Book Description HTML Formatter
Turn plain text into the HTML tags a book store description accepts, or clean existing HTML, with a preview and a 4,000-character check.
Tags kept: <p> <br> <b> <strong> <i> <em> <u> <h4> <h5> <h6> <ul> <ol> <li>. This is the set commonly accepted by Amazon KDP, and other stores differ, so check the store's own preview before you publish.
About Book Description HTML Formatter
Turns plain text into the small set of HTML tags a book store description accepts, or cleans HTML you already have by keeping the allowed tags and removing the rest. It shows a preview, the length of the HTML against the 4,000 character limit, and what was changed.
Choose Plain text to HTML and type or paste your description: a blank line starts a paragraph, a line starting with - makes a bullet, 1. a numbered list, # a heading, and **bold**, *italic* and __underline__ work inside a line. Or choose Clean existing HTML and paste what you have. Copy the HTML into the store's description box.
Open with a bold hook line, then short paragraphs. Always check the store's own preview before you publish, because stores change which tags they allow.
- Which HTML tags does a KDP description accept?
- Amazon KDP commonly accepts paragraphs, line breaks, bold, italic, underline, the heading tags h4 to h6, and bulleted and numbered lists. This tool keeps exactly that set. Stores change their rules, so look at the store's preview before you publish.
- How do I make bold text, a list or a heading?
- In Plain text to HTML, put ** around words for bold, * around words for italic and __ around words for underline. Start a line with a dash for a bullet, with 1. for a numbered list, or with # for a heading. A blank line starts a new paragraph.
- What does Clean existing HTML do?
- It keeps the allowed tags, turns divs into paragraphs and large headings into the heading size you choose, and removes everything else, such as styles, classes, links, images and scripts. The text inside removed tags is kept, and the tool lists what it changed.
- How long can a description be?
- Amazon KDP allows up to 4,000 characters. The tool counts the HTML you paste, tags included, and tells you how far over you are, so you are safe even when the store counts the tags.
- Why did my link disappear?
- Book store descriptions do not accept links, so the link tag is removed and its text kept. Put your website in your author profile or in the book's text instead.
- Is my description uploaded?
- No. The conversion happens in your browser tab, nothing is sent to a server, and the text is cleared when you close the page.
How to use Book Description HTML Formatter
Pick Plain text to HTML and type or paste your description. A blank line starts a new paragraph, a line starting with a dash makes a bullet, a line starting with 1. makes a numbered list, a line starting with # makes a heading, and **bold**, *italic* and __underline__ work inside a line. Or pick Clean existing HTML and paste what you have. Check the preview and the character count, then copy the HTML into the store's description box.
When to use it
Use it when the store's description box takes HTML and you want bold, lists or paragraph breaks without writing tags by hand, or when text copied from a word processor or a web page brings tags and styles the store will not accept.
When not to use it
Do not use it to write the description for you or to judge how well it sells. It does not support links, images, tables or colors, since stores do not accept them in descriptions. For a long sales page, use your author website.
Tips for best results
Open with a bold hook line, since the first lines are what a browsing reader sees before any Read more link. Keep paragraphs short and use a list for three or four selling points. After pasting, open the store's preview and check that the spacing looks the same.
Limitations
The tags kept are p, br, b, strong, i, em, u, h4 to h6, ul, ol and li, which is the set commonly accepted by Amazon KDP. Other stores accept different sets, and rules change, so check the store's own preview. The 4,000 character limit is counted on the HTML you paste, tags included, which is the stricter reading. Headings level 1 to 3 are changed to the heading size you choose, and divs become paragraphs. Everything else is removed and its text kept.
Privacy
The conversion runs in your browser tab. Your text is not uploaded or stored, and it is cleared when you close the tab.
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