Quick answer: enter your 8-character ISSN, keep the sequence variant at 00 unless your distributor gives you another, and type the issue number as a 2-digit add-on (e.g. 07 for issue 7). The barcode contains 977, the first seven ISSN digits, the variant and a new check digit.
From ISSN to cover barcode
An ISSN identifies a periodical, not a single issue. To make a retail barcode, the ISSN is placed inside an EAN-13 that starts with 977 – the prefix GS1 reserved for serial publications. The ISSN's own check character is dropped, because the EAN-13 gets its own check digit.
| Part | Example for ISSN 0317-8471 |
|---|---|
| Prefix for periodicals | 977 |
| ISSN without its check character | 0317847 |
| Sequence variant | 00 |
| EAN-13 check digit | 1 → 9770317847001 |
| Add-on (issue) | e.g. 07 printed as a small second barcode |
How to create an ISSN barcode for a magazine
- Enter the ISSN. Type the ISSN printed on your registration, e.g. 0317-8471. The check character is verified.
- Set the variant. The 2-digit sequence variant is usually 00. Some countries use it for the price or for special editions.
- Add the issue number. Use the 2-digit add-on for the issue or week number so retailers can tell issues apart.
- Download each issue. Use the bulk option to create the barcodes for every issue of the year in one go.
How newsagents use the add-on
The till reads the 977 EAN-13 to know which magazine it is and the add-on to know which issue, which matters for returns of unsold copies. Monthly titles commonly use 01–12, weeklies use the week number. Some markets use the sequence variant digits for a price code – follow your distributor's instructions.
Making a whole year of barcodes at once
The bulk option uses the ISSN and variant from the form and treats each line as the data field, so for a monthly title paste your ISSN on each line and change the add-on number afterwards – or simpler: create one barcode per issue as you go. Designers often keep a single template and only replace the barcode file each month; the PDF and SVG files are always the same size, so the replacement drops into place.
Placement on the cover
Put the barcode in the lower left or lower right corner of the front cover, on a white panel, at full size. Avoid placing it across the spine or near the trim edge, where it can be cut or bent.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get an ISSN?
From the ISSN national centre in your country (for example through your national library). It is free in many countries.
Why is my ISSN check character not in the barcode?
The EAN-13 has its own check digit, so the ISSN’s last character is left out. It still appears in the ISSN line above the bars.
Is the add-on required?
It is not part of the identifier, but retailers expect it on magazines so they can separate issues. Journals sold only by subscription often skip it.
My ISSN ends in X – is that a problem?
No. X is a normal check character for ISSNs; the tool accepts it.
Can I use the same barcode for every issue?
The EAN-13 part stays the same; only the add-on changes. Make a new barcode for each issue with its own add-on.