Book barcode: A complete guide for self-publishing authors

A book barcode is a graphical representation of a unique identifier assigned to a book. This identifier is typically known as the International Standard Book Number (ISBN). The barcode allows for quick and accurate tracking of books in the retail and distribution process. It is usually located at the bottom of the back cover of a book.

Book barcodes are important in traditional book retail settings and digital distribution. Self-publishing authors can choose how to source a book barcode that aligns with their publishing strategy: official ISBN issuers, platforms like Amazon KDP and Lulu or free barcode generators.

This blog post guides self-publishing authors through the essential role of book barcodes, starting with their function in the publishing and retail processes. Next, readers will learn about the key elements that make up a barcode to understand how barcodes ensure data accuracy and efficient book identification. The post then discusses the advantages of embedding book prices within the barcode for faster checkout, error reduction and streamlined pricing updates. Additionally, it explores various ways authors can obtain barcodes, such as purchasing them from official ISBN issuers, using print-on-demand platforms like Amazon KDP or accessing free online generators. The article also includes a list of 14 free barcode generators, offering cost-effective options for those on a budget. Read on to learn everything you need to know about a book barcode.

What is the function of a book barcode?
What elements make up a book barcode?
What are the advantages of adding the book price to the barcode?
How to get a book barcode?
Beyond the barcode

What is the function of a book barcode?

The primary purpose of a book barcode is to serve as a unique identifier for a specific book so it can be efficiently and accurately tracked throughout the book supply chain. More broadly, book barcodes are crucial in improving the accuracy, efficiency and effectiveness of various processes within the book industry, from publishing and distribution to retail and library management.

Here are the key purposes of book barcodes:

Inventory management: Barcodes streamline the tracking and management of book inventory. Bookstores, libraries and distributors use barcodes to quickly and accurately identify, catalogue and manage their stock.
Sales: Book barcodes facilitate quick and error-free transactions at the point of sale. When a seller scans a book at the checkout counter, the barcode provides instant access to the book’s information, ensuring a smooth and efficient sales process.
Distribution: Barcodes are crucial for the distribution process. They enable warehouses and distribution centres to track and move books efficiently, reduce errors and improve overall logistics.
Book identification: The ISBN embedded in the barcode provides a standardised and internationally recognised identifier for each edition of a book.
Data accuracy: Barcodes minimise manual data entry errors, as the information associated with the ISBN is electronically retrieved from a database.
Supply chain efficiency: Book barcodes contribute to the overall efficiency of the book supply chain. They enable publishers, distributors and retailers to manage the flow of books from production to consumption more effectively.

What elements make up a book barcode?

The book barcode consists of black vertical lines of varying widths and accompanying numbers at the bottom. The combination of these lines and numbers represents the ISBN, which is unique to each edition of a book. When a seller scans the barcode at a point of sale or during inventory management, a barcode scanner reads the barcode and helps retrieve the associated ISBN from a database.

Anatomy of a book barcode, which includes quite zones, barcode characters, start and stop characters and a check digit. — *Components of a book barcode. Source: tritonstore.com.au*

Main elements of a barcode

Start and stop characters: Book barcodes begin and end with special characters called start and stop characters. These characters indicate the beginning and end of the barcode, helping the barcode scanner recognise the boundaries of the code.
Quiet zones: Quiet zones are clear spaces located on either side of the barcode symbol. These spaces are essential for ensuring that the barcode scanner can accurately distinguish the barcode from its surroundings, helping prevent misreads or errors.
Barcode symbology: The choice of barcode symbology or type determines the format and structure of the barcode. In the book industry, EAN-13 (European Article Number) and UPC-A (Universal Product Code) are commonly used. EAN-13 encodes 13 digits, including the ISBN, while UPC-A encodes 12 digits, often with a leading ‘0’ added to the ISBN.
Guard bars: Guard bars are additional bars located at the barcode’s beginning, middle and end. They assist the barcode scanner in identifying these sections, enhancing accuracy.
Check digit: The check digit is a calculated digit included in the barcode to ensure data accuracy. It is derived from the other digits in the ISBN through a specific algorithm. When the barcode is scanned, the system uses the check digit to verify the accuracy of the scanned data.
Human-readable numbers: Beneath the barcode, the human-readable form of the ISBN is often printed. This allows individuals to manually enter the ISBN if needed and provides a visual confirmation of the encoded data.
Global trade item number (GTIN): The ISBN is part of the GTIN system. GTIN includes various barcode standards used globally for identifying trade items, with EAN-13 and UPC-A being subsets of the GTIN.
Book price: Some barcodes include the book price as part of the encoded information to streamline the point-of-sale process and provide additional convenience for retailers and customers.

What are the advantages of adding the book price to the barcode?

