If you are writing a novel, a long manual, or a lengthy technical guide, sharing it as a standard PDF or Word document is not always the best choice. For readers using tablets, phones, or dedicated e-readers like a Kindle or Kobo, a rigid PDF can be incredibly difficult to read because the text does not automatically adjust to fit the size of their screen.
The solution is the EPUB format. EPUB is the global standard format for eBooks. It features reflowable text, allowing the reader to change the font size and background colour dynamically. Surprisingly, Google Docs has a built-in eBook generator that allows you to instantly export your document as a polished EPUB file.
How to Export Your Document to EPUB
Before exporting, ensure your document uses proper formatting. You should use the official “Heading 1” and “Heading 2” paragraph styles for your chapter titles, rather than just making the text bold and large. E-readers use these official headings to automatically generate a clickable table of contents for your book.
Once your document is formatted correctly, exporting it takes seconds:
- Open your document in Google Docs.
- Click on File in the top menu bar.
- Hover your mouse over the Download option.
- From the submenu that appears, select EPUB Publication (.epub).
Google Docs will process your text, images, and headings, and instantly download a fully functional .epub file to your computer. You can immediately transfer this file to an e-reader device, upload it to Google Play Books, or share it with readers who can open it in Apple Books on their iPads.