Do you want to sell your book through bookshops or online stores? Then you need to apply for an ISBN. That is the unique number by which your book is recognisable and orderable worldwide. For personal editions you do not need it. Here you can read when you do and how applying works.
What is an ISBN?
An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a unique 13-digit number that identifies your book worldwide. Bookshops, libraries and distributors use the ISBN to order and administer your title. Every edition (hardcover, softcover, e-book) gets its own ISBN.
Do you need an ISBN?
- Needed: if you sell through bookshops, web shops or distributors.
- Not strictly needed: for a private edition, family book or internal company book.
How to apply for an ISBN
You apply for an ISBN at the national ISBN agency of the country where you publish; the International ISBN Agency lists every national agency. You register yourself as a publisher and buy one or several numbers. Once assigned, you place the ISBN with its barcode on the back cover and in the colophon of your book.
ISBN and barcode on your book
An EAN barcode goes with the ISBN, which shops scan at the till. Supply the barcode in your cover file, or pass on the ISBN and we will incorporate the barcode neatly into your design. Questions about placement? We are happy to help.
What does it cost and how long does it take?
The cost depends on whether you apply for one ISBN or a block; a block is cheaper per number. Applying itself is fairly quick: you often have your number within a few working days. Take that into account in your planning: apply for your ISBN before you have the book printed, so that the barcode can go straight onto the cover.
One ISBN per edition
A common mistake: one number for your whole book. An ISBN belongs to a specific edition, not to the work. If your title appears as a hardcover and as a softcover, those are two numbers. Add an e-book and that is a third. A second, revised edition also gets its own number, because the content has changed.
What does not need a new number is an unchanged reprint: the same text, the same edition, just a new stack of books. So if you expect to release several editions, apply for a block of numbers rather than a single one; per number that is cheaper.
What you record when applying
When applying for an ISBN you immediately record the data that makes your book findable in the book trade: title and subtitle, author, publisher, edition, number of pages, publication date and price. That data goes into the central file from which bookshops order, so a typo in your title carries through everywhere.
Enter yourself as publisher when you self-publish; that is allowed and it looks perfectly proper in the colophon. Only fill in the price once it is final, and bear in mind that it takes a while before a change is visible in the trade. So apply for your number a few weeks before your publication date, not the week before.
Frequently asked questions about applying for an ISBN
Do I always need an ISBN?
No. Only if you want to sell your book through bookshops or online stores, or want to be findable in libraries. For personal editions you do not.
Can I be my own publisher?
Yes. You may register yourself as a publisher and apply for an ISBN in your own name. You do not have to be a publishing house.
Do hardcover and e-book share the same ISBN?
No. Every edition gets its own ISBN. A hardcover, softcover and e-book of the same book therefore have three different numbers.
May I print my book without an ISBN?
Yes. For a family book, anniversary edition or thesis that you do not put on the market, an ISBN is not necessary. If you want to sell through bookshops or online stores, it is.
Where does the barcode go on my book?
Bottom right on the back cover, on a white or light background. Keep some quiet space around it and do not place text or images over it; a scanner has to read it in one go.