How to Get an ISBN for Your Book: Complete Guide 2026

The ISBN is one of the most confusing topics for first-time self-published authors. Is it required? How do you get one? Should you use the free ISBN offered by Amazon or get your own? This guide answers all of these questions.

What Is an ISBN?

An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a unique numeric identifier assigned to each edition of a book. It consists of 13 digits and identifies the publisher, title and edition unambiguously across the world.

Practically, it's the barcode on the back of your book. Bookshops, libraries and distribution platforms use the ISBN to catalogue, order and track book inventory.

Each format of the same title must have its own ISBN. The hardcover, paperback, ebook and audiobook editions of the same title each have a different ISBN.

Is an ISBN Required to Publish?

For Ebooks

No. Amazon KDP, Kobo Writing Life and Apple Books do not require an ISBN to publish an ebook. These platforms assign their own internal identifier to your title.

Without an ISBN, your ebook is sold on those platforms but doesn't appear in bibliographic databases and cannot be ordered by bookshops through their standard ordering systems.

For Print Books

Not legally required, but practically essential for broad distribution. Without an ISBN:

• Your book cannot be listed in the major trade catalogues used by bookshops and libraries
• It won't appear in distributor listings
• It cannot be stocked in most physical bookshops

A book sold exclusively on Amazon KDP Print or via direct sales (your own website, events) can get by without an ISBN. But for any wider distribution, an ISBN is necessary.

How to Get an ISBN: By Country

ISBN allocation is managed nationally. The process — and cost — varies significantly depending on where you're based.

United States and Canada: Bowker

In the US, ISBNs are sold by Bowker (myidentifiers.com). There is no free option for individual authors in the US.

Pricing (approximate, 2026):

• 1 ISBN: $125
• 10 ISBNs: $295
• 100 ISBNs: $575

For most self-publishing authors, the 10-ISBN block is the best value — it covers your first several titles and registers them under your own publisher name.

Canadian authors can also purchase ISBNs through Bowker, or obtain them free through Library and Archives Canada (bac-lac.gc.ca), which assigns ISBNs at no cost to Canadian publishers.

United Kingdom: Nielsen

In the UK, ISBNs are issued by Nielsen Book Services (isbn.nielsenbook.co.uk).

Pricing (approximate, 2026):

• 1 ISBN: £89 (+VAT)
• 10 ISBNs: £164 (+VAT)

Unlike some countries, the UK has no government scheme for free ISBNs for individual authors. Nielsen is the only official route.

France and Francophone Countries: AFNIL

For French-language authors, the AFNIL (Agence francophone pour la numérotation internationale du livre, afnil.org) assigns ISBNs free of charge to registered publishers.

Procedure:

1. Go to afnil.org and create a publisher account
2. Register your name or publishing house name and address
3. Your application is validated within a few business days
4. You receive a block of ISBNs (minimum 10)

You don't need to create a company. You can register as a publisher under your own name or a chosen imprint name.

Australia and New Zealand: Thorpe-Bowker

Australian and New Zealand authors obtain ISBNs through Thorpe-Bowker (thorpe.com.au). Pricing is similar to the US Bowker scale. There is no free option for individuals.

Platform-Issued ISBNs

Several publishing platforms offer free ISBNs from their own block.

Amazon KDP offers a free ISBN for books published via KDP Print. The benefit is that it's free and instant. The major drawback: this ISBN is registered under Amazon/KDP as the publisher, not under your name. If you leave KDP or want to distribute through other channels, this ISBN doesn't belong to you.

IngramSpark offers ISBNs at approximately $85 per ISBN in the US, registered under your own publisher name — a middle ground between free platform ISBNs and buying a Bowker block.

Draft2Digital, Smashwords (now part of D2D), and other aggregators also assign internal identifiers but generally require you to supply your own ISBN for full distribution.

Recommendation: if you're serious about your author career, get your own ISBNs. In the US, a 10-ISBN Bowker block is $295 — that's $29.50 per title. Your name appears as publisher in every bibliographic database worldwide. That's worth the investment if you plan to publish more than one book.

The ISBN in Your Book's Metadata

Whatever layout tool you use, you'll enter the ISBN in your book's metadata. In Folio Studio, this is done in the project settings.

The ISBN should appear:

• In your epub metadata (the dc:identifier tag)
• On the copyright page of your book
• As a barcode on the back cover (for print books)

Most layout tools generate the ISBN barcode automatically when you enter the number.

ISBN Format

The current format is ISBN-13 (13 digits). It's often displayed with hyphens for readability: 978-X-XXXXXX-XX-X. The hyphens separate the EAN prefix (978 or 979), the registration group (language/country area), the publisher identifier, the title number, and the check digit.

ISBN-10 is obsolete. Some older databases still use it, but all new publications must use ISBN-13.

Common Scenarios

Publishing ebook-only on Amazon and Kobo: no ISBN needed. The platforms manage their own cataloguing.

Publishing print-on-demand via KDP Print, selling only on Amazon: a free KDP ISBN is sufficient if you have no plans for bookshop distribution.

Want to be stocked in bookshops: you'll need your own ISBN, plus distribution via IngramSpark (global) or a regional distributor.

Publishing a series: get your ISBNs upfront. A 10-block covers most early-career needs.

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FAQ

How much does an ISBN cost?
It depends on your country. Free in France (AFNIL) and Canada (Library and Archives Canada). In the US, $125 for one or $295 for a block of 10 via Bowker. In the UK, from £89 via Nielsen.

Can I use the same ISBN for my epub and my print edition?
No. Each format (epub, paperback, hardcover) must have its own ISBN. If you publish both versions of your book, you'll need two separate ISBNs.

Is my ISBN valid internationally?
Yes. The ISBN is a global standard. An ISBN issued in any country can be used to distribute your book in bookshops and on platforms worldwide.

Does an ISBN protect my copyright?
No. An ISBN is a bibliographic identifier, not legal protection. Copyright is automatic upon creation of the work in most countries (including the US, UK, EU and Australia under the Berne Convention). An ISBN does not grant or strengthen copyright.

Can I change the ISBN if I update my book after publication?
For minor corrections (typo fixes), the same ISBN can be kept. For substantial changes (new edition, title change, added chapters), a new edition with a new ISBN is required. Self-published authors tend to apply this rule loosely for minor corrections.

What's the difference between a publisher ISBN and a platform ISBN?
A publisher ISBN is registered under your name or your imprint — you're recorded as the publisher in global databases. A platform ISBN (Amazon, IngramSpark) is registered under the platform's name as publisher. This affects how your book appears in trade databases and your ability to distribute through other channels.