. Scrivener’s built-in “Compile” feature can produce ebooks, but the process has a steep learning curve.
Pricing: $59 one-time (Mac or Windows)
Limitations: Not a formatting tool. The Compile feature is powerful but notoriously complex. Most authors use Scrivener for writing and export to Vellum or Atticus for final formatting.
9. William Shunn Manuscript Templates
Best for: Authors submitting manuscripts to agents, publishers, or literary magazines
William Shunn’s templates are the standard reference for proper manuscript submission formatting. The collection includes Word templates for short stories and novels that auto-format your document with industry-standard settings: 12-point Times New Roman, double spacing, 1-inch margins, and proper header formatting.
The templates even calculate a rounded word count for you. If you are submitting to traditional publishers or entering contests, this is the formatting standard they expect.
Pricing: Free
Limitations: Designed for submission formatting, not book layout. These templates produce manuscripts ready for an editor’s desk, not a bookshelf.
10. Canva Book Templates
Best for: Visual books, children’s books, and authors who want cover + interior design in one place
Canva offers free book templates for covers, interior pages, and ebook layouts. The drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to add images, adjust typography, and create visually rich pages without design skills.
Canva works best for books where visual design matters as much as text — children’s books, cookbooks, photo books, and coffee table books. For text-heavy novels or nonfiction, a Word or dedicated writing tool template is a better fit.
Pricing: Free tier available (Canva Pro adds premium templates and features)
Limitations: Not built for long-form manuscript writing. Works better for short, visual projects than for 200-page novels.
How to Choose the Right Template
The best template depends on where you are in the writing process and what kind of book you are creating.
If you have not started writing yet, pick a template that includes structural guidance — not just formatting. Chapter generates custom outlines, Reedsy Studio combines outlining with formatting, and Scrivener’s templates include research and planning sections.
If you have a finished manuscript that needs formatting, go straight to a formatting tool. Vellum (Mac) and Atticus (any platform) produce the most professional results. DIY Book Formats and KDP templates work if you prefer staying in Word.
If you are submitting to agents or publishers, use William Shunn’s manuscript templates. Agents expect standard manuscript format, not a designed book interior.
If you are writing a visual book, Canva and Google Docs picture book templates handle image-heavy layouts better than writing-focused tools.
For a deeper look at templates organized by genre, see our guides to book writing templates and book outline templates.
How We Evaluated
Every template source on this list was evaluated based on four criteria: ease of use (how quickly you can go from download to writing), output quality (how professional the formatted result looks), format flexibility (print, ebook, or both), and cost. Free options were prioritized, with paid tools included only when they offer significant advantages over free alternatives.
FAQ
What is the best free book template for beginners?
Google Docs templates are the easiest starting point. Copy a template, start writing, and worry about professional formatting later. If you want more structure, Reedsy Studio combines free templates with a built-in writing editor.
Can I use a free template to self-publish on Amazon?
Yes. Amazon KDP’s official Word templates are specifically designed for their platform. Download the template matching your trim size, add your content, and upload directly to KDP. For a walkthrough of the full process, see our guide to self-publishing on Amazon KDP.
Do I need different templates for ebook and print?
Usually, yes. Print books need specific margins, gutters, and trim sizes. Ebooks reflow text to fit any screen, so rigid page layouts do not apply. Tools like Atticus and Vellum export to both formats from a single manuscript. If you are using Word templates, you will need separate files for print and ebook versions.
What is the difference between a book template and a book outline?
A template is a pre-formatted document with the layout, margins, fonts, and structure already in place. An outline is a plan for your content — chapter titles, key points, and narrative arc. Some tools like Chapter and Scrivener provide both. For outline-specific resources, see our book outline guide.
Are free book templates good enough for professional publishing?
For interior formatting, free templates from KDP and DIY Book Formats produce results comparable to paid options. The biggest gap is in design polish — tools like Vellum and Atticus add typographic refinements (drop caps, ornamental breaks, custom fonts) that free Word templates cannot match. For most readers, the difference is subtle.
