Free tool · ISBN

ISBN barcode generator.

Type your ISBN to check it and see the EAN-13 barcode for your book's back cover. Add your name and email to download it free, as SVG for print or as PNG.

Hyphens and spaces are fine

Check the barcode on a printed proof before your print run: print it at full size and scan it with a phone barcode app.

Frequently asked questions

ISBN barcodes, answered

Is this ISBN barcode generator free?+

Yes. Checking an ISBN and seeing the barcode needs nothing at all. To download it, enter your name and email once; the barcode itself is drawn in your own browser and your ISBN is not stored.

Which barcode does a book use?+

Books use the 13-digit EAN-13 barcode built from the ISBN-13, which starts with 978 or 979. Bookshops, distributors and online retailers scan this barcode.

Can I use an ISBN-10?+

Yes. Enter it and the tool checks it, converts it to the matching ISBN-13 and makes the barcode from that.

Where does the barcode go on the cover?+

On the back cover, usually near the bottom, on a white background with dark bars. The standard size is about 37 × 26 mm; do not shrink it much below 80 per cent, or scanners may struggle.

Do I need a price add-on?+

This tool makes the standard 13-digit book barcode. Some markets, mainly the US, add a separate 5-digit price block; most Indian books print the MRP as text instead.

Where do I get an ISBN in India?+

ISBNs in India are free from the Raja Rammohun Roy National Agency on isbn.gov.in. See the steps, or publish with us and we allocate one as part of every package.

ISBN, barcode and cover, handled

Rather not deal with ISBNs and barcodes?

Every Author's Ink package includes the ISBN, the barcode placed correctly on a full-colour cover, and distribution. Send your opening chapter for a free assessment.