ISSN Magazine Barcodes
Magazines, journals and other periodicals use an ISSN (International Standard Serial Number), which is turned into a barcode image. This is different from the EAN or UPC barcodes used on general retail products — serials have their own numbering system, so you can’t use a retail barcode package on a magazine.
We supply the barcode images for an ISSN you already hold. The finished barcode is in EAN-13 format, the standard for periodicals worldwide, and is scanned by newsagents, supermarkets and distributors everywhere.
Watch our short video explainer on how ISSN barcodes work.
Do you already have an ISSN?
Yes — order your barcode images below. You’ll enter your ISSN at the checkout page, and we’ll create the images and email them to you.
No — you’ll need an ISSN before we can create your barcode. In Canada, ISSNs are issued free of charge by Library and Archives Canada. Apply for your ISSN here, then come back to us for the barcode.
Note: We do not issue ISSNs. Only the national ISSN centre for your country can do that. We provide the barcode image that encodes the number you’ve been given.
For more information, please see “How to Get a Barcode for Your Magazine.”
Should I use EAN-13 or EAN-13+2?
This is the main decision to make, and it comes down to whether you want each issue to scan differently at the checkout.
EAN-13 is a single 13-digit barcode used on every issue of your publication. Every issue scans identically. It’s simpler and cheaper — you buy one barcode and use it indefinitely.
EAN-13+2 adds a small two-digit supplement to the right of the main barcode, identifying the issue number. “01” is issue one, “02” is issue two, and so on. You need a separate barcode image for each issue in the cycle, but you can reuse the same set year after year. A quarterly magazine would buy four barcodes — supplements 01, 02, 03 and 04 — and cycle through them again the following year.
Which one? If your retailers only need to ring up a sale, EAN-13 is fine. If they need to tell issues apart for returns, stock rotation or sales tracking, they’ll ask for EAN-13+2. Some distributors specify it as a condition of stocking you, so it’s worth asking before you order.
Our images are supplied in EAN-13 format by default. If you want EAN-13+2, select that option and tell us which two-digit supplement you need — for example, “02 for issue 02”.
Do I need an ISSN barcode or something else?
An ISSN is for a serial — a publication issued on an ongoing basis under a common title. That includes magazines, newspapers, journals, yearbooks, directories and monographs in series.
Some things that look like serials aren’t. Instruction manuals, one-off “book-a-zines”, posters, special editions, diaries, calendars, mail-order catalogues, fill-in crossword and puzzle books, and serials not intended for public circulation are all outside the ISSN system.
If your publication isn’t eligible for an ISSN, here’s where to go instead:
Books — printed books, including manuals substantial enough to qualify, need an ISBN. See our book barcodes page.
Printed music — sheet music and scores use an International Standard Music Number (ISMN). A 13-digit ISMN, such as 979-0-2600-0043-8, is converted to an EAN-13 barcode in the same way as a book ISBN. Order ISBN barcode images and enter your ISMN in place of an ISBN.
CDs and DVDs — see our CD barcodes and DVD barcodes pages.
Everything else — calendars, catalogues, puzzle books, and general retail products — needs an EAN or UPC number, which we supply as a complete package, including the number itself. See Retail Barcode Packages.
Using your ISSN barcode
You will receive your barcode images by email in three files (PDF, PNG and SVG). Choose whichever format suits your designer or printer and place the image on your cover before it goes to press.
The images are supplied at the standard barcode size of about 38 mm x 25 mm. You can reduce this if space is tight, but not below 80% of standard size (roughly 30 mm x 20 mm), or scanners may struggle to read it. See our barcode dimensions guide before resizing.
Magazine barcodes usually sit on the front cover, most often bottom left, since the back cover is frequently sold as advertising space. Wherever it goes, keep it on a plain white or very light background with clear space around it. Avoid printing it over artwork, and avoid red or light-coloured bars — scanners read the contrast between the bars and the background, not the colour itself.
If you’re using EAN-13+2, keep the two-digit supplement alongside the main barcode as supplied. Don’t separate them or move one without the other.
Need help?
Here are some common questions:
How many barcodes do I need? If you’re using plain EAN-13, one — the same image goes on every issue, forever. If you’re using EAN-13+2, one per issue in your publishing cycle: four for a quarterly, six for a bi-monthly, twelve for a monthly. You then reuse that set each year.
Do I need a new ISSN if I change the title? Yes. A significant title change means a new ISSN and, therefore, a new barcode. Format changes work the same way — a print edition and a digital edition of the same magazine have separate ISSNs.
Will these barcodes work worldwide? Yes. ISSN barcodes are in EAN-13 format, the international standard for periodicals, and are read by retailers and distributors everywhere.
Can I add a price to the barcode? Not with the two-digit supplement, which is reserved for the issue number. Price encoding on periodicals is uncommon in Canada — if a distributor has specifically asked you for it, get in touch, and we’ll talk through the options.
What if my ISSN has an X at the end? That’s normal. The final character of an ISSN is a check digit, and X is a valid value for it. Enter it exactly as issued.
Can I put my logo in the barcode? The barcode itself must remain clean and unaltered, but nothing prevents you from placing your logo nearby on the cover. Don’t overlap it.
Don’t see what you’re looking for? Please take a look at our answers to common questions, or read more on how to get a barcode for your magazine.
ISSN Barcode Image