Fundamentals of Magazine Barcode: A Helpful Guide [2023]

All periodicals, including magazines, journals, and newspapers are given International Standard Serial Numbers (ISSN).

These magazine barcode numbers are accepted by a worldwide agency that assigns all ISSN numbers.

Continue reading for information on how to create an ISSN Number for your magazine…

A full guide on magazine bar code

What Is The Magazine Barcode?

As stated, the ISSN of the magazine or newspaper serves as the foundation for magazine and newspaper barcodes. 

Every newspaper, magazine, and other periodical publication falls under this.

ISSN is an 8-digit number that can be converted into a 13-digit number using the EAN-13 encoding standard to create magazine barcodes.

The Internet's electronic publications are likewise covered by ISSN numbers, however, they do not include blogs, commercial websites, or web pages that solely connect to other Internet URLs.

An example of a magazine bar code

How Do Barcodes For Magazines Work?

The conventional UPC barcode has 12 digits and is located on the left. This unique title's sale by a single publisher is identified by its 12-digit UPC code. 

The barcode on the right varies from one edition of the magazine to another.

The issue of a certain year is characterized by this barcode, often known as the periodical code or issue supplemental. 

For instance:

• Quarterly publications of magazines have issue numbers 01, 02, 03, and ultimately 04.

• The magazine restarts with the year 01 the following year.

• The issue codes for monthly publications are 01 through 12.

• Issue codes 01 through 53 are required for weekly magazines.

Your magazine title is associated with your business once your 12-digit UPC code scans at the register of the retailer. 

The 2-digit supplementary number also identifies the specific issue being bought.

You just need one UPC barcode to distinguish your magazine and as many issue supplemental codes as you publish issues per year, so keep that in mind when buying magazine barcodes.

A barcode mag

Do I Need An ISSN Barcode?

For everything that is a "serial," such as newspapers, magazines, journals, directories, yearbooks, and monographs in series, you require an ISSN number.

The following products shouldn't have an ISSN because they aren't regarded as "serials," hence they shouldn't: 

• Diaries

• Mail order catalogs

• Calendars

• Special edition magazines or newspapers

• One-off "book-a-zines" 

• Posters

• Serials are not meant for public distribution

• Puzzle books or fill-in crossword

• Instruction manuals 

For products not qualified for an ISSN, a standard "EAN-13 Barcode Package" is required. 

Notably, an ISBN number and associated barcode may be available for the item if it is a book (such as a manual).

ISBN number

See also: 2D barcode generator

What Are The Formats Of ISSN Barcodes?

The ISSN barcodes for magazines are available in 3 primary formats:

• Format 1

By adding a 977 to the beginning, removing the check-digit, adding two numbers (00) to the end, and recalculating the check-digit, the 8-digit ISSN number is transformed into a 13-digit number (EAN-13). 

The number is then converted into an image that uses the EAN-13 Symbology. 

In this scenario, the same number would appear in each magazine issue.

An ISSN barcode magazine format

• Format 2

The 8-digit ISSN number is once again modified to a 13-digit number.

Yet, this time the '00' added at the end is altered several times to produce a distinct EAN-13 picture each time. 

Each issue of the magazine would then have its own unique barcode image.

• Format 3

In the last format, the ISSN number is converted in the same manner as format 1.

Still, an extra 2-digit supplement code is added at the end to make a 15-digit (EAN-13+2) number. 

The supplement may be published either monthly (01-12) or weekly (01-52) depending on the issue or any way you want.

See also: Bar code for music

How To Create Your ISSN Magazine Barcode?

If other kinds of barcodes can be easily created using a barcode generator. The procedure of ISSN generating is a bit different.

Step 1: Get the ISSN number

Obtaining an ISSN number is the first-to-do action towards barcoding a magazine. But how to get ISSN number?

Due to the fact that a single international agency assigns all ISSN Numbers and does not charge any fees, this is a reasonably simple process.

The next step is to change your 8-digit number into a 13-digit number when you get your ISSN number.

Step 2: Convert an 8-digit number into a 13-digit number

Look at this example of how the “1234-5678” ISSN number is converted”:

• Add a “977” to the beginning ⇒ 97712345678

• Delete the final digit ⇒ 9771234567

• Add a “00” to the end ⇒ 977123456700

• Recalculate the check digit ⇒ 09771234567003

Step 3: Choose a format

The next step is to choose the bar code magazine format you want. 

As mentioned earlier, there are three alternative formats that each tackle the "many issues" problem slightly differently.

A 13-digit ISSN number format

Step 4: Get the images

You can have experts design your images for a fair price when you have decided what format you want your barcode to be in. 

They can also offer guidance regarding which format is ideal for you if you have questions about any of the aforementioned details.

An ISSN barcode for magazine