ISBN barcodes for books
90000 on a book barcode: what it means
Short answer
90000 in the small barcode next to an ISBN means "no price encoded". It fills the EAN-5 price add-on without committing to a price, so the barcode stays correct when the price changes or when the book is sold in several currencies. The US book industry guidelines (BISG) recommend 90000 for publishers who do not encode a US dollar price, and ask them to check with their trading partners first, because some retailers require a price.
Where you see it
On the right side of many book barcodes there is a second, shorter barcode with five digits above it. That is the EAN-5 add-on. When it reads 90000, the scanner gets no price from the barcode, so the shop's system has to supply it. How the price add-on works.
90000 vs no add-on vs a real price
| Barcode | What it tells a scanner | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| ISBN only | The ISBN | Simple and valid; check that your distributor accepts it |
| ISBN + 90000 | The ISBN, and that no price is encoded | You want the bookstore format without a fixed price |
| ISBN + price code | The ISBN and a US dollar price (5xxxx under US$100, 1xxxx to 4xxxx for US$100 to US$499.99) | US bookstore sales with a printed cover price |
All three are valid. The difference is what the shop's scanner gets from the add-on, and whether your cover can go out of date.
When to choose 90000
- Your price may change. KDP's barcode help says that a price code, if included, should match the list price. With 90000 there is nothing to mismatch.
- You sell in more than one currency. One cover for the US, UK, Canada and Australia cannot carry four prices. 90000 is neutral.
- The price is above US$499.99, or US$99.99 exactly. Neither can be encoded under the BISG rules. (US$100.00 to US$499.99 can: 10000 to 49999, see the EAN-5 guide.)
- You cannot keep the barcode price right. A wrong price is worse than no price. But ask your distributor: some retailers require a price in the barcode.
When a real price is better
If your book is sold in US bookstores with the price printed on the cover, and your distributor or the retailer expects the add-on to carry it, use the price code from the BISG table, for example 51999 for US$19.99. The cover and the barcode then say the same thing.
Other numbers that start with 9
In the BISG table, 90001 to 99989 is reserved for industry-wide use, and 99990 to 99999 is assigned to the National Association of College Stores for college store uses. Do not put these on a new book unless a buyer specifically asks.
How to make an ISBN barcode with 90000
- Open the ISBN + price generator.
- Type your ISBN.
- Leave the price field empty. The add-on becomes 90000.
- Download the vector PDF and place it at 100% on your back cover.
For KDP covers, the KDP layout works the same way: leave the price empty for 90000.
Frequently asked questions
Is 90000 the same as "free"?
No. It does not mean the book costs nothing. It means the barcode does not carry the price.
Will a bookstore accept a barcode with 90000?
It is the value BISG recommends when the US$ price is not encoded. Some retailers require a price in the barcode, though, so BISG asks publishers to check with their trading partners.
Should I use 90000 or leave the add-on out?
Both are valid barcodes. 90000 keeps the familiar two-part look of a book barcode. Ask your distributor which one it wants and follow that.
Can I use 90000 with a KDP cover?
Yes. KDP's help only asks that a price code match the list price if one is included. 90000 includes none.
Sources
- Book Industry Study Group, Barcoding Guidelines for the US Book Industry: bisg.org
- Amazon KDP Help, Barcodes: kdp.amazon.com
- BISG, Dollar Price Limit Increase in the Bookland EAN Add-On Bar Code (full add-on table): PDF