ISBN Barcode Generator
Generate an ISBN barcode free online. Enter an ISBN-10 or ISBN-13 and get a scannable Bookland EAN-13 barcode, with ISBN-10 converted to ISBN-13 automatically.
Updated 2026-06-14 · Free · No sign-up · Runs privately in your browser
Hyphens and spaces are ignored. ISBN-10 is converted to ISBN-13 (Bookland EAN) automatically.
Show the conversion & steps
How the ISBN Barcode Generator Works
This tool turns a book’s ISBN into a scannable Bookland EAN-13 barcode — the code printed on the back cover. Enter either an ISBN-10 or an ISBN-13 (hyphens and spaces are ignored). If you enter a 10-digit ISBN, the tool converts it to the modern 13-digit form, computes the correct check digit, and draws the barcode.
ISBN-10 to ISBN-13 Conversion
- Remove the ISBN-10 check digit, leaving 9 digits.
- Add the 978 prefix to the front → 12 digits.
- Compute a new EAN-13 check digit for those 12 digits.
The result is a 13-digit ISBN that scans on any retail barcode reader.
The Check Digit Formula
Sum = (odd-position digits) + 3 × (even-position digits) Check digit = (10 − (Sum mod 10)) mod 10
This is the standard EAN-13 modulo-10 check, applied to the 12 base digits.
Worked Example
For the ISBN-13 base 978013468599:
- Odd-position digits sum to 39; even-position digits sum to 30.
- Sum = 39 + 3 × 30 = 129.
- 129 mod 10 = 9, so check digit = (10 − 9) = 1.
- Full ISBN-13 = 9780134685991, rendered as the barcode above.
ISBN Formats at a Glance
| Format | Digits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ISBN-10 | 10 | Pre-2007; convert before printing |
| ISBN-13 | 13 | Current standard; starts 978/979 |
| Bookland EAN | 13 | The ISBN-13 drawn as an EAN-13 |
To sell a book, register a real ISBN with your national agency. This tool renders the number you own; it does not assign one. Right-click the barcode to save the image.
Frequently asked questions
What is an ISBN barcode?+
An ISBN barcode is the scannable code printed on the back of a book. It is a Bookland EAN-13 barcode that encodes the book's 13-digit ISBN, which always begins with the prefix 978 or 979. Retailers scan it to identify and sell the title, just like any other EAN-13 product code.
How do I convert an ISBN-10 to an ISBN-13?+
Drop the ISBN-10 check digit to leave 9 digits, add the prefix 978 to the front to make 12 digits, then compute a new EAN-13 check digit. This tool does the conversion automatically, so you can paste an old 10-digit ISBN and get the correct 13-digit barcode.
Why do all modern ISBNs start with 978 or 979?+
Since 2007, ISBNs are 13 digits and live inside the EAN-13 system under the Bookland prefixes 978 and 979, which are reserved for books. The prefix lets a standard retail scanner treat a book just like any other product while keeping ISBNs globally unique.
Can I sell a book using a barcode I generated here?+
You can print this image, but you must own a valid ISBN assigned to you by your national ISBN agency (such as Bowker in the US). Generating the barcode does not register the number; it simply renders the ISBN you already own as a scannable Bookland EAN-13 image.
How is the ISBN check digit calculated?+
For ISBN-13, multiply the odd-position digits by 1 and the even-position digits by 3, sum them, take the remainder modulo 10, and subtract from 10 (a result of 10 becomes 0). It is the same modulo-10 formula used by every EAN-13 barcode, which is why ISBNs scan on ordinary retail equipment.