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ISSN Barcodes for Magazines, Journals & Newspapers

If you already have an ISSN number for your magazine, newspaper, or other periodical publication, please purchase the ISSN barcode for your ISSN number below.

If you don’t yet have an ISSN number, please first get the ISSN number from the British Library by emailing them on [email protected] or ring them on 01937 546 060. Once you have your ISSN number, come back to this page and order the ISSN barcode.

We will make and email your ISSN barcode in 5 minutes. Let us know which format you want; with or without issue number.

If your publication has changed price, please let us know the next price code. The price code is 11th and 12th digits. For example, the first barcode for magazine x is 9771234567003. 00 is the price code. If the price changes the price code changes from 00 to 01, then 01 to 02 etc.).

Please watch our short video explainer.

ISSN Barcode Images

Select either a standard ISSN (for all issues) or an ISSN with a two-digit issue number (01 to 99) from the drop-down options below.

No Issue Number (all editions use same barcode)

Enter your 8-digit ISSN number(s) here in the format xxxx-xxxx OR as 977xxxxxxxxxx if you know the full number you want.

Examples: 1234-5670 or 9771234567003

With Issue Number (each edition has a different two-digit supplement from 01 to 99)

Enter your ISSN number(s) in the format xxxx-xxxx-yy where xxxx-xxxx is the ISSN and yy is the 2-digit supplement (01-52 for weekly, 01-12 for monthly).

Example: 1234-5678-01

Quantity Price per image

1 £ 15

2 £ 12

3 £ 10

4 + £ 8

10+ £ 5

20+ £ 3

50 + £2

Buy product This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

For more information, please see: ISSN Barcodes: A Publisher’s Guide

ISSN Barcode Formats

9771234567003

EAN13 format (no issue number)

An 8-digit ISSN number is converted into a 13-digit ISSN barcode in this way; the last of the eight digits is removed (this is a checksum), 977 is added to the front of the number, a nominal price code is added to the number (usually 00), and then the last digit checksum is added. For example, ISSN 1234-5678 would become 9771234567003. If the price was increased, the 2-digit price code should be changed e.g. from 00 to 01, and a new barcode created, e.g. 9771234567010.

Some publications add a 2-digit supplement barcode after the main barcode. This can then vary with the issue e.g. it could be 01-12 for 12 monthly issues, or 01-52 for weekly issues, or 01-04 for quarterly issues. These barcodes can be reused each year. They only need to be changed when the price changes.

How to use your ISSN barcode:

After we receive your order, we will email you your ISSN barcode images. The images will come in 3 formats (pdf, png and svg). You can choose the format you prefer and insert the barcode into the design for your magazine or newspaper cover.

Black bars on a white background are optimal to ensure maximum legibility. Position the barcode on the front cover in the bottom left hand corner cover, however the bottom right-hand corner is also acceptable. The barcode should not be printed closer than 10 mm from any edge.

After printing and distributing, your retailers will enter the barcode number and product information into their inventory database. After that, when your barcode is scanned, the product details will appear on the retailer’s checkout.