ISSN Magazine & Newspaper Barcodes
International Standard Serial Numbers are allocated to all periodical publications such as magazines, newspapers or journals. These numbers are applied for through an international organisation that allocates all ISSN numbers. You can purchase the barcode images below if you already have an ISSN number. If you require an ISSN Number, these can be applied for here.
Please watch our short video explainer on how ISSN barcodes work.
For more information, please see: ISSN Barcodes: A Publisher’s Guide.
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ISSN Barcode Images
Here, you can purchase ISSN Barcode images. Once the order has been received, these will be emailed to you in five formats (Bitmap, eps, TIFF, JPEG, PDF).
Select either a standard ISSN or an ISSN with an issue number from the drop-down options below.
Please enter your 8-digit ISSN Number (with your issue number if you have selected that option) in the additional information section when filling out your details after proceeding to checkout.
PLEASE NOTE: We do NOT provide the ISSN numbers. We ONLY provide the IMAGES for your ISSN numbers.
Quantity Price per image 1 $ 20.00 USD 2 $ 17.00 USD each 3 $ 14.00 USD each 4 + $ 10.00 USD each 10 + $ 6.00 USD each 20 + $ 4.00 USD each 50 + $ 2.00 USD each If you require a series of ISSNs, please contact us.
How to Order:
Select either the ISSN or the ISSN plus issue number from the drop-down option. At checkout, there is a field for you to add your ISSN number details. Please include the issue number information if you selected this option. We will use your ISSN number to create barcode images and email them to you (in 5 formats: JPEG, eps, TIFF, BMP, & pdf). We will send your barcode images to you in EAN-13 format (13-digit format) unless you request EAN-13+2 format (15-digit format) when you check out (if you request EAN-13+2 format, please also specify what 2-digit supplement you need – e.g. “02 for issue 02”).
Difference between EAN-13 and EAN-13+2 format: EAN-13 magazine barcodes use the same 13-digit barcode on all magazine issues. EAN-13+2 magazine barcodes have an extra 2-digit supplement to indicate the issue number (e.g. “01” indicates issue 1). The barcode changes for each issue – e.g. a quarterly magazine would publish four issues yearly. If they wanted to use EAN-13+2 format barcodes, they needed 4 (with supplements 01, 02, 03, 04). They could reuse those four barcodes the following year. If they wanted to use EAN-13 format barcodes, they could use the same 13-digit barcode on all four magazine issues.
If you have a book and require barcodes, please see our book barcodes section.
If you have printed music, you must get an International Standard Music Number (ISMN) and turn that into barcode images. A 13-digit ISMN, e.g., 979-0-2600-0043-8, can be turned into a 13-digit EAN-13 barcode (the same way book ISBN numbers are turned into barcodes). If you have an ISMN number and need the barcode images (the vertical black bars and white spaces), please purchase “ISBN Barcode Images” and enter your ISMN number into the additional information section.
Look here for CD barcodes and DVD barcodes.
Do I need an ISSN Barcode?
You need an ISSN number (and corresponding barcode) for anything considered a “serial” – e.g., magazines, newspapers, journals, yearbooks, directories, and monographs in series.
Instruction manuals, one-off ‘book-a-zines’, posters, magazine or newspaper special editions, serials not intended for public circulation, diaries, calendars, mail-order catalogues, and fill-in crossword or puzzle books are not considered “serials,” so they shouldn’t have an ISSN number.
Items that aren’t eligible for an ISSN will need a standard “EAN-13 Barcode Package” instead (you can purchase this from our shop page). If the item is a book (e.g. a manual), it might be eligible for an ISBN and corresponding barcode.