Last Updated on December 9, 2025 by NEK Editing

Books assigned an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) before 2007 contain 10 numbers and books assigned on or after January 1, 2007, have 13 numbers. These numbers identify your book’s title, author name, and publisher or imprint. They also identify the edition and format of the book, such as a paperback or hardcover. Once an ISBN has been used, it can not be used for another book or publishing format.

There are five parts to an ISBN that identify the prefix (usually consisting of 978 or 979), the registration group or country, the publisher, the title and format type, and the check digit. Separate each section of the ISBN with either hyphens or spaces.

If you plan on publishing a literary work and want to distribute it through online retailers, catalogs, libraries, or bookstores, you will need to obtain and use an ISBN. Continue reading to learn how your book can benefit from using an ISBN.

Who Uses the ISBN?

Libraries, retailers, booksellers, and publishers use the ISBN for listing, ordering, and selling copies of the book. Books are not the only source of the written word that uses an ISBN. Individual sections or chapters of books, articles from journals, and periodicals or serials that are made available separately may also use this identifier.

Each form of publication, whether it’s a paperback, hardcover, audiobook, or eBook (EPUB, PDF, MOBI, etc.) should have its own exclusive ISBN. If your book is also available in multiple languages, another ISBN will be required for each format. This means an author may need up to four or more unique ISBNs.

However, when publishing with Amazon (KDP and Audible), digital audiobooks and eBooks do not require ISBNs. Amazon will assign a 10-digit Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN), which is unique to the eBook or audiobook.

Who Should Apply for the ISBN?

The publisher of the book should always apply for the ISBN. A publisher is the individual, group, organization, or company responsible for the product and who bears the cost and financial risk for making the product available. It can be the author if they have chosen to self-publish their book.

Where Do I Get an ISBN?

An American self-publishing author can obtain an ISBN with Bowker or get a free one when publishing with Amazon’s KDP or another similar platform. Bowker is the official ISBN agency for publishers in the U.S. and its territories. Bowker also provides barcodes and copyright protection services.

For authors outside of the United States, they should contact their country’s national ISBN agency.

How Much Does an ISBN Cost?

To purchase one ISBN with Bowker it costs about $125. Although, you can get 10 for $295. You can purchase in advance and register your titles at any time after they are obtained and the ISBNs never expire.

Benefits of Having an ISBN

The ISBN allows the correct use of different formats of a book to increase the likelihood your book is found and purchased, enables efficient marketing and distribution, ensures customers receive the version they requested, helps to track sales, and ensures the book’s information will be included in the Books in Print database.

Do ISBNs Offer Copyright Protection?

The book’s ISBN does not bear any legal or copyright protection in the United States. However, some countries use the ISBN to recognize the publication as a form of copyright.

Please note, that you also do not need a separate copyright for each ISBN for your book. The copyright applies to the literary work as a whole, not to specific editions or formats of the work. However, you should include the following on your copyright page:

• Copyright Notice: It includes your name, the copyright symbol © and the word copyright, following the publication date, and an “All rights reserved” statement.
• ISBN: The book’s identification number is associated with the appropriate format (paperback, hardcover, eBook, etc).
• Rights and Permissions: This is where you state whether you permit or prohibit readers to use your material and in what capacity.
• Disclaimer: This is a statement declaring any name changes, timeline disparities, or any character’s resemblance to real, living persons is just a coincidence.
• Edition Information: If a book has been published more than once, each edition may be different.
• Credits: This is where you credit all of the people who helped finalize your book, including designers, editors, and illustrators.
• Publisher’s Address: This is important information for libraries and online sites like Amazon.

You can check with the U.S. Copyright Office if you want to copyright and register your literary work with the Library of Congress.

Note: With the increased use of AI tools, the U.S. Copyright Office has determined “that copyright can protect only material that is the product of human creativity.”

In most cases, you don’t need to register your book with the Library of Congress because the moment your work is created and available to the public, it has copyright protection. However, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work, you will need to register. Also, in a court of law, when you register published literary works within five years, they are considered prima facie evidence and can be used to prove your case.

If you have questions about ISBNs, please contact NEK Editing.