ISBN Barcode Generator — Free Book Barcodes
Tip: you can leave out the last (check) digit — we calculate it for you.
PNG downloads at 1x–4x resolution.
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PNG for documents & web, SVG for print & designers — always free, no watermark, no signup.
Paste your ISBN-13 above — with or without hyphens — and the generator validates the 978/979 prefix, verifies (or computes) the check digit and renders the Bookland barcode that goes on your back cover.
Download PNG up to 4x for print-on-demand uploads or SVG for cover artwork. Free, no signup, no watermark.
What is an ISBN barcode?
The barcode on a book's back cover is not a separate symbology — it's a standard EAN-13 encoding the book's ISBN-13, in what the book trade calls the Bookland range. Every ISBN-13 starts with 978 or 979 (GS1 prefixes reserved for books), so the barcode and the ISBN are the same 13 digits; the scanner at any bookstore reads it as an ordinary retail barcode.
Since 2007, ISBN-13 is the official ISBN format. Older 10-digit ISBNs convert by prefixing 978 and recomputing the check digit — a 10-digit and 13-digit ISBN are never the same number with a different length; the check digit changes.
Who needs an ISBN barcode
Important: BarcodeOwl turns your ISBN into the barcode image — it can't issue ISBNs. In the US, ISBNs come from Bowker; in the UK, from Nielsen; in Canada they're free from Library and Archives Canada. Amazon KDP can assign a free ISBN, but it lists Amazon as the publisher of record — buying your own keeps your imprint on the book.
- Self-published authors selling print books through Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press or bookstores
- Independent publishers producing paperback/hardcover editions (each format needs its own ISBN)
- Print-on-demand designers placing the barcode on back-cover artwork
- University presses and small imprints preparing titles for retail distribution
ISBN barcode specifications
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| Symbology | EAN-13 (Bookland) — ISO/IEC 15420 |
| Data | 13 digits: 978/979 + 9-digit body + check digit |
| Recommended size | 2.0 × 1.2 in (50.8 × 30.5 mm) including quiet zones |
| Magnification | 80–200% of nominal, like any EAN-13 |
| Placement | Lower right of the back cover, on a white background box |
| Add-on | Optional 5-digit price add-on (EAN-5, e.g. 90000 = no price set) |
| Quiet zones | 11 modules left, 7 right — keep the white box generous |
Hyphenation and the human-readable line
A properly typeset ISBN is hyphenated (978-0-306-40615-7) with the split points depending on global registration tables. The barcode's bars don't care — they encode the 13 bare digits either way. BarcodeOwl accepts hyphenated or plain input and renders the standard digit line under the bars; for cover artwork, your designer can restyle the text as long as the bars stay untouched.
Cover printing checklist
- Use the SVG at 100% scale in your cover file; never stretch the barcode non-proportionally
- Black bars on a white (or very light) box — colored bars on colored backgrounds fail at retail scanners
- Keep it in the lower-right back cover, at least 0.25 in from trim edges
- Order a physical proof and scan it with a phone before approving the print run
- eBooks and audiobooks don't need ISBNs at all — only print formats
Frequently asked questions
Is this ISBN barcode generator free?
Yes — unlimited ISBN barcodes, PNG up to 4x and SVG for cover artwork, no signup, no watermark. You supply your own ISBN (from Bowker, Nielsen or your national agency); we render the barcode.
Do I need a barcode if I have an ISBN?
For print books sold through stores, yes — retailers scan the EAN-13 Bookland barcode at the till. Amazon KDP will auto-place one if your cover lacks it, but embedding your own (at 100% scale, lower right) looks more professional.
How do I convert my old ISBN-10 to ISBN-13?
Prefix the first 9 digits with 978 and compute a new check digit — or simply enter the 12 digits (978 + body) above and let BarcodeOwl calculate it. Note the check digit will differ from the ISBN-10's.
Why does my ISBN have to start with 978 or 979?
Those are the GS1 prefixes reserved for the book industry (Bookland). An ISBN-13 without them isn't a valid ISBN. The generator validates the prefix automatically.
What's the small 5-digit barcode next to some book barcodes?
An EAN-5 price add-on (e.g. 51499 = $14.99, 90000 = no price specified). It's optional — most modern POS systems read the price from the ISBN lookup, and KDP doesn't require it.
Can I reuse one ISBN for paperback and hardcover?
No — each format (hardcover, paperback, large print) needs its own ISBN, and therefore its own barcode. eBooks and audiobooks don't require ISBNs at all.
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