Type your book's ISBN-10 or ISBN-13 to get a scannable EAN-13 “Bookland” barcode for the back cover. The check digit is verified, ISBN-10s are converted to 978 ISBN-13s, and an optional 5-digit price add-on is encoded. Download vector SVG, high-resolution PNG or PDF at exact print size.
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How to use the ISBN Barcode Generator
Enter the ISBN exactly as assigned to your book, for example 978-1-23-456789-7. Hyphens are optional.
Check the result line: if a check digit is wrong, fix the typo or click Use corrected ISBN.
Choose a price add-on: enter the US or Canadian price, pick 90000 for no price, or type your own 5 digits.
Pick the size: 100% is the standard size; stay between 80% and 200% for reliable scanning.
Download SVG, PNG or PDF and place it on the back cover without scaling it below 80%.
Anatomy of an ISBN barcode
Part
What it is
Example (978-0-306-40615-7, US$24.95)
ISBN line
The ISBN printed above the bars, with your hyphens
ISBN 978-0-306-40615-7
Bookland prefix
978 or 979 identifies the code as a book (an EAN-13 country code reserved for books)
978
EAN-13 bars
95 modules: start guard, 6 left digits, center guard, 6 right digits, end guard
9 780306 406157
Check digit
Last digit, calculated from the other 12 with weights 1 and 3
7
Price add-on
Optional EAN-5 to the right: currency digit + 4-digit price
52495
Check digit formulas
ISBN-13: for 978030640615, add 9×1 + 7×3 + 8×1 + 0×3 + 3×1 + 0×3 + 6×1 + 4×3 + 0×1 + 6×3 + 1×1 + 5×3 = 93. The next multiple of 10 is 100, so the check digit is 100 − 93 = 7.
ISBN-10: for 030640615, add 0×10 + 3×9 + 0×8 + 6×7 + 4×6 + 0×5 + 6×4 + 1×3 + 5×2 = 130. 130 mod 11 = 9, and 11 − 9 = 2, so the ISBN-10 is 0-306-40615-2 (a result of 10 is written X, a result of 11 is 0).
Price add-on checksum: the EAN-5 symbol has no printed check digit; instead 3 × (digits 1, 3, 5) + 9 × (digits 2, 4), mod 10, chooses the pattern of bar sets so scanners can verify it.
Sizes at common magnifications
Magnification
Module (X)
EAN-13 only (W × H)
With 5-digit add-on (W)
80%
0.264 mm
29.83 × 20.74 mm
about 44.1 mm
100% (nominal)
0.330 mm
37.29 × 25.93 mm
about 55.1 mm
150%
0.495 mm
55.94 × 38.90 mm
about 82.7 mm
200%
0.660 mm
74.58 × 51.86 mm
about 110.2 mm
Keep the quiet zones clear. Leave the white space left and right of the bars empty; do not put text or artwork there.
Black on white scans best. Dark blue or dark green on white also works, but avoid red bars and light or patterned backgrounds.
Don't stretch the barcode. Scale it proportionally and stay within 80–200%.
Test before printing with a phone barcode scanner app on a printed proof.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy a barcode for my ISBN?
No. The barcode is just a graphic that encodes your ISBN as an EAN-13 symbol, so you can generate it yourself for free. What you must obtain is the ISBN itself, from the ISBN agency for your country or through your publisher or printing service.
What is the 5-digit add-on next to the barcode?
It is an EAN-5 supplement used by the book trade to encode a suggested retail price. The first digit is the currency, 5 for US dollars and 6 for Canadian dollars, and the next four are the price, so 52495 means US$24.95. 90000 means no suggested price, and 59999 is used for US prices of $99.99 and above.
How is the ISBN check digit calculated?
For ISBN-13, multiply the first 12 digits alternately by 1 and 3, add the results, and the check digit is the amount needed to reach the next multiple of 10. For ISBN-10, multiply the first 9 digits by 10, 9, 8 … 2, add them, and the check digit is what makes the total divisible by 11; a value of 10 is written as X.
What size should an ISBN barcode be?
The nominal 100% EAN-13 symbol is 37.29 mm wide and 25.93 mm tall including the quiet zones and digits, with a module (narrowest bar) of 0.33 mm. Retailers accept 80% to 200% magnification. With a 5-digit add-on the symbol becomes about 55 mm wide at 100%. Shortening the bars (truncation) is discouraged because it makes the code harder to scan.
Why does my ISBN-10 become a 978 number?
Book barcodes always use 13 digits. An ISBN-10 is converted by adding the 978 Bookland prefix and recalculating the check digit, so ISBN 0-306-40615-2 becomes 978-0-306-40615-7. Both numbers identify the same book.
Which file format should I use?
SVG and PDF are vector files that stay perfectly sharp at any size and are best for cover design software and printers. Use a PNG at 600 or 1200 DPI if your tool only accepts images. Always print or export black bars on a white or very light background.
Why aren't the hyphens added automatically?
ISBN hyphens split the number into prefix, registration group, publisher and title parts, and their positions depend on ranges assigned by the International ISBN Agency. To keep the printed text accurate, the tool uses the hyphens exactly as you type them.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.