Resources Formatting Guides
Drop Caps: What They Are and How to Use Them
What a drop cap is, when to use one, and how to add drop caps to your book so they look right in both ebook and print.
A drop cap is one of the small details that makes a book feel professionally made. It is the oversized first letter at the start of a chapter that drops down across the first two or three lines of text. Readers rarely notice it consciously, but they feel the difference between a book that has considered its chapter openings and one that has not. This guide explains what a drop cap is, when to use one, and how to add it so it works in both ebook and print.
What a drop cap is for
A drop cap marks a beginning. Historically it comes from illuminated manuscripts, where the opening letter of a section was enlarged and decorated. Today it does the same quieter job: it tells the reader, clearly and elegantly, that a new chapter has started. Because it is a visual cue rather than a decorative extra, it belongs at chapter openings, not sprinkled through the body text.
When to use one, and when not to
Use a drop cap at the start of each chapter, applied the same way every time so the book reads as one consistent object. A common and attractive pairing is a drop cap followed by the first few words in small capitals, which eases the reader from the large letter back into normal text. What you should not do is use a drop cap on every paragraph, mix drop-capped and plain chapter openings, or create one by hand with a single large character. Manual drop caps are the usual reason they break.
The ebook problem, and how to avoid it
Drop caps are easy in print and trickier in ebooks, because an ereader reflows text to fit the screen and the reader's chosen font size. If you enlarge a letter by hand, it can overlap the lines beside it, sit at the wrong height, or collapse entirely on some devices. The fix is to let a formatter apply the drop cap as a proper style, so it adjusts as the text reflows. That way the same chapter opening looks right on a phone, an ereader, and a printed page.
Adding drop caps in Koberger
Koberger treats the drop cap as a chapter-opening option rather than something you build by hand. You choose a drop cap (or a drop cap with small-caps opening words) for your chapter design, and Koberger applies it to the first letter of every chapter automatically, keeping it consistent and reflow-safe across ebook and print. You can preview exactly how it looks before you export. For more on chapter openings, see our guide to formatting chapter headings, and you can try it with your own book for free.
Frequently asked questions
What is a drop cap?
A drop cap is an oversized first letter at the start of a chapter or section that drops down across the first few lines of text. It is a traditional typographic flourish that signals the beginning of a chapter and gives the opening a polished, book-like feel.
How do you add a drop cap?
In a formatter, a drop cap is a chapter-opening option you switch on, not something you size by hand. Koberger applies it to the first letter of your chapter automatically and keeps it consistent throughout the book. Avoid faking one with a large character, which breaks across devices in ebooks.
Do drop caps work in ebooks?
Yes, when they are applied through proper formatting rather than a manually enlarged letter. A formatter builds the drop cap so it reflows with the text on different screens. Hand-sized drop caps often misalign or overlap on ereaders.
Should every chapter have a drop cap?
Use a drop cap on chapter openings, not on every paragraph. Applied consistently at the start of each chapter it looks intentional; scattered through the text it looks like a mistake. Many books pair a drop cap with a few small-caps opening words for a classic look.