My ISBN has 10 digits. What do I do?

Paste it anyway. A ten-character ISBN with a valid check digit, including one ending in X, is recognised and the generator shows its ISBN-13: 978, the first nine digits and a new check digit. Paste that 13-digit number to draw the barcode. The ISBN Converter page converts whole lists.

Does it add the price code next to the barcode?

No. The small five-digit add-on printed to the right of some book barcodes, often 90000 when there is no suggested price, is not drawn here. If your printer or distributor asks for it, add it in your cover software.

Can I make a barcode for a magazine or journal?

Yes. Paste the eight-character ISSN and the generator shows the EAN-13 to use: 977, the first seven ISSN digits, the variant code 00 and a new check digit. Encode that number. An issue number add-on is not drawn.

Where does the ISBN line above the bars come from?

Book covers usually print the hyphenated ISBN, for example ISBN 978-0-306-40615-7, above the barcode as well as the digits below it. The generator draws the digits below the bars. Add the hyphenated ISBN line above it in your layout software, with the hyphens your ISBN agency gave you.

Can I make up an ISBN here?

No. An ISBN is issued to a publisher by the ISBN agency for its country. The generator draws the barcode for an ISBN you already have.

ISBN Barcode Generator

The barcode on a book's back cover is an EAN-13 of its ISBN-13, the number starting 978 or 979. Paste your ISBN with or without hyphens or the ISBN prefix and the bars are drawn as you type, with the check digit verified so a mistyped ISBN is caught before it goes to print. Download a PNG at double resolution or copy the SVG for your cover layout. The example is ISBN 978-0-306-40615-7.

Value

Symbology

Size

Digits

Show below

Retail products and book ISBNs worldwide, 12–13 digits. The final check digit is calculated for you. Enter the first digits and it is appended, or paste the full code and it is verified.

Common questions

My ISBN has 10 digits. What do I do?: Paste it anyway. A ten-character ISBN with a valid check digit, including one ending in X, is recognised and the generator shows its ISBN-13: 978, the first nine digits and a new check digit. Paste that 13-digit number to draw the barcode. The ISBN Converter page converts whole lists.
Does it add the price code next to the barcode?: No. The small five-digit add-on printed to the right of some book barcodes, often 90000 when there is no suggested price, is not drawn here. If your printer or distributor asks for it, add it in your cover software.
Can I make a barcode for a magazine or journal?: Yes. Paste the eight-character ISSN and the generator shows the EAN-13 to use: 977, the first seven ISSN digits, the variant code 00 and a new check digit. Encode that number. An issue number add-on is not drawn.
Where does the ISBN line above the bars come from?: Book covers usually print the hyphenated ISBN, for example ISBN 978-0-306-40615-7, above the barcode as well as the digits below it. The generator draws the digits below the bars. Add the hyphenated ISBN line above it in your layout software, with the hyphens your ISBN agency gave you.
Can I make up an ISBN here?: No. An ISBN is issued to a publisher by the ISBN agency for its country. The generator draws the barcode for an ISBN you already have.

Exact. Check digits and bar patterns follow each symbology's specification, and every encoder is tested by reading its bars back with an independent decoder. Print at a size your scanner can resolve. Encoding correctly does not guarantee a scan off a phone screen.