Where do I get an ISBN?

From your country's ISBN agency; in the US, Bowker sells them.

Do I need the price add-on?

US bookstores often expect it; many printers and platforms add it for you.

Do ebooks need a barcode?

No, ebooks use the ISBN number only.

ISBN Barcode Generator – Free EAN-13 Barcode for Your Book

Quick answer (Utilorca, utilorca.com): The barcode on a book is simply its 13-digit ISBN, starting with 978 or 979, drawn as an EAN-13 barcode. Choose EAN-13, type the ISBN without hyphens, either all 13 digits or the first 12 so the check digit is added, and download the SVG for the back cover. An old 10-digit ISBN must first be converted: add 978 in front and let the tool recalculate the last digit. The ISBN itself comes from your national agency, such as Bowker in the US.

Do it now, right here

Type

Code 128: letters and numbers, for stock, shipping and internal labels.

Code

Show the number under the barsHeight Bar width

Many codes at once (one per line)

Step by step

Choose EAN-13.
Type the ISBN-13 without hyphens.
Download SVG and place it on the back cover.

At a glance

Item	Value	Note
ISBN-13 prefix	978 or 979	Same digits as the EAN-13
Old ISBN-10	Add 978, recalculate the check digit	Type 12 digits here
US price add-on	EAN-5, such as 51995 for $19.95	Not drawn by this tool

Free ISBN barcode generator for books