Does Your Book Need a Table of Contents? Best Practices for Fiction, Nonfiction, and Memoir
- Michelle M. White
- May 14
- 4 min read
In nonfiction and many memoirs, the table of contents is both a navigation tool and a sales tool. It helps readers see the structure of the book and quickly find what they need.
The strongest tables of contents are clear, readable, and intentionally titled. They show readers what the book delivers and make the experience easier to navigate from the start.
In This Article
Why the Table of Contents Matters
Make Chapter and Section Titles Count
Consider Subheadings (but Only When They Help)
Keep it Clear and Readable
Formatting Choices that Affect Usability
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Quick Checklist
Common Questions
More in This Series
Why the Table of Contents Matters
In nonfiction and many memoirs, the table of contents is often one of the first places a reader looks. It can become a quick decision point: Is this book for me?
A strong table of contents does two jobs at once. It helps readers navigate, and it helps them understand the value and structure of the book.
Make Chapter and Section Titles Count
Avoid plain titles like “Introduction,” “Chapter 1,” or “Chapter 2” when more specific wording would serve the reader better. On their own, those titles say very little.
Instead, use titles that reflect the topic in a few clear words and create a sense of interest or momentum.
Chapter numbers can still be used, but repeating the word “Chapter” on every line in the table of contents is not always necessary.
Consider Subheadings (but Only When They Help)
If your chapters include meaningful subheadings, listing them can make the table of contents more useful.
But if new subheadings appear every page or two, including them all can make the contents feel crowded. In that case, it is often better to keep the table of contents focused on the chapter level.
Keep it Clear and Readable
A table of contents is a navigation tool first, so style should always support function.
Use a consistent interior font and sizing, comfortable spacing, and clear alignment so readers can scan it easily.
A designer may use dot leaders, the dotted lines between titles and page numbers, to improve readability. The important thing is that the alignment remains clear and consistent.
Formatting Choices that Affect Usability
A few practical best practices:
Keep page numbers easy to find, most often by aligning them to the right.
Use consistent indentation to show hierarchy, such as parts, chapters, and subheadings.
Avoid crowding. A little white space makes the contents easier to scan.
If the manuscript changes during revision, update the table of contents last so the page numbers remain accurate.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These issues are especially common in self-published books:
Using generic chapter titles that do not communicate much value or direction.
Not using proper hierarchy and spacing.
Using styling that feels inconsistent with the rest of the interior, including fonts, spacing, or indentation.
Leaving page numbers out of sync with the final layout.
Quick Checklist: What to Provide Your Designer
To build an accurate table of contents, provide:
Final chapter titles, along with subheading, part, or section titles if your book uses them.
Any subheadings you would like included, if applicable.
Page numbers are unnecessary at this stage, as they will change when the book is formatted.
Whether the book will be published in print, ebook, or both, since formatting and navigation needs differ in each format.
Common Questions
Q: Do memoirs need a table of contents?
A: Many memoirs benefit from one, especially when chapters are titled or when readers may want to return to a specific section.
Q: Should I include every subheading?
A: Only if doing so improves navigation. If it makes the table of contents feel crowded, it is usually better to keep it to higher-level entries.
Q: Can a table of contents be more than one page?
A: Yes. Longer nonfiction books often have multi-page tables of contents. With thoughtful design, they can still feel clear, readable, and attractive.
More in This Series
This article is part of my Parts of a Book series, where I walk through the different sections of a book and how to present them clearly and professionally. You’ll find more posts in the series below.
Front Matter Pages in Order: Title Page, Copyright, Dedication, TOC, and More
Foreword vs Preface vs Introduction: Differences + Where Each One Goes
Dedication and Acknowledgments (Are they Needed and Where do They Go?)
Does Your Book Need a Table of Contents? Best Practices for Fiction, Nonfiction, and Memoir (you’re here)
Back Matter for Nonfiction: What to Include (About the Author, Notes, CTA, Acknowledgments) (coming soon)
Final Thoughts
A table of contents is one of the simplest places to make a book feel more professional. Clear structure and strong titles help readers trust the experience before they read a single chapter.
Looking for more book design and self-publishing insights?
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmwbooks/
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