Album-cover dimensions depend on the physical format and on what is being measured. A 12-inch vinyl record is not the same size as its jacket; the finished package is also different from the artwork file submitted to a pressing plant. The chart gives common jacket and artwork references. For a print order, follow the exact manufacturer's template.
Album Cover Dimensions: 12-Inch LP, 10-Inch & 7-Inch Records
There is no single size for every album cover
Common album-cover and artwork size references
| Record format | Common size reference | What the measurement describes |
|---|---|---|
| 12-inch LP | About 12.375 × 12.375 in (31.43 × 31.43 cm) | Common square LP-cover reference. Jacket and print specs vary slightly by plant. |
| 10-inch record | About 10.375 × 10.375 in (26.35 × 26.35 cm) | Taylor's artwork-image reference for a 10-inch record. |
| 7-inch single | About 7.25 × 7.25 in (18.42 × 18.42 cm) | Taylor's cover-art reference for a 7-inch record. |
Artwork references are not automatically the finished jacket's trim size. As one finished 12-inch jacket example, National Audio Company lists a panel 12.3125 in wide × 12.383 in high, plus a 0.1563-inch spine. Gatefolds and multi-record jackets have different panel and spine measurements.
Finished jacket size versus artwork size
The finished jacket is the physical package after printing and trimming. The artwork canvas often needs extra area for bleed, folds, the spine and glue flaps. Do not send a file sized only to the finished front panel unless the printer requests that format. Download the current template from the pressing plant or packaging supplier, and check whether its dimensions describe one panel, the unfolded jacket, or the final package.
This page covers printed physical record jackets. Digital album art uses platform-specific file requirements, so a vinyl jacket measurement should not be used as an upload specification.