This page opens on EAN-13 with a book number already typed in: the ISBN-10 0-306-40615-2, a long-standing textbook example. Watch the line under the box: the page turns it into the 13-digit ISBN that the barcode carries and adds the new check digit. Type your own ISBN, an ISSN or any 12-digit GTIN in its place.
Books
Since 2007 every ISBN has 13 digits and is an EAN-13 in the 978 or 979 range, so a book barcode is simply the ISBN drawn as EAN-13. Your ISBN comes from the national ISBN agency of your country, not from GS1. Publishers who still have 10-digit ISBNs from before 2007 can type them here: a 10-digit number is treated as an ISBN when it says ISBN, ends in X, or passes the ISBN-10 check, and a wrong ISBN-10 check character is caught.
Magazines and newspapers
A serial publication uses its ISSN inside an EAN-13 starting with 977. Type the ISSN with its hyphen (or with the word ISSN) and the 977 number is built for you with the issue-variant digits 00. Some wholesalers use the two variant digits to tell issues apart; ask yours before changing them. Many newsstand distributors also expect a 2-digit add-on (EAN-2) printed to the right of the main barcode with the issue number; this generator doesn’t draw add-ons yet, so check your distributor’s specification before sending artwork.
Products
For goods, the 12 digits are a GTIN licensed to you by GS1. The first digits are a GS1 prefix, and the page explains the special ones as you type: restricted numbers for in-store use, coupon ranges, and 952, which GS1 reserves for examples. Print at 0.33 mm module width (100%) for the standard 37.3 × 25.9 mm symbol, keep the 11-module margin on the left and the 7-module margin on the right clear, and download SVG or PDF for print artwork.
Book and magazine numbers as EAN-13
Type an ISBN-10 or an ISSN into the box above and it is converted like this, check digits included.
| You type | The barcode carries |
|---|---|
| 0-306-40615-2 | 9780306406157 |
| ISBN 0-8044-2957-X | 9780804429573 |
| ISSN 0317-8471 | 9770317847001 |
| ISSN 2049-3630 | 9772049363002 |