What is an ISBN barcode?

An ISBN barcode is an EAN-13 barcode that encodes a book's International Standard Book Number. It appears on the back cover and is scanned by retailers and distributors to identify the book.

Do I need an ISBN barcode for my KDP book?

If you use Amazon's free ISBN, KDP adds the barcode automatically. If you use your own ISBN (from Bowker, Nielsen, or your national agency), you need to add the barcode to your back cover yourself.

What's the difference between ISBN-10 and ISBN-13?

ISBN-13 is the current standard (13 digits, starting with 978 or 979). ISBN-10 is the legacy format. All barcodes use ISBN-13. You can convert ISBN-10 to ISBN-13 by adding the 978 prefix and recalculating the check digit.

What is the EAN-5 price supplement?

The EAN-5 is a small 5-digit barcode printed to the right of the main ISBN barcode. It encodes the book's suggested retail price. The first digit indicates currency (5 = USD, 4 = GBP, 3 = AUD/NZD) and the remaining four are the price in cents.

Where can I get an ISBN?

In the US, ISBNs are sold by Bowker (myidentifiers.com). In the UK, by Nielsen. In France, by AFNIL. In Canada, ISBNs are free from Library and Archives Canada. Many countries have a national ISBN agency.

Free ISBN Barcode Generator Online — Print-Ready for KDP Book Covers

How It Works

Three steps to a print-ready barcode

Enter your ISBN

Type or paste your ISBN-13 number. We validate the check digit automatically.

Customize

Choose size, colors, and optionally add a price supplement barcode.

Download

Export as 300 DPI PNG or SVG. Place it on your back cover and publish.

ISBN vs UPC — Which Do You Need?

Understanding book barcode formats

ISBN-13 (Bookland EAN)

The international standard for identifying books. Required on every published book.

13 digits starting with 978 or 979
Required by all bookstores and distributors
Encoded as EAN-13 barcode
Can include EAN-5 price supplement
Standard for Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, etc.

UPC-A

Universal Product Code used in US/Canada retail. Less common for books.

12 digits (no 978/979 prefix)
Used for general retail products
Not specific to books
Some mass-market paperbacks use UPC
Not required for KDP publishing

Features

Everything you need for book barcodes

Check Digit Validation

Automatic ISBN-13 modulo-10 check digit verification. Catch typos before printing.

300 DPI Print-Ready

Export at 300 DPI for professional print quality. Meets KDP and IngramSpark requirements.

EAN-5 Price Code

Optional 5-digit price supplement barcode. Supports USD, GBP, AUD, and more.

PNG & SVG Export

Download as high-res PNG for direct use, or SVG for integration in design software.

Custom Colors

Match your cover design with custom bar and background colors.

Instant & Free

No account, no watermark, no limits. Generate as many barcodes as you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ISBN barcode?: An ISBN barcode is an EAN-13 barcode that encodes a book's International Standard Book Number. It appears on the back cover and is scanned by retailers and distributors to identify the book. The barcode translates the 13-digit ISBN into a machine-readable pattern of vertical bars.
Do I need an ISBN barcode for my KDP book?: If you use Amazon's free ISBN, KDP adds the barcode to your cover automatically during the publishing process. However, if you use your own ISBN (purchased from Bowker, Nielsen, or your national agency), you need to add the barcode to your back cover design yourself before uploading.
What's the difference between ISBN-10 and ISBN-13?: ISBN-13 is the current international standard, consisting of 13 digits starting with 978 or 979. ISBN-10 is the older format that was replaced in 2007. All barcodes use the ISBN-13 format. If you have an ISBN-10, you can convert it by adding the 978 prefix and recalculating the check digit.
What is the EAN-5 price supplement?: The EAN-5 is a small 5-digit barcode printed to the right of the main ISBN barcode. It encodes the book's suggested retail price. The first digit indicates the currency (5 for USD, 4 for GBP, 3 for AUD/NZD) and the remaining four digits represent the price in the smallest currency unit (e.g., 51499 = $14.99 USD).
Where should I place the barcode on my book cover?: The standard placement is the lower-right area of the back cover, inside a white rectangle with enough quiet zone (white space) around the barcode. Keep at least 0.25 inches of clear space on all sides. Make sure the barcode is not too close to the spine or the edge of the cover.
Can I scan the generated barcode to verify it?: Yes. After generating your barcode, you can scan it with any barcode scanner app on your phone to verify it returns the correct ISBN. This is a recommended step before sending your cover to print.

ISBN Barcode Generator for Book Covers

Generate your ISBN barcode