Single-sided (blank backs) is the standard choice for markers, gel pens, paint, and kids' books, because a blank back stops bleed-through from reaching the next drawing. Double-sided suits pencil-only adult books and halves the paper use. The choice matters beyond preference: single-sided doubles the interior page count for the same number of drawings, which can shift which gutter band the book falls into.
What each option actually changes
| Single-sided | Double-sided | |
|---|---|---|
| Art per sheet | One drawing, blank back | Two drawings, front and back |
| Interior pages for N drawings | 2N | N |
| Bleed-through risk (marker, paint) | None — back is blank | Real; only safe with pencil or light color |
| Printing cost for N drawings | Higher (more interior pages) | Lower |
Interior pages: 80 · within the supported range (24–300)
Why single-sided is the default for kids and markers
A blank back page exists for one reason: to stop whatever medium is used on one drawing from showing through on the drawing behind it. Markers, gel pens, and paint all bleed through standard interior paper to some degree; a coloring book aimed at kids (who are more likely to use markers, press hard, or both) is safer built single-sided even though it costs more in paper and printing. Adult books built for colored pencil — which doesn't saturate the page the way wet media does — can use double-sided without the same risk.
The gutter interaction
Interior page count, not art page count, decides which gutter band a book falls into (see the gutter guide for the full table). Because single-sided doubles that count, a book that would sit comfortably in the 24–150-page gutter band as art pages can cross into the 151–300 band once it's built single-sided. A 76-drawing single-sided book has a 152-page interior — into the wider gutter — while the same 76 drawings double-sided stay at 76 interior pages, in the narrower band. This is worth checking before finalizing a page count, not after.
The cost trade-off
KDP's print cost for a black-and-white paperback scales with interior page count above a fixed-cost floor. Doubling the interior page count (single-sided vs. double-sided, same drawing count) raises the per-copy printing cost, which either compresses royalty or pushes the price up. This doesn't make single-sided the wrong choice — for markers and kids it's close to necessary — but it is a real cost difference to plan a price around, not just a formatting preference.
Making the call
The medium the book is built for should decide this, not habit. Marker or paint-heavy kids' books: single-sided. Pencil-only adult books where page count and price matter more than bleed-through risk: double-sided is a legitimate way to fit more drawings into a lower-cost book.
Sources
Last verified 2026-09-04. Updated 2026-09-04.