How do I generate an ISBN barcode?

An ISBN-13 barcode is simply an EAN-13 barcode. Enter your 13-digit ISBN number, select EAN-13 as the barcode format, and download the PNG or PDF. There is no special "ISBN format" in barcode generators — all ISBN-13 numbers starting with 978 or 979 are valid EAN-13 inputs. Bulk Barcode Generator generates ISO-standard EAN-13 barcodes from your ISBN list with no row limit.

What is the difference between ISBN-10 and ISBN-13?

ISBN-10 is the older 10-digit format used before 2007. ISBN-13 is the current standard and is identical to an EAN-13 barcode with a 978 or 979 prefix. To convert ISBN-10 to ISBN-13: remove the last digit, add "978" to the front, then calculate a new 13th check digit using the EAN-13 modulo 10 formula. All books published after 2007 use ISBN-13 only.

Do I need to include the price add-on (5-digit barcode) on my book?

No, the price add-on is optional. Many publishers include a 5-digit supplemental barcode encoding the retail price (for example, "51995" for $19.95), but it is not required by any standard. Self-published authors selling primarily through Amazon or digital channels often skip the price add-on. If you want to include a price add-on, it is typically added by the cover designer alongside the main ISBN-13 barcode.

Where do I get an ISBN for my book?

In the United States, ISBNs are assigned by Bowker (myidentifiers.com). A single ISBN costs around $125; a block of 10 costs $295. In other countries, the national ISBN agency assigns them — often free for publishers (check your country's ISBN agency through the International ISBN Agency at isbn-international.org). Some self-publishing platforms (KDP Print, IngramSpark) offer free ISBNs, though using a platform-assigned ISBN limits your flexibility.

📚 Books & Publishing Labels

Free ISBN Barcode Generator for Books

Every book needs an ISBN barcode to enter bookstores, libraries, and the Amazon Books catalog. ISBN-13 is essentially a special EAN-13 — a Bookland barcode that begins with 978 or 979. This tool lets you bulk-generate book ISBN barcode labels from a CSV, supporting self-published authors, small publishers, and printers. No signup required and no row limit — your data never leaves the browser.

Generate ISBN Barcodes Free →

ISBN-13 / EAN-13 Bookland 978 & 979 prefix No signup No row limit

Why Use Our Book Barcode Generator?

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ISBN-13 = EAN-13

ISBN-13 is directly equivalent to EAN-13. Select the EAN-13 format in this tool, enter your 13-digit ISBN, and you get a standard Bookland barcode — no special ISBN-only setting needed.

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Bulk for Entire Catalog

Upload your full book catalog's ISBN list and generate barcode labels for every title in a single run. Ideal for publishers preparing an entire season's print run at once.

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Print-Ready for Cover or Label

Download PNG (for cover designers to embed in the back cover artwork) or PDF (for printing adhesive labels on physical books). Both formats are ready to use immediately.

Generate Book ISBN Barcodes in 3 Steps

Get Your ISBN-13 Numbers

Obtain a unique ISBN-13 for each book from your publisher, a self-publishing platform, or your national ISBN agency (e.g., Bowker in the US). Each title needs its own 13-digit number.

Select EAN-13 Format

ISBN-13 is generated using the EAN-13 barcode format. No special configuration is needed — simply choose EAN-13 and enter your 13-digit ISBN numbers starting with 978 or 979.

Download PNG or PDF

Send the PNG to your cover designer for placement on the back cover. Print the PDF to stick labels on physical books in your inventory or at a fulfillment warehouse.

ISBN-13 and EAN-13 — The Same Thing

ISBN-13 is a subset of EAN-13 reserved exclusively for the book publishing industry. The 978 prefix (existing catalog) and the 979 prefix (new assignments) are GS1 namespaces set aside for publications. Generating an ISBN-13 barcode is technically identical to generating any other EAN-13 barcode.

	ISBN-13	EAN-13
Digits	13	13
Prefix	Always 978 or 979	Any country/industry prefix
Used for	Books and publications only	All retail products
Scanner compatibility	All EAN-13 scanners	All EAN-13 scanners
Format to generate	EAN-13	EAN-13

When you see "Bookland barcode" on publishing industry sites, it refers to an EAN-13 barcode with a 978 or 979 prefix. There is no separate barcode symbology called "ISBN" — all ISBN-13 barcodes are generated and scanned exactly like standard EAN-13 barcodes.

