Independent publishers and authors are responsible for acquiring ISBNs or EANs for their books.
Don't need an EAN/ISBN assign a non-distributable SKU
Free ISBN if located in the United States
Need to Change an SKU to an ISBN
Where to purchase an ISBN if located in the United States
Where to purchase an ISBN if located outside the United States
An ISBN (International Standard Book Number), also known as EAN (European Article Number), is a unique thirteen-digit item code provided by your country’s ISBN agency and assigned by publishers to identify the format and edition of a particular title. A published book will have a different ISBN or EAN for each product type—one for the hardcover edition, one for the paperback edition, and one for the digital/ebook edition. Retailers and distributors require published titles to have an ISBN/EAN assigned to them for sales and inventory purposes.
The 978 prefix is a three-digit number to make the title EAN (European Article Number) compliant. This prefix is required to ensure the continued capacity of the ISBN system.
If you input a 10 digit number we will automatically convert your ISBN to 13 digits. In doing so, the last digit (check digit) will be recalculated using a specific algorithm. The two numbers correspond to each other and are considered the same ISBN, not a different one.
If located in the United States you can purchase an ISBN in 2 ways:
- From Bowker, the US ISBN Agency (www.myidentifiers.com). Check their website for current pricing.
- Through your IngramSpark account, for $85 each, when setting up your book and you own the ISBN. ISBNs purchased through IngramSpark are non-refundable.
IngramSpark now offers free ISBNs to authors and publishers located in the United States.
- The imprint will be listed as Indy Pub
- Any title with a free ISBN must be placed in our wholesale distribution program
- ISBN cannot be transferred to another account in the future
- ISBN cannot be used on any other publishing platforms (KDP, Blurb, Bookbaby, etc.)
- Pricing for at least one market is required and the book will be available for sale through each market pricing is provided for
- If you use a free ISBN and later decide you want to own the ISBN, you will have to set up the book as a new or revised title and purchase a different ISBN for the book
- Promo codes cannot be used in conjunction with a free ISBN (Example: promo codes for free title setup)
If located outside the United States you can visit https://www.isbn-international.org/ to find out where to purchase an ISBN or EAN.
SKU (stock keeping unit) is an identification code, usually alphanumeric, of a product that allows it to be tracked for inventory purposes. If you don't want your book available for sale through Ingram's global distribution network, IngramSpark can assign a free inventory code (SKU) to your book for printing and manufacturing purposes. When setting up your title you can select “Click here if you would like a non-distributable SKU to be assigned to this title”.
Be sure to use the same ISBN/EAN for your book in all markets. Listing the same book with different ISBNs or EANs on multiple websites or with multiple distributors may confuse retailers and consumers wanting to purchase your book.
When setting up a title if you receive the message "ISBN already in use", this means the ISBN is already in our system in another account. Please contact support for help.
When setting up a new title, if you enter an ISBN and receive the message "ISBN Not Valid" you can enter the ISBN in this checker to determine if it is valid or invalid: https://www.isbn-check.com/
If you need to change the SKU for your book to an ISBN, you will need to set up the book as a new title. We furnish a barcode for the back cover at no cost.
You will also need to upload the cover and interior files. You can then have IngramSpark Support cancel the title with the SKU, if you wish.
US and Canada: ingramsparksupport@ingramcontent.com
United Kingdom: ingramsparkinternational@ingramcontent.com
Australia: IngramSparkAustralia@ingramcontent.com
(Please include your account number in the subject line. Sending an email to multiple addresses may delay the response time).
Comments
1 comment
Just wondering, I'm not seeing the option to purchase an ISBN through IngramSpark.
It reads: Click here if you would like a non-distributable SKU to be assigned to this title
Is there a separate place to do this transaction?
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