How much does an ISBN cost? $125, $29.50 or free.
In the US, one ISBN from Bowker costs $125 and a pack of 10 costs $295. KDP and IngramSpark give free ones that come with conditions. Here is what each route costs, what you give up with the free one, and a calculator for how many you need.
What you need
Enter how many books and tick the formats on the left.
for 0 ISBNs bought from Bowker, the US ISBN agency.
Prices from Bowker's ISBN price page, read October 27, 2026, before any tax or promotion. Bowker changes prices and runs offers; the checkout is the final word. This page is not affiliated with Bowker, Amazon or IngramSpark.
What an ISBN costs in the US
| Where | Price | Who owns it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowker, 1 ISBN | $125 | You | You are listed as the publisher |
| Bowker, 10 ISBNs | $295 ($29.50 each) | You | Never expire |
| Bowker, 100 ISBNs | $575 ($5.75 each) | You | Never expire |
| Bowker, 1,000 ISBNs | $1,500 ($1.50 each) | You | Never expire |
| IngramSpark, bought during setup | $85 | You | US authors and publishers, bought inside your IngramSpark account |
| IngramSpark, free | $0 | IngramSpark | "Non-transferable and owned by IngramSpark" |
| KDP, free | $0 | Amazon KDP | Paperback and hardcover only; KDP use only; imprint shows "Independently published" |
Bowker also sells bundles with barcodes: 1 ISBN and 1 barcode for $150, 10 ISBNs and 1 barcode for $320, and 10 ISBNs with 5 barcodes and a QR code for $395. Check what your printer's cover setup provides before paying for a barcode.
How many ISBNs does one book need?
One per format, and new ones for a new edition. KDP's ISBN page says each format needs its own ISBN and that the same ISBN cannot be reused for new editions that introduce significant changes. So one book usually needs:
- Paperback only: 1 ISBN, $125.
- Paperback and hardcover: 2 ISBNs, $250 as singles, still less than a 10-pack.
- Paperback, hardcover and ebook: 3 ISBNs. Three singles cost $375, so the 10-pack at $295 is cheaper and leaves 7 for later.
- Four books in three formats: 12 ISBNs. A 10-pack plus two singles comes to $545, just under the 100-pack at $575.
The calculator above does this for any plan, including the case where the 100-pack becomes the cheapest (from 13 ISBNs, when a 10-pack and singles would cost $670 or more).
Free ISBN or your own?
The free ISBNs from KDP and IngramSpark save $125 or more, and for some books that is the right call. What you give up is ownership and the publisher name:
- The imprint. KDP says a book with its free ISBN shows "Independently published" as the imprint. With your own ISBN you register your own publisher name, and KDP checks that the imprint you enter matches what the ISBN agency has on file.
- Where you can use it. KDP says its free ISBNs "can only be used on KDP." IngramSpark's free ISBN is non-transferable and owned by IngramSpark. A book printed through both on free ISBNs carries two different ISBNs.
- Who is the publisher of record. Bowker says the buyer of an ISBN is recognized as the publisher of the titles assigned to it.
For a business book that you will hand to clients, sell at talks and possibly move between printers, owning the ISBN keeps one consistent record for the book wherever it is sold. For a test edition or a book that will only ever live on Amazon, the free one may be enough.
Where the ISBN sits in the cost of a book
Even at $295 for a 10-pack, ISBNs are one of the smaller lines in what a book costs to produce. What a book costs lists the larger ones, the book printing cost calculator prices the copies you give away, and the book value calculator weighs the total against what the book can bring back.
Sources: Bowker, Buy ISBNs; Amazon KDP, ISBNs; IngramSpark FAQs. All read October 27, 2026.
Common questions
How much does an ISBN cost in the US?
From Bowker, the official US ISBN agency: $125 for one ISBN, $295 for 10 ($29.50 each), $575 for 100 and $1,500 for 1,000, on its price page read October 27, 2026. IngramSpark sells an ISBN you own for $85 while you set up a book in your account. KDP and IngramSpark also give free ISBNs that the platform owns.
Do I need a separate ISBN for each format?
Yes. KDP's ISBN page says: "Each format of your book (paperback vs hardcover) needs its own ISBN." Bowker says you need one ISBN for each edition and format. A paperback, hardcover and ebook of the same book is three ISBNs if the ebook has one.
Does an ebook need an ISBN?
Not on KDP. Its ISBN page says: "eBooks and low-content books are the only formats where an ISBN is optional." Other stores set their own rules, so check each one you plan to sell through.
Should I use the free ISBN from KDP?
It costs nothing, but KDP says a free ISBN "can only be used on KDP" and the imprint will appear as "Independently published." If you want your own imprint name on the book, or to print the same edition elsewhere with the same ISBN, buy your own.
Do ISBNs expire?
No. Bowker's page says ISBNs never expire, so spare numbers from a package can go on later books, formats or editions.
Does an ISBN protect my copyright?
No. Bowker's page says the ISBN conveys no legal or copyright protection. It identifies a specific edition and format of a book for retailers, libraries and databases.