Free ISBN Barcode Generator: KDP, IngramSpark & Bookstore-Ready Barcodes for Self-Publishers

ISBN is a 13-digit identifier for books, used on every back-cover barcode you've ever seen at a bookstore. Internally it's an EAN-13 with the Bookland prefix (978 or 979) followed by a 9-digit ISBN-9 payload and a check digit.

Validator

Paste an existing ISBN into the field above. We compute the check digit if you provide just the payload, verify it if you provide the full code, and refuse to render if the check digit is wrong — so anything that renders here is guaranteed to scan.

Render your ISBN as a scannable barcode here. Paste your assigned 13-digit ISBN; we validate the check digit and produce the barcode at the size standard print runs use.

Structure

13 digits: 978 or 979 prefix (the Bookland country code), 1-5 digit group identifier (language area), 1-7 digit publisher prefix, 1-6 digit title identifier, and 1 check digit.

When to use ISBN

Self-publishing on Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu, BookBaby
Distributing through bookstores or libraries (Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, public library acquisitions)
Submitting to ISBN-aware retailers and wholesalers
Audiobook and e-book listings where an ISBN is the canonical identifier

Where it's required

Print-on-demand platforms (KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu)
Bookstore distribution and library catalogs
Major book retailers worldwide
Many academic and educational submission systems

FAQ

Can I generate a barcode for my ISBN?

Yes — paste your 13-digit ISBN-13 into the generator above and download a print-ready barcode image in PNG, SVG, or PDF. All barcodes render as EAN-13 (the standard ISBN barcode format), accepted by every major printer and retailer including Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Bowker, and bookstores worldwide.

How do I generate a barcode for a book?

Three steps: (1) Get your ISBN-13 from Bowker (US, myidentifiers.com), Nielsen (UK), or your country's ISBN agency — or use a KDP-issued free ISBN if publishing exclusively on Amazon. (2) Paste the 13-digit number into the generator above. (3) Download as PNG for print or SVG for vector cover design.

How much does an ISBN barcode cost?

The barcode image is free here. The ISBN itself: Bowker (US) charges $125 for a single ISBN, $295 for 10, $575 for 100, or $1,500 for 1,000. Nielsen UK is similar (£89 single). Bowker also sells barcode add-ons for $25, but you don't need those — our generator produces equivalent print-ready barcodes for free.

Does an ISBN have a barcode?

The ISBN itself is just a 13-digit number. The barcode is a visual representation of that number, encoded in EAN-13 format (with optional 5-digit add-on for price). You can have an ISBN without a barcode (e.g., for a Word manuscript), but every printed book sold at retail needs a printed barcode.

Can I use the same ISBN for paperback and hardcover?

No — each format (paperback, hardcover, audiobook, large-print, each language edition) needs its own ISBN. A single book release across multiple formats can require 4-8 ISBNs total.

ISBN on specific platforms

Related generators

EAN-13 — Free EAN-13 generator.