All About Barcodes for Books

Books are identified with an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) and its corresponding ISBN barcode. This standardization allows publishers to interact with other retailers, wholesalers, libraries, and online marketplaces. Print books need barcodes, especially if you want to sell your book in bookstores or other retailers. This blog post will delve into the world of barcodes for books, explaining what they are, how they differ from regular barcodes, the two main types available, and their significance in the publishing industry.

What are Barcodes for Books?

Barcodes for books are unique numerical codes represented by a series of parallel lines that contain essential information about a book, such as its ISBN (International Standard Book Number), pricing, and other relevant data. These barcodes simplify inventory management, enhance sales processes, and enable accurate tracking of books throughout the supply chain.

According to Bowker, a barcode is the graphical representations of a book’s ISBN and price. Barcodes are used on physical books, allowing them to be machine read, and facilitating automated sales and inventory tracking – a requirement for most large retailers.

Print books need barcodes, especially if you want to see your book in bookstores or other retailers. Without the barcode, it’ll be next to impossible for brick-and-mortar retailers to sell your book.

A barcode is not an ISBN. It’s a graphical representation of your book’s ISBN and price.

How are Barcodes for Books Different Than Regular Barcodes?

Barcodes for books differ from regular barcodes in terms of their format and the information they convey. While regular barcodes typically encode generic product details, barcodes for books incorporate specific book-related information, such as the ISBN, which is crucial for accurate identification and tracking of individual titles.

In the U.S., products are labeled with a UPC number, or universal product code, which is a 12-digit number to indicate what the product is. However, for books, there is an exception. Books utilize an EAN number, instead of a UPC number.

EAN stands for European Article Number. In the rest of the world (except for U.S.), this is the standard used for selling products and goods. The EAN is a 13-digit number, just like an ISBN number. How convenient. 🙂

The first 3 digits of the EAN code designate the country where the product was made. Since there are so many books produced year in and year out, books actually have their own “country code”! Yes, it’s true. It has been designated as a country and has been assigned its own EAN prefix. That prefix is 978 and it signifies “Bookland.”

An EAN which begins with the Bookland prefix 978 is called a Bookland EAN code and is used on books and book related products internationally. The Bookland symbol is the barcode of choice in the book industry because it allows for encodation of ISBNs. Although the standard Bookland EAN code is 978, occasionally, 979 been used as well.

Two Main Types of Barcodes for Books

Book barcodes come in two forms. Barcodes with prices and barcodes without prices. Book prices are listed using a 5-digit code. The first digit is the currency in which the book is being sold. For example, a book sold in the U.S. for $15.99 would read as “51599” as the five-digit code. Here are some examples of country codes:

-5 would be used for U.S. dollars

-6 for Canadian dollars

-3 for Australia

Many large book retailers in the U.S. require barcodes for books with prices, so they can be machine read, and facilitate automated sales and ease with inventory tracking.

What’s Included in an ISBN Barcode?

An ISBN barcode typically consists of the ISBN itself, country or language code, and a check digit for error detection. Together, these components form a unique identifier for the book, enabling efficient tracking and management.

*Source: https://www.barcode-us.info/isbn-barcodes-for-books/*

ISBN Barcode: The ISBN barcode is the most common type used in the book industry. It contains the ISBN, which serves as a unique identifier for each book. The ISBN barcode is essential for seamless book distribution, inventory management, and point-of-sale operations.
EAN-13 Barcode: The EAN-13 barcode is an extended version of the ISBN barcode. It includes the ISBN as well as additional information, such as the retail price. While not as widely used as the ISBN barcode, the EAN-13 barcode provides enhanced functionality, especially for international distribution and sales.

How Much Do Barcodes for Books Cost?

The cost of barcodes for books varies depending on the type and provider. Some self-publishing platforms, such as Amazon KDP, offer free barcode generation services. Alternatively, you can purchase barcodes from authorized barcode providers (like Bowker), which generally charge a one-time fee for barcode creation.

On Bowker, 1 Barcode is $25. They also have “Supersaver” Bundles available with combination number of Barcodes and ISBNs. There are also tons of free barcode generators available online. Many people say that you should never pay to create a barcode when you can generate them for free. For good measure, I’d recommend sticking with Bowker. But I’ve heard and seen people use both options with no issues. It’s up to you.

Using Amazon KDP’s Free Barcode

Amazon KDP offers authors the option to generate a free ISBN barcode during the book publishing process. This barcode is specific to Amazon and can only be used for books sold through their platform. However, it provides a convenient and cost-effective solution for authors looking to distribute their books primarily on Amazon.

On Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, you can upload a cover with or without a barcode. If you use their Cover Creator tool, or choose not to provide your own barcode, Amazon will automatically place one on your back cover on the lower right corner of your book.

Should I Use a Free or Paid Barcode?

The decision to use a free or paid barcode depends on your publishing goals and distribution strategy. If you plan to sell exclusively on Amazon, the free barcode provided by Amazon KDP can suffice. However, if you intend to distribute your book through multiple channels, investing in a paid barcode will ensure universal compatibility and flexibility.

Uploading Your Cover File to Amazon KDP

When you create a cover for Amazon KDP, you can choose from the following 3 options, which determine the type of barcode that will print on your cover:

Cover Creator Tool. If you use Amazon’s Cover Creator to make your book cover, they will add a barcode to your cover. That barcode may include a Transparency code when printed.
Upload a print-ready PDF with a barcode. If you upload a print-ready PDF that includes a barcode, ensure it meets their formatting requirements or your file may get rejected.
Upload a print-ready PDF without a barcode. If you upload a print-ready PDF that does not include a barcode, Amazon will add a barcode to your cover. That barcode may include a Transparency code when printed. Any covers that have images or text in the barcode location (on the bottom right corner of the back cover) will be rejected.

How Do I Create My Own Book Barcode?

Before getting a barcode, you will first need to obtain an ISBN for your book. Once you have your ISBN, then you can purchase your barcode from Bowker, or you can utilize a free barcode generator. These free barcode generators only require two pieces of information: ISBN and book price.

Ensure that the barcode adheres to the required size and resolution for optimal scanning accuracy.

Once those are both submitted, a barcode will be automatically generated. Pretty simple, if that is the route you decide to go.

Where are Barcodes Placed on the Cover?

Barcodes are placed on the book’s back cover. Typically, they go on the bottom right corner of the back cover but there is some flexibility here if the bottom left or center works better with you back cover design. If using Amazon KDP, ensure it meets their formatting requirements or your file may get rejected.

Barcodes for books play a vital role in streamlining sales and inventory management in the publishing industry. Whether you opt for a free barcode through Amazon KDP or choose to purchase your own, barcodes provide accurate book identification, simplify point-of-sale operations, and facilitate efficient inventory tracking. Embrace the power of barcodes and unlock the benefits they offer in improving your book sales and overall business efficiency.

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