How to make an ISBN barcode for a self-published book

The barcode on the back of a book is not a special book format. It is an ordinary EAN-13 retail barcode that encodes the book's 13-digit ISBN. Once you have an ISBN, making the barcode takes a minute.

First, get an ISBN

ISBNs are issued by a national ISBN agency in each country, for example Bowker in the United States and Nielsen in the UK and Ireland. Some countries issue them free; others charge, often less per number when bought in blocks. Self-publishing platforms may also offer a free ISBN, but it may list the platform as the publisher.

Each format needs its own ISBN: paperback, hardback and ebook are separate. A new edition with real changes needs a new ISBN; a reprint with typo fixes does not.

ISBN-13 is an EAN-13

Modern ISBNs have 13 digits and start with 978 or 979, a prefix reserved for books. That makes them valid EAN-13 numbers, readable by every shop scanner. The last digit is a check digit calculated from the other twelve. If you have an old 10-digit ISBN, the agency's 13-digit version is the one to encode.

Make the barcode

1. Open the Barcode Generator and choose EAN-13.
2. Type the ISBN without hyphens: 978 and the rest, 13 digits. If you enter 12, the check digit is added; if you enter 13, it is checked and you are told if it is wrong.
3. Keep the digits shown under the bars.
4. Download and place the image on your cover file.

Many cover designs also print the ISBN in human-readable form above the barcode, with hyphens, such as “ISBN 978-1-234567-89-7”. Add that as normal text in your cover design.

The price add-on

Books sold in North American bookshops often carry a small second barcode to the right of the main one: a five-digit price add-on. The first digit is a currency code, 5 for US dollars, followed by the price, so 51299 means $12.99, and 90000 means no price is encoded. This generator does not create the add-on. Check whether your distributor needs it; many print-on-demand services add their own barcode, and many markets do not use add-ons at all.

Size and placement

• Place the barcode on the back cover, usually in the lower right, away from the spine and the trim edge.
• Print it black on a white box, even if the cover is coloured. Red, gold and pale bars do not scan.
• Keep it near standard size. EAN-13 can be scaled down only a little before scanners struggle; resize proportionally and never squash it to fit.
• Leave a clear margin on both sides of the bars.

Check before sending to print

1. Compare the digits under the bars with your ISBN record, digit by digit.
2. Scan a printed proof with a phone barcode app.
3. Check your printer's cover template for any area reserved for their own barcode.

For other retail barcode types and when you need GS1 numbers, see UPC vs EAN vs Code 128.