How to Convert ISBN-10 to ISBN-13

If you only have an older ISBN-10 (10 digits, for example 0-306-40615-2), you must convert it to ISBN-13 before generating the barcode. ISBN-10 was the standard before 2007 and cannot be used directly in a barcode scanner.

Remove the last digit (the ISBN-10 check digit) — for example, from 0-306-40615-2, drop the final 2.
Add 978 to the front — giving you 978-0-306-40615-?.
Calculate a new 13th check digit using the EAN-13 Modulo 10 algorithm (alternating weights of 1 and 3).
Use an online ISBN converter to do this automatically, then paste the resulting 13-digit number into this tool.

This tool accepts 13-digit ISBN-13 input only and does not automatically convert ISBN-10. Convert all your ISBN-10 numbers to ISBN-13 first, then upload the full list in one batch to generate all barcodes at once.

What Is the 5-Digit Price Add-On?

You may have noticed that some books have two barcodes side by side on the back cover — a wide main barcode on the left and a narrower 5-digit barcode on the right. The 5-digit code is called a Supplemental or Add-on barcode, and it encodes the suggested retail price.

Add-on Code	Meaning
90000	Price not set / no price encoded
51995	Price: $19.95 USD
52999	Price: $29.99 USD
50000–59999	Price in USD (5xxxx = $xx.xx, e.g. 51495 = $14.95)

The Price Add-on is not mandatory. Many self-published authors skip it entirely — especially for eBooks, print-on-demand, or titles with prices that change frequently. If you want to include one, it is typically added by your cover designer alongside the main ISBN-13 barcode at the layout stage. This tool generates the standard EAN-13 (ISBN-13 main barcode); the add-on can be handled separately in your cover design software.

Who Needs a Book ISBN Barcode?

Self-Published Authors

Publishing through IngramSpark, BookBaby, or KDP Print. Some platforms (like KDP) provide a free ISBN; purchasing your own from Bowker (US) gives you more flexibility. Download the PNG from this tool and hand it to your cover designer for back-cover placement.

Small Publishers & Presses

Managing a multi-title catalog across multiple seasons. Use this tool to batch-generate ISBN barcodes for an entire release list. Send PNGs to your layout team and PDFs to your warehouse for stickering inventory.

Bookstores & Libraries

Replacing damaged or missing barcode labels on older stock. Export your ISBN list from your catalog management system, upload it here, and print replacement labels in one batch without manual re-entry.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I generate an ISBN barcode?: An ISBN-13 barcode is simply an EAN-13 barcode. Enter your 13-digit ISBN number, select EAN-13 as the barcode format, and download the PNG or PDF. There is no special "ISBN format" in barcode generators — all ISBN-13 numbers starting with 978 or 979 are valid EAN-13 inputs. Bulk Barcode Generator generates ISO-standard EAN-13 barcodes from your ISBN list with no row limit.
What is the difference between ISBN-10 and ISBN-13?: ISBN-10 is the older 10-digit format used before 2007. ISBN-13 is the current standard and is identical to an EAN-13 barcode with a 978 or 979 prefix. To convert ISBN-10 to ISBN-13: remove the last digit, add "978" to the front, then calculate a new 13th check digit using the EAN-13 modulo 10 formula. All books published after 2007 use ISBN-13 only.
Do I need to include the price add-on (5-digit barcode) on my book?: No, the price add-on is optional. Many publishers include a 5-digit supplemental barcode encoding the retail price (for example, "51995" for $19.95), but it is not required by any standard. Self-published authors selling primarily through Amazon or digital channels often skip the price add-on. If you want to include a price add-on, it is typically added by the cover designer alongside the main ISBN-13 barcode.
Where do I get an ISBN for my book?: In the United States, ISBNs are assigned by Bowker (myidentifiers.com). A single ISBN costs around $125; a block of 10 costs $295. In other countries, the national ISBN agency assigns them — often free for publishers (check your country's ISBN agency through the International ISBN Agency at isbn-international.org). Some self-publishing platforms (KDP Print, IngramSpark) offer free ISBNs, though using a platform-assigned ISBN limits your flexibility.