PufferPrint’s free ISBN barcode generator lets you create a print-ready barcode from your 13-digit ISBN in just a few seconds.
No signups or account required!
Just enter your correctly hyphenated 13-digit ISBN, generate your barcode, and download the file as a JPG, PNG or print-quality PDF.
It’s that easy!

How to Use This ISBN Barcode Generator

Using the tool is quick, easy and 100% free!

1. Enter your correctly-hyphenated ISBN-13
2. Optionally add a retail price
3. Download your barcode in a print-ready format (JPG, PNG or PDF)

You can then place the barcode directly onto your book’s back cover or provide it to your designer or printer.

Does my book need an ISBN Barcode?

An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a 13-digit number that identifies a specific version of your book. Without a barcode, a bookseller would have to manually enter that ISBN at checkout—slower, more error-prone, and something many retailers prefer to avoid. An ISBN barcode converts that number into a scannable format, making your book easier to sell and easier for bookstores and distributors to manage in their retail systems.

If you’re only selling your book online—such as through Amazon, Etsy, or your own website—you may not strictly need a barcode, since many online platforms manage inventory digitally without physical scanning.

However, if you plan to sell your book in brick-and-mortar locations like bookstores or gift shops, a barcode isn’t just helpful—it’s expected. If there’s any chance your book will be sold in a physical retail setting, including an ISBN barcode on the back cover is the safest and most professional choice.

Where do I get an ISBN?

We recommend purchasing your ISBN directly from Bowker, the official ISBN agency in the United States. This ensures you are listed as the publisher of record and gives you full control over the data associated with your ISBN (information about your book).

If you’re printing your book with PufferPrint, we can also assign an ISBN to your title for you. The cost is $49.99 per ISBN, and we’ll handle the setup so it’s ready for print and distribution.

Make Sure Your ISBN Is Correctly Formatted

Your ISBN must be valid and correctly hyphenated before generating a barcode. Proper hyphenation reflects the ISBN’s official structure and helps prevent errors in publishing and retail systems.

ISBNs Are format-specific

Before generating your barcode, make sure the ISBN you’re using is unique to this specific version of your book. If that ISBN has already been used for another format or edition—such as a print-on-demand version through Amazon KDP or IngramSpark—you’ll need to obtain a new ISBN for this version.

Each version of a book requires its own unique ISBN.

For example, a board book needs a different ISBN (and barcode) than a hardcover. A paperback version also requires a different ISBN than a hardcover. Revised editions or new formats similarly require new ISBNs.

This ensures retailers and distributors can accurately identify, track, and sell each version of your book.

When You Should Include a Price in Your Barcode

Whether or not to include a price in your barcode depends on how and where you plan to sell your book.

If you are selling your book primarily online or directly to readers (for example, through your own website, events, or marketplaces that manage pricing digitally), you typically do not need to include a price in the barcode. Leaving the price out gives you flexibility to adjust pricing later without needing to update your cover file.

If you plan to sell your book through brick-and-mortar bookstores or traditional retail channels, pricing becomes more relevant. In these cases, you can either include a price placeholder or embed the actual retail price.

A price placeholder (commonly entered as 90000) tells retail systems that pricing will be assigned internally. This is a popular option when you expect bookstores to determine final pricing or when your retail price may change.

Including the actual retail price in the barcode is most useful when you want the price printed on the back cover and do not expect it to change. Keep in mind that if the price changes later, the barcode — and potentially the entire cover — may need to be updated and reprinted.

If you’re unsure, using no price or a placeholder is usually the safest choice.

Tips for Placing Your ISBN Barcode on Your Cover

Your ISBN barcode should be placed on the back cover of your book (or dust jacket). Traditionally, barcodes are positioned in the lower right-hand corner, but this is not a strict requirement. As long as the barcode is easy to find and easy to scan, other placements on the back cover are generally acceptable.

Size matters. Barcodes that are too small can be difficult or impossible to scan. We recommend keeping your barcode at least 1 inch tall, and avoiding excessive scaling once it’s placed in your cover file.

Background contrast is also important. Barcodes should be placed on a plain white background or, at minimum, a very light solid color. Busy patterns, dark colors, gradients, or images behind the barcode can interfere with scanning and should be avoided.

When in doubt, keep it simple: a clearly sized barcode on a clean, light background will scan reliably and meet bookstore expectations.

If you’re printing with PufferPrint, we’re happy to review barcode placement before your files go to press.