ISSN Barcodes for Magazines and Newspapers
If you already have an ISSN number for your magazine, newspaper or journal, please purchase the barcode images below.
If you don’t have an ISSN number, please first get an ISSN number. When you have your ISSN number, you can come back to us to order the barcode images.
Please watch our short video explainer.
You can order your ISSN number with or without issue number.
Enter what you require as the price code (digits 11 and 12). If this is a new publication the price code will be 00. If it is a price change to an existing publication please enter the next number (ie if your price code is already 00 then the next will be 01).
We will email your ISSN images in 3 formats (pdf, png and svg) in 5 minutes.
See below for information about the 13 digit (no issue) and 13+2 digit (with issue) barcodes for magazines.
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Buy product This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
ISSN Barcode Images
Select either a standard ISSN (for all issues) or an ISSN with a two-digit issue number (01 to 99) from the drop-down options below.
No Issue Number (all editions use same barcode)
Enter your 8-digit ISSN number(s) here in the format xxxx-xxxx OR as 977xxxxxxxxxx if you know the full number you want.
Examples: 1234-5670 or 9771234567003
With Issue Number (each edition has a different two-digit supplement from 01 to 99)
Enter your ISSN number(s) in the format xxxx-xxxx-yy where xxxx-xxxx is the ISSN and yy is the 2-digit supplement (01-52 for weekly, 01-12 for monthly).
Example: 1234-5678-01
Quantity Price per image 1 R 160
2 R 140 each
3 R 110 each
4 + R 80 each
10 + R 40 each
20 + R 25 each
50 + R 12 each
Enter your ISSN number(s) in the format xxxx-xxxx-yy where xxxx-xxxx is the ISSN and yy is the 2-digit supplement (01-52 for weekly, 01-12 for monthly).ISSN Barcode Format
An 8 digit ISSN number is converted into a 13-digit EAN13 barcode in this way – the last of the 8 digits is removed (this is a checksum), 977 is added to the front of the number, a nominal price code is added to the number (usually 00), and then the last digit checksum is added. For example, ISSN 1234-5678 would become 9771234567003. The two-digit price code should be changed if the price was increased, e.g. from 00 to 01, and a new barcode created, e.g. 9771234567010.
Some publications add a two-digit supplement barcode after the main barcode – this can then vary with the issue, e.g. it could be 01-12 for 12 monthly issues, or 01-52 for weekly issues, or 01-04 for quarterly issues. These barcodes can be reused each year – they only need to be changed when the price changes.
How to use your ISSN barcode:
After we receive your order, we will email your barcode images to you. The images will come in 3 formats (pdf, png and svg). You can choose the format you prefer. Then, insert the barcode into the design for your magazine or newspaper cover. After your publication has been printed and distributed to your retailers, they will enter the barcode number and product information into their inventory system. After that, when your barcode is scanned, the product details will appear on the retailer’s screen.
Note: If you want us to send you a barcode with supplement digits at the end (like in the example below), please let us know when you make your order. We can give you barcode images that have either 2-digit or 5-digit supplement numbers. Supplements are used on some magazine barcodes to represent the magazine’s issue number.
- Magazine Barcode (with two supplement numbers) (jpg format)
- Magazine Barcode (with two supplement numbers) (eps format)
“Many thanks for your help. You have made the whole process so much easier than I expected and I have gladly referred you to colleagues.” Keith
“Thank you for the barcodes, that was very quick! I’m looking forward to getting them printed on my products.” Will