The decision to include pricing information in a barcode depends on the preferences and needs of publishers, distributors and retailers. Barcodes without prices are still widely used, but adding the price to a book barcode has some advantages:

Faster checkout: Including the book price in the barcode allows for a quicker and more automated checkout process. For instance, when the shop assistant scans the barcode at the point of sale, the system can instantly retrieve the price information associated with the book, eliminating the need for manual price entry.
Reduced errors: Automated price retrieval from the barcode helps reduce the risk of errors related to manual price entry. This contributes to more accurate transactions and minimises discrepancies between the labelled price and the actual price in the system.
Efficient pricing updates: For books with variable pricing or frequent price changes, embedding the price in the barcode streamlines the process of updating prices in the system. Thus, retailers can easily update the central database. Likewise, the barcode will automatically reflect the changes.
Promotions and discounts: Including the price in the barcode allows for seamless implementation of promotions, discounts or sales. Therefore, the system can automatically apply the correct discounted price when scanning the barcode during a promotional period.
Convenience for customers: Customers benefit from including prices in barcodes by having a clear and consistent pricing experience. They can quickly verify the price of a book by checking the barcode, promoting transparency in pricing.

How to get a barcode for your book?

Getting a barcode for your book is a crucial step in the publishing process, as it facilitates book sales. Several options are available, ranging from paid services to free, unaffiliated barcode generators to official ISBN issuers who sell barcodes.

When choosing a barcode provider, ISBN issuers offer the most professional and widely recognised barcodes, which are essential for traditional retail, libraries and international distribution. These barcodes are reliable and ensure compliance with global standards, but they can be expensive, with fees often bundled with ISBN purchases (e.g. Bowker in the USA, Nielsen in the UK).

On the other hand, POD platforms like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark automatically generate free barcodes when publishing through their platforms. This makes them a convenient and cost-effective choice. However, the ISBNs they provide may limit where you can sell your book.

Finally, free barcode generators, such as Barcode.tec-it or Kindlepreneur, offer quick and cost-free options for self-publishing authors, but their barcodes may not be as universally accepted, and the quality should be verified to avoid issues with scanning or retail acceptance.

Official ISBN issuers

The International ISBN Agency oversees the official ISBN issuers in various countries. Some sell barcodes, such as ISBN issuers in the UK, USA and Australia. Authors and publishers can purchase individuals barcodes or barcodes with ISBNs from these online stores. Although their barcodes are a paid option, they offer a professional and widely recognised solution. For instance, Nielsen ISBN Store (UK) sells 1 barcode for £15, and they offer 10 barcodes for £80. Bowker (USA) sells 1 barcode for $25. Thorpe-Bowker (Australia) sells 1 barcode for AU$45, and they offer 10 barcodes for AU$ 40.

USA: Bowker: 1 barcode for $25, 10 for $23; 1 barcode + ISBN $150
Australia: Thorpe-Bowker: 1 barcode for AU$45, 10 for AU$40; 1 barcode + ISBN AU$80
UK: Nielsen ISBN Store: 1 barcode for £15, 10 for £80

Print-on-demand platforms

Print-on-demand (POD) services, such as Amazon KDP, Ingram Spark and Lulu, also provide barcode options for authors. When you publish through these platforms, they automatically generate a barcode for your book as part of the publishing process. While this service might be included in the overall cost of publishing with the platform, it is essential to check the terms and conditions to understand potential fees or restrictions. For instance, books with the POD’s own identifiers equivalent to ISBN are mostly limited to sales on these platforms.

Amazon KDP

Amazon KDP offers free barcode generation for authors publishing print books through their platform. If you upload a cover without a barcode, KDP will automatically generate and place one on your book for Amazon sales. If you want to provide your own barcode (for example, if you have bought an ISBN separately), you can upload it with your cover design.

IngramSparks

IngramSpark will automatically generate a free barcode when you upload your cover, whether you choose their own book identifier or provide an official ISBN. You can also create barcodes using their template generator.

Lulu

Lulu provides a free ISBN and will generate a barcode for your book if you choose to distribute it globally through their platform. However, if you are using your own ISBN, you would need to generate the barcode yourself.

Free barcode generators

Finally, free barcode generators are available online for those on a tight budget. These generators allow you to create a barcode with your own ISBN. However, it may be worth checking their reviews to ensure their barcodes are functional. Here are 14 free barcode providers:

Beyond the barcode: Other aspects of self-publishing a book

While understanding book barcodes is an integral part of self-publishing, it is just one element in a larger process. Successfully self-publishing a book requires careful attention to many aspects, from the initial manuscript to the final product.

A well-edited manuscript is crucial to delivering a polished, professional book. Depending on your needs, there are several types of editing services to consider:

Developmental editing refines the manuscript’s overall structure, coherence and narrative flow, ensuring a strong foundation for a story or content.
Copyediting focuses on grammar, syntax and style, ensuring clarity, consistency and adherence to language conventions throughout the text.
Line editing fine-tunes the language at a sentence and paragraph level, enhancing the prose, improving pacing and addressing issues related to tone and voice.
Proofreading identifies and corrects spelling, grammar and punctuation errors, providing a final quality check before publication.
Indexing creates a comprehensive and organised index for non-fiction works, enhancing the usability and accessibility of the book’s content.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, understanding the role of book barcodes is a part of the self-publishing journey. From sourcing the right barcode to ensuring the manuscript is well-polished, every step contributes to the overall success of your book. Investing in official ISBN and barcode issuers, relying on print-on-demand services or using free barcode generators — each option has its own merits. By weighing these carefully, alongside professional editing and formatting, self-published authors can confidently navigate the complexities of the publishing process and deliver a quality book to readers.

Contact me if you are an author looking for editing or indexing services. I am an experienced editor offering a free sample edit and an early bird discount.