# Barcodes for Amazon KDP and IngramSpark covers

> What KDP and IngramSpark expect from a cover barcode: size, 100% black, white box, placement, price code, and whether you need your own at all.

- Author: Marko Markovic, prepress specialist (https://barcoderocket.com/about)
- Publisher: Barcode Rocket (https://barcoderocket.com/)
- URL: https://barcoderocket.com/articles/kdp-ingramspark-barcode
- Published: 2026-10-10
- Updated: 2026-10-10
- Topic: Amazon KDP and IngramSpark covers
- Sources: 5, listed at the end

## Short answer

Both Amazon KDP and IngramSpark will put a barcode on your cover for you, so you only need your own when you want control over it. If you place your own, both ask for the same essentials: black only (C0 M0 Y0 K100, no mixed black), on a white background, vector or high-resolution raster, in the lower part of the back cover. KDP's box is 2.0 x 1.2 in; IngramSpark recommends 1.75 x 1 in.

## The two platforms side by side

| | Amazon KDP | IngramSpark |
|---|---|---|
| Barcode added for you? | Yes, if you do not provide one | Yes, the cover template comes with one |
| Area for the barcode | 2.0 x 1.2 in (50.8 x 30.5 mm) suggested; minimum 1.4 x 0.8 in | 1.75 x 1 in recommended |
| Color | "100% black (not RGB/CMYK color or registration black)" | "Black only (0 Cyan / 0 Magenta / 0 Yellow / 100 Black)" |
| Background | Solid white | White box or white background |
| File type | Vector preferred, raster at 300 PPI accepted | Vector or high-quality raster |
| Distance from edges | At least 0.25 in (6.3 mm) from spine and trim | Keep inside the safety area of the template |
| Price in the barcode | Optional; must match list price if present | Optional |

![The barcode areas of both platforms, to scale.](https://barcoderocket.com/articles/fig/kdp-vs-ingram.svg)

*Figure: The barcode areas of both platforms, to scale.*

## Do you need your own barcode?

Usually not, but there are good reasons to make one:

- **You want to choose the price code.** 90000, a US price, or a plain ISBN, exactly as you decide. See [the EAN-5 guide](https://barcoderocket.com/articles/ean-5-price-add-on).
- **You use one cover for both platforms.** Many authors print with KDP for Amazon and IngramSpark for bookstores. One file with your own barcode avoids two different backs.
- **You want to design around it.** A barcode that the platform adds later can land on top of your artwork. If it is already in your file, you see the final cover.
- **You also print offset.** A printer will need the barcode in the file.

If you do not place one, leave the area empty. KDP says text or images under its barcode box get covered and can lead to the file being rejected.

## KDP in short

- Suggested size 2.0 x 1.2 in, minimum 1.4 x 0.8 in.
- 100% black on solid white, at least 0.25 in from the spine and trim.
- Not flattened into the cover image; right side up and square to the cover.
- A price code, if present, should match your list price.

Full guide: [KDP barcode size and requirements](https://barcoderocket.com/articles/kdp-barcode).

## IngramSpark in short

- Recommended 1.75 x 1 in, large enough to scan.
- Black only (0/0/0/100) over a white box or background.
- Vector graphic or high-quality raster.
- The template's own barcode can be moved but should not be resized.

Full guide: [IngramSpark barcode](https://barcoderocket.com/articles/ingramspark-barcode).

## The traps that catch most covers

1. **Rich black.** The barcode is set in the document's default black, which in many design programs and export settings becomes a mix of four inks. Both platforms ask for black only. [Why 100% K](https://barcoderocket.com/articles/100-percent-black-barcode).
2. **Color conversion on export.** IngramSpark notes that ICC profiles can turn 100% black into a mix. Export settings with color conversion can change your barcode. Check the final PDF, not just the design file.
3. **A low-resolution barcode image.** A PNG copied from a web page and scaled up prints soft. [Check if your barcode is vector](https://barcoderocket.com/articles/is-my-barcode-vector).
4. **A barcode on the artwork.** No white box on a photo or dark cover. [Barcodes on dark covers](https://barcoderocket.com/articles/barcode-on-dark-cover).
5. **Wrong place.** Too close to the spine or the trim. [Placement guide](https://barcoderocket.com/articles/barcode-placement-on-book-cover).

## Presets in Barcode Rocket

- **Amazon KDP:** a 2.0 x 1.2 in white box with the ISBN barcode and the EAN-5 add-on inside (90000 if you leave the price empty), 100% K, vector PDF. [Open the KDP layout](https://barcoderocket.com/?type=amazon#try).
- **IngramSpark:** the plain EAN-13 of your ISBN at 80% magnification, sized to fit inside IngramSpark's barcode area, 100% K, vector PDF. [Open the IngramSpark layout](https://barcoderocket.com/?type=ingram#try).
- **ISBN + price:** the standard ISBN barcode with an add-on at 100% (about 2.37 x 1.2 in with its margins), for covers with room for it; it is wider than IngramSpark's recommended area. [Open ISBN + price](https://barcoderocket.com/?type=isbnp#try).
- **Publisher templates:** your logo, the ISBN barcode, price and a QR code in one file, the same layout for every title in your list. [See custom templates](https://barcoderocket.com/publishers).

[Make a barcode for your KDP cover: open the free KDP layout generator](https://barcoderocket.com/?type=amazon#try)

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I use the same barcode on KDP and IngramSpark?

Yes, if it meets both sets of rules: 100% K, white background, vector, at a size that fits both areas, and the same price code. The ISBN must be your own, since a free KDP ISBN can only be used on KDP.

### Will KDP or IngramSpark reject my cover because of the barcode?

They check it. Common reasons for trouble are a barcode not in 100% black, artwork inside the area reserved for an automatic barcode, or a barcode too close to the edge. Follow the rules above and check the final PDF.

### Do I need a price in the barcode for IngramSpark?

It is optional. If you sell to US bookstores at a printed price, a price add-on can make sense. Otherwise 90000 or no add-on can work, but BISG asks publishers to check with their trading partners first, because some retailers require a price. Ask your distributor.

### Do ebooks need a barcode?

No. Only printed editions carry a barcode.

## Sources

- Amazon KDP Help, Barcodes (size, 100% black, white background, 0.25 in, vector, price code): [kdp.amazon.com](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G5HDYGP4BXLX4RUW)
- Amazon KDP Help, Low-Content Books (automatic barcode box, lower right): [kdp.amazon.com](https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/GGE5T76TWKA85DJM)
- Amazon KDP Help, What is an ISBN and Imprint? (free ISBN only on KDP): [kdp.amazon.com](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834170)
- IngramSpark, Understanding IngramSpark Title Processing (black only, 1.75 x 1 in, vector, template barcode): [ingramspark.com](https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/understanding-ingramspark-title-processing)
- IngramSpark Help, Cover File Creation: [help.ingramspark.com](https://help.ingramspark.com/hc/en-us/articles/35306346735245-Cover-File-Creation)