ISBN Barcode Generator
Turn your 13-digit ISBN into a print-ready EAN-13 barcode for your back cover.
ⓘGenerates a print-ready EAN-13 from your ISBN. Place it on the back cover with a clear white quiet zone around it. UK ISBNs are issued by Nielsen.
Every printed book needs a scannable barcode on the back cover, and this free ISBN barcode generator creates one from your 13-digit ISBN in seconds. It produces a clean, print-ready EAN-13 barcode, with an optional price add-on, that you can download and place straight into your cover design. No design software or specialist knowledge required, just your ISBN.
A barcode encodes your ISBN so retailers and libraries can scan and stock your book reliably. Get it wrong and tills will not read it, so this isbn to barcode tool generates the standard EAN-13 format printers and shops expect. In the UK you buy your ISBN from Nielsen; once you have it, paste it here to create the matching barcode for book covers and print.
- Use a separate ISBN for each format, paperback, hardback and ebook.
- Keep the barcode black on a plain white panel for reliable scanning.
- Leave clear quiet-zone space around the barcode; do not crop it tight.
- 01
Enter your ISBN
Paste your 13-digit ISBN, the number you bought from Nielsen in the UK. The tool validates it and prepares the matching EAN-13 barcode.
- 02
Add a price (optional)
If you want a price add-on, enter it. This appends the small extra barcode retailers sometimes use alongside the main EAN-13 code.
- 03
Download for your cover
Generate your print-ready barcode and download it to drop into your back cover design at the correct size for reliable scanning.
Common questions
- How do I get a barcode for my book?
- First obtain your ISBN, then convert it into an EAN-13 barcode. You do not buy the barcode separately, it is generated from the ISBN. Paste your 13-digit ISBN into this tool and it creates the matching print-ready barcode, with an optional price add-on, ready to place on your back cover.
- Where do I buy an ISBN in the UK?
- In the UK, ISBNs are issued by Nielsen, the official agency. You can buy a single ISBN or, more economically, a block of ten or more. Each format of your book, paperback, hardback and ebook, needs its own ISBN. Once you have it, use this generator to create the barcode.
- What is an EAN-13 barcode?
- EAN-13 is the 13-digit barcode standard used for retail products worldwide, including books. Your book's barcode is simply your 13-digit ISBN encoded in EAN-13 format so it can be scanned at tills and in libraries. This tool produces exactly that format, which is what printers and retailers expect.
- Do I need the price in the barcode?
- Not necessarily. Many books use the main EAN-13 barcode alone, while some retailers prefer a small price add-on alongside it. If you want to encode the price, this tool can add it. If you would rather keep pricing flexible, generate the barcode without the add-on.
- What size should the barcode be on the cover?
- Place it on the back cover, usually lower right, large enough to scan reliably, with a clear quiet zone of white space around it. Avoid shrinking it too small or printing it on a busy background. Keep it black on white where possible so scanners read it first time.
Ready to print your book properly?
Run the numbers with our free tools, then print with real UK book printers.