Free ISSN Barcode Generator — Create, Preview & Download Instantly

An ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) is an eight-digit numeric identifier assigned to a serial publication — any periodical issued in a continuing series under a consistent title, including academic journals, magazines, newspapers, newsletters, yearbooks, and monographic series. Defined by ISO 3297, the ISSN identifies the publication title, not a specific issue or volume. A single title may hold two ISSNs: one for the print edition (print ISSN / pISSN) and one for the online edition (electronic ISSN / eISSN). ISSNs are registered and maintained by the ISSN International Centre in Paris and its network of over 90 national ISSN centers.

An ISSN is encoded as a barcode using the EAN-13 symbology with a '977' publication prefix. The encoding process: (1) take the seven significant digits of the ISSN (digits 1–7, excluding the original ISSN check character); (2) prepend '977' to get 10 digits; (3) append a two-digit add-on number (typically '00' if no issue-specific code is needed); (4) calculate the EAN-13 check digit from the resulting 12-digit string. The final 13-digit number is encoded as a standard EAN-13 barcode. A two-digit supplemental add-on barcode is printed to the right of the main symbol to carry the issue sequence or price code.

The ISSN check digit is the eighth and final character of the ISSN, which may be a digit (0–9) or the letter 'X' (representing 10). It is calculated using Mod 11 with alternating weights 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2 applied to the first seven ISSN digits. The sum of the weighted products is divided by 11; the check digit is 11 minus the remainder (using 'X' if the result is 10, and '0' if the result is 11). This generator computes the check digit automatically — you do not need to calculate or supply it separately. The ISSN check digit is not the same as the EAN-13 check digit used in the barcode.

The two-digit add-on supplement to the right of the main ISSN EAN-13 barcode is an optional but widely used extension that encodes issue-specific information — most commonly a sequence number (01, 02, 03…) for each issue within a volume year, or a price code used by press distributors. Some publishers use '00' as a generic placeholder when no issue-specific code is required. The ISSN Manual recommends always including the two-digit add-on to ensure compatibility with distributor scanning systems, even if the value is simply '00'.

A print ISSN (pISSN) is assigned to the physical printed edition of a serial publication. An electronic ISSN (eISSN) is assigned to the online or digital edition of the same title. Both are registered separately with the ISSN International Centre. For barcode purposes, only the print ISSN is typically encoded on the physical cover of a printed periodical. Online publications may embed the eISSN in PDF cover pages, HTML metadata, or digital distribution manifests, but a barcode on a physical product always uses the print ISSN.

No. ISSN and ISBN are separate international numbering systems for different publication types. ISBN (International Standard Book Number) identifies individual book editions — non-serial, single-issue publications. ISSN identifies serial publications — periodicals issued as a continuing series under a consistent title. Both use EAN-13 barcode encoding, but with different prefixes: ISBNs use the '978' or '979' Bookland prefix, while ISSNs use the '977' prefix. A publication that is both a series title and a standalone volume (such as an annual handbook or conference proceedings) may carry both an ISBN (for that specific issue) and an ISSN (for the series).

The ISSN Manual and EAN barcode specifications recommend a standard size (100% magnification) EAN-13 barcode of 37.29mm wide × 25.93mm tall (excluding quiet zones and the add-on supplement). For magazine covers, barcode widths between 80% and 200% of standard size are acceptable — corresponding to approximately 30–75mm wide. The minimum recommended magnification for reliable retail scanning is 80% (about 29.8mm wide). Always include the mandatory quiet zones: a minimum of 3.63mm to the left, 2.31mm to the right of the EAN-13 symbol, and additional space for the add-on supplement.

Yes. All ISSN barcode encoding is performed entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. Your ISSN numbers and any associated publication data are never transmitted to any server and never stored anywhere. Close the browser tab and all data is gone. This tool is safe to use with unpublished ISSN assignments, pre-launch title identifiers, and commercially sensitive distribution codes.