Free tool
ISBN Barcode Generator for Book Covers
Type your ISBN, add a price if you want one, and download a print-ready barcode for the back cover. It runs in your browser: nothing is uploaded and there is no sign-up.
How to use your barcode
Place it on the back cover
Lower right is standard. Keep it on a white box, clear of the trim edge and the spine, at about 100% size.
Use the SVG for print
SVG is a vector file, so it stays sharp at any size. Use the PNG only if your design software cannot place an SVG.
Scan it before you print
Check it with a phone barcode app on your cover proof. A barcode that scans on screen should scan in print at the same size.
Need the cover itself? Our book cover calculator gives the spine width and full cover size for your page count, and our designers build print-ready covers with the barcode placed for you.
Questions about book barcodes
What barcode does a book need?
Books sold in stores use an EAN-13 barcode, also called a Bookland barcode, that encodes the 13-digit ISBN. In the US it is usually followed by a 5-digit add-on that carries the price.
What does the 5-digit price add-on mean?
For US dollars the add-on starts with 5, followed by the price: 51999 means $19.99. 90000 means no suggested price is printed in the code, which many self-published authors use so they can change the price later without a new cover.
Can I use an ISBN-10?
Yes. Enter it and the generator converts it to the 13-digit ISBN that the barcode needs, with a recalculated check digit.
What size should the barcode be on my cover?
The standard size is about 37 by 26 millimeters, roughly 1.5 by 1 inch, for the main barcode. The SVG downloads at that size. Keep it on a white box, away from the trim and the spine.
Does the barcode replace buying an ISBN?
No. The barcode only encodes an ISBN you already own. In the US, ISBNs are sold by Bowker. Every Columbia Publication package includes ISBNs, or you can bring your own.
Build your custom quote
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