Write your book chapter by chapter, or import Word, Markdown, text or HTML files, then add the title, author, language and a cover. One click builds a standards-based EPUB 3 e-book with a table of contents that opens in Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play Books, Calibre and most e-readers. Nothing is uploaded.
Last updated:
Advertisement
Advertisement
How to use the EPUB Maker
Fill in the book details: title, author and language are the essentials; publisher, ISBN and description are optional.
Write or import your chapters. Type in the editor, paste from a word processor, or press Import files to bring in .docx, .md, .txt or .html files.
Arrange the chapters by dragging them in the list or using the arrow buttons, and give each chapter a title.
Choose a cover: pick one of the generated styles or upload your own image (1600 × 2560 px works well).
Press Create EPUB. The book is checked, packaged and downloaded as an .epub file ready for e-readers and online stores.
What is inside the EPUB this tool creates
An EPUB is a ZIP archive with a fixed structure. Opening the downloaded file with any unzip tool shows these parts:
File
Purpose
mimetype
The text application/epub+zip, stored first and uncompressed so readers can recognise the file.
META-INF/container.xml
Points the reading system to the package document.
OEBPS/content.opf
Package document: metadata (title, author, language, identifier, modified date), the manifest of every file and the spine (reading order).
OEBPS/nav.xhtml
EPUB 3 navigation document with the table of contents and landmarks.
OEBPS/toc.ncx
Older EPUB 2 style table of contents, kept for compatibility with older e-readers.
OEBPS/text/*.xhtml
Cover, title page and one XHTML file per chapter.
OEBPS/css/style.css, images/
The style sheet and the cover and chapter images.
Tips for a clean e-book
Keep formatting simple. E-readers let people change fonts and text size, so use headings, emphasis and scene breaks rather than fixed sizes, colours or manual spacing.
Use real chapter titles. They become the table of contents entries that readers tap to jump around the book.
Use the scene break button (* * *) instead of several empty lines; empty paragraphs are removed in e-books.
Insert images at a sensible size. Pictures are scaled to at most 1400 px wide, which looks sharp on tablets without making the file heavy.
Test before you publish. Open the file in a couple of reading apps (for example Calibre's viewer, Apple Books or a phone e-reader app) and run EPUBCheck if a store requires it.
Common text tags; scripts, styles and forms are removed
Text (.txt)
At lines starting with "Chapter" or "Part"
Paragraphs separated by blank lines
Frequently asked questions
How do I make an EPUB file for free?
Enter the title and author, write or import your chapters, choose a cover and press Create EPUB. The tool builds the EPUB package (content files, table of contents, metadata and cover) in your browser and downloads it, with no account or watermark.
Is the EPUB valid for online stores?
The file follows the EPUB 3 structure: an uncompressed mimetype file first, a container file, a package document with Dublin Core metadata and a dcterms:modified date, an XHTML navigation document, and an NCX for older readers. Stores run their own checks, so it is a good idea to also test the file in a free validator such as EPUBCheck before uploading.
Can I convert a Word document to EPUB?
Yes. Press Import files and choose a .docx file. Paragraphs, Heading 1/2/3 styles, bold, italic, underline, bulleted lists and centred lines are kept, and every Heading 1 (or Title) starts a new chapter. Images and complex tables inside Word files are not imported, but you can add images in the editor.
What size should an e-book cover be?
A common recommendation is 1600 × 2560 pixels (a 1:1.6 ratio) as a JPG under a few megabytes. Larger images are scaled down to that size when you choose them. If you do not have a cover, the generated cover shows your title and author on a coloured background.
Do I need an ISBN for an EPUB?
Not to create the file. Every EPUB needs a unique identifier, so if you leave the ISBN field empty the tool generates a UUID for the book and keeps it for later versions. Some stores and distributors require or assign an ISBN when you publish; enter it here if you have one.
Will my formatting look the same on every e-reader?
EPUB is reflowable: the reader chooses the screen size and lets the reader change the font size, so line and page breaks always differ. Headings, bold, italic, lists, quotes, images and scene breaks are preserved, and the Reader default font option lets the device pick the typeface.
Is my manuscript uploaded or saved anywhere?
No. Writing, importing and packaging all happen in your browser. Your draft is saved only in this browser's local storage so it is still there next time; use Start new book to clear it.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.