ISBN - Barcode

ISBN / Barcode

A barcode is an image which is found in the bottom right-hand corner of a book’s back cover. It is made up of black vertical lines of varying widths with a pure white background. There are several types of barcode styles, but the one used specifically for books is referred to as an EAN barcode. When scanned, the barcode provides information to a retailer to complete the sale of a book.

A Closer Look

The barcode used for books is split into two separate sections. The larger section to the left encodes the 13-digit ISBN number, while the smaller section to the right encodes the retail price of the book and the currency used. The numbers which are encoded are shown at the top edge of the vertical lines.

When Is a Barcode Required?

A barcode is required when selling your book through retail stores such as Barnes and Noble, but smaller independent stores will often accept books without a barcode image. If your book has been assigned an ISBN number, we will provide a proper book barcode at no additional charge.

Placement

When placing the barcode onto the back cover, it is important not to resize the image as this will corrupt the information which is encoded. The barcode should be placed in a pure white area measuring 2” wide by 1 ⅛” high.