If you don’t already have an ISBN for your book, PufferPrint can assign one to you. Our ISBN assignment service makes it easy and affordable to get an ISBN for your book without having to navigate the process yourself.

Here’s how it works!

1. Request an ISBN from Your PufferPrint Print Specialist

If you’d like PufferPrint to assign an ISBN to your book, simply reach out to your PufferPrint Print Specialist and let them know.

Our ISBN assignment service costs $49.99 per ISBN.

Note: This service is available only for books that are being printed with PufferPrint. Unfortunately we do not currently offer ISBNs as a standalone service. Also, PufferPrint’s ISBN assignment service is currently only available for books being published in the USA.

2. Receive Your ISBN Number

To make things even easier, PufferPrint offers a free ISBN barcode generator that converts your ISBN number into a barcode suitable for printing on your book.

If you need help creating your barcode, just let us know! During the digital proofing stage, we will generate the barcode for you and place it on the back cover of your book. We’ll follow industry best practices to ensure the barcode is easy for bookstores and retailers to scan.

4. Pay for Your ISBN with Your Print Run

The $49.99 ISBN assignment fee will simply be added to your invoice when you order you print run.

5. We Register Your Book with Bowker

While your book is being printed, we’ll reach out to collect some additional information about your book so we can properly register it in the official ISBN database.

This may include information such as:

• Contributor names and bios
• Book description
• Target audience
• Publication details

We then submit this information to Bowker, the official ISBN agency for the United States, so your book appears in the official ISBN database.

Important – Please Read!

Keep in mind that if PufferPrint assigns an ISBN to your book it technically makes us your publisher. Because we purchased the ISBN from Bowker on your behalf PufferPrint will be listed as the publisher in the official Bowker database.

Just because we’re listed as the publisher doesn’t grant us any additional rights to your content or royalties from your sales, but if you list your book for sale with online retailers they may pull data from the Bowker database to populate the product listing page.

If you would prefer to be listed as the publisher then we recommend purchasing your own ISBN directly from Bowker.

Additional ISBN Questions

Can two books share the same ISBN?
No. Every ISBN is unique to a specific book format and edition. Once an ISBN is assigned to a book, it can never be reused for another title or version.

Do I need a different ISBN for hardcover and paperback versions of my book?
Yes. Each format or edition of a book requires its own ISBN. For example:

• Hardcover edition → 1 ISBN
• Paperback edition → 1 ISBN
• eBook edition → 1 ISBN
• Audiobook edition → 1 ISBN

This helps bookstores, libraries, and retailers distinguish between the different versions of the same title.

Do I need an ISBN if I’m only selling my book on directly through my own website?
No, an ISBN is not strictly required if you’re only selling your book directly through your own website. ISBNs are primarily used by bookstores, libraries, distributors, and online retailers to track and manage book inventory.

If you’re handling all sales yourself — for example through your own website, at events, or through direct orders — you can technically sell your book without an ISBN.

That said, having an ISBN can still be helpful. It makes your book look more professional and gives you the flexibility to expand into other sales channels later, such as bookstores, libraries, or online retailers. If you think you might eventually sell your book beyond your own website, it’s usually a good idea to include an ISBN from the start.

Can PufferPrint just transfer my ISBN into my Bowker account?
Unfortunately, ISBNs are tied to the Bowker account that originally purchased them and can’t be transferred between accounts. If PufferPrint assigns an ISBN to your book then PufferPrint will be permanently listed as the publisher in the Bowker database.

If you would like your name or your publishing company to be listed as the publisher, the best option is to purchase your own ISBN directly from Bowker and provide it to us when preparing your print files. We’re always happy to use an ISBN that you supply for your book.

Should I buy my own ISBN or have my PufferPrint assign one?
Both options can work — it depends on your publishing goals.

• If you purchase your own ISBN, your name or publishing company will appear as the publisher in the database maintained by Bowker.
• If PufferPrint assigns the ISBN, PufferPrint will be listed as the publisher since we purchased the ISBN on your behalf.

For many first-time authors printing a single book, having PufferPrint assign the ISBN is often the simplest and most affordable option.