Kleinformate

Kleinformate is a term used in the German-speaking publishing industry to describe a class of book formats that are smaller than the standard trade format. The designation refers to physical size and, by extension, a set of production and retail implications such as portability, lower printing costs, and often lower cover prices. In practice, Kleinformate encompasses a variety of small-edition formats, including pocket-sized editions and compact paperbacks. The exact dimensions are not fixed by a universal standard; publishers define Kleinformat by relative size—smaller than the normal or standard format used for most novels and non-fiction, but not as small as micro- or pamphlet formats.

Kleinformate are commonly used for fiction, travel guides, primers, and reference works where portability is advantageous. They are often marketed as "pocket" or "compact" editions and can accompany or replace larger editions in catalogues and bookstores. In libraries and bibliographies, Kleinformat is a conventional label used to indicate format for shelving and acquisition decisions, alongside other format categories such as Normalformat and Großformat.

Historically, Kleinformate gained traction during the 19th and 20th centuries with the expansion of mass literacy and mass-market publishing, offering affordable, portable editions to a broad readership. Today, the category remains common in German-language publishing, particularly for paperback series, classic literature reprints, and travel or reference works intended for on-the-go use.