CD Barcodes
If you’re releasing music on CD, vinyl or cassette, you need a UPC-A barcode on the back of the packaging. It’s what shops, distributors and online stores use to identify your release.
It’s the same barcode used on any retail product. There’s no separate music-industry barcode, and nothing about a CD requires anything unusual.
One barcode per format
This catches people out, and it’s worth getting right before you order.
A barcode identifies a product, not an album. If you’re putting the same record out on CD and vinyl, those are two separate products with two separate barcodes: different packaging, different price, different stock lines in a shop’s system.
So:
- CD → one barcode
- Vinyl → a second barcode
- Cassette → a third
- Deluxe or coloured variant sold separately → its own barcode
Same music, same artwork, same catalogue number if you use one. Different products.
A straight repress of the same edition keeps the same barcode. You only need a new one when it’s a genuinely different item on the shelf.
UPC, ISRC and catalogue number
Three different numbers, three different jobs. Most releases end up with all three.
| What it identifies | Where it comes from | Do you need one? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPC / EAN | The release as a physical product | From us, one per format | Yes, for anything sold in shops or online stores |
| ISRC | Each individual recording | Your national ISRC agency | Yes, if you want streaming and radio royalties tracked |
| Catalogue number | Your own internal reference | You choose it | Optional: a label convention, not a requirement |
The one people confuse is UPC and ISRC. The UPC is on the outside of the package and identifies the whole release. ISRCs are embedded in the audio and identify each track, so a ten-track album has one UPC and ten ISRCs.
We supply the UPC. ISRCs are issued by your national agency, usually free of charge.
Where to put it
Back cover, lower right, on a plain light background with clear space around it.
The standard size is about 38 mm × 25 mm. You can shrink it to 80% if space is tight, but no further, or scanners start to struggle. Our barcode dimensions guide covers the limits.
On a jewel case, the barcode goes on the rear inlay, positioned so it’s visible through the case. On a digipak or gatefold, put it on the outer back panel; not on an inner flap where a scanner can’t reach it. Avoid printing over artwork, and keep the bars dark on a light background.
-
Retail Barcode Package
Delivered by email within minutes of payment:
– Your unique barcode number, supplied as both a UPC-A and an EAN-13
– Print-ready images in three formats (PNG, PDF and SVG)
– A guarantee certificate confirming you as the sole legal owner of the number
– Free registration on the International Barcodes Database, so your product details appear when the barcode is scanned by a phone app
Quantity Price per Barcode (CAD)
1 $39 each 2 + $35 each 3 + $33 each 5 + $30 each 10 + $26 each 20 + $24 each 50 + WAS $19 each, NOW $10 each
$500 for 50 barcodes
100 + SPECIAL OFFER: $6 each
$600 for 100 barcodes
200 +
See our bulk prices here
Need a custom quantity or a quote? Email us, and we’ll price it for you.
Add to cart
Selling digitally as well?
Digital distributors will usually assign a UPC to your release at no charge when you upload.
That’s fine, and for many artists it’s enough. The distinction worth knowing is that a barcode issued to you by a distributor is generally tied to that distributor. A number you own outright stays yours even if you switch platforms, sign to a label, or later press physical copies.
If you’re doing a physical run anyway, you’ll have your own number regardless, and you can use the same one across your digital release for consistency.
What you get
Every barcode includes the UPC-A number, an EAN-13 version of the same number on request, print-ready images in PDF, PNG and SVG, a guarantee certificate showing you’re the legal owner, and free registration on the International Barcodes Database.
One payment. No annual fees. Emailed within minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a barcode to sell my CD? For shops, distributors and most online stores, yes. Selling only at gigs or direct from your own website, no.
Do I need a separate barcode for the vinyl version? Yes. Each format is a separate product and needs its own number.
What’s the difference between a UPC and an ISRC? The UPC identifies the release as a product and goes on the packaging. ISRCs identify individual recordings and are embedded in the audio. An album has one UPC and one ISRC per track.
Will this barcode work on Amazon and other online stores? It’s the standard UPC-A used across retail. Amazon applies its own additional identifier rules. See what Amazon requires before listing there.
Does the barcode need to include the price? No. It encodes the number only. Shops set their own prices against it.
Can I use the same barcode for a repress? Yes, if it’s the same edition. A different format or a separately sold variant needs its own.
How quickly will I get it? Within minutes. The shop is automated, so your number and images are emailed as soon as payment clears.
“Many thanks for the barcode great service! It’s on my new CD as we speak! May well be back to you with other releases. ” Dave
“Many, many thanks for the speedy service you provided. You make it possible for small independent artists to beat the men in suits!!” HD