A free, offline, dependency-free EAN-13 barcode generator designed specifically for ISBN-13 book-cover production.
No account. No upload. No tracking. No barcode font. No external library required.
The easiest version is the browser app:
- Download
standalone/EAN13_Book_Barcode_Generator.html. - Double-click the file.
- Enter an ISBN-13, or the first 12 digits and let the app calculate the check digit.
- Export SVG for a print-cover master, or PNG if your layout workflow requires raster artwork.
The app runs entirely in your browser from the local file. It does not need an internet connection or a web server.
You can also use the repository's index.html directly through GitHub Pages. Barcode generation still happens entirely client-side in the browser.
You can run the generator directly in your browser:
Open the EAN-13 Book Barcode Generator
Barcode generation and export are performed locally in your browser. The ISBN/EAN-13 number you enter is not uploaded or transmitted to a server by this application.
For offline use, download standalone/EAN13_Book_Barcode_Generator.html and open it in any modern browser.
- Encodes true EAN-13 bar patterns rather than using a barcode-lookalike font.
- Accepts 12 digits and calculates the EAN-13 check digit.
- Accepts 13 digits and validates the supplied check digit.
- Provides a Book/ISBN mode that requires a
978or979prefix. - Exports SVG with vector bars.
- Exports high-resolution PNG with integer-pixel barcode modules for crisp edges.
- Supports white or transparent backgrounds.
- Preserves EAN-13 quiet zones.
- Supports the standard 80%–200% retail magnification range.
- Displays the 13 human-readable EAN digits.
- Generates no five-digit price add-on.
For ordinary print-cover use:
- Leave Book/ISBN mode enabled.
- Leave magnification at 100% unless your printer or distributor requires something different.
- Use a white background.
- Export SVG and place it at its native physical size in your cover layout.
- Do not stretch the barcode disproportionately after export.
- Keep the full white quiet-zone area unobstructed.
Transparent output is available, but only use it when the entire barcode area — including both quiet zones — sits over solid white. A coloured, textured, photographic or gradient background can reduce scan reliability.
| Item | Dimension |
|---|---|
| X-dimension / module | 0.330 mm |
| Encoded EAN-13 symbol | 31.35 mm / 95 modules |
| Left quiet zone | 3.63 mm / 11 modules |
| Right quiet zone | 2.31 mm / 7 modules |
| Overall width including quiet zones | 37.29 mm |
| Normal bar height | 22.85 mm |
| Overall symbol height including human-readable digits | 25.93 mm |
GS1's current General Specifications identify the EAN-13 left and right quiet zones as 11X and 7X respectively and use 0.330 mm as the target X-dimension. See the GS1 General Specifications.
ISBN-13 is compatible with EAN-13 encoding and uses 978 or 979 prefixes. The International ISBN Agency's current ISBN Users' Manual page is the authoritative starting point for ISBN-specific guidance.
This generator intentionally does not add the five-digit price supplement. Historically, that supplement has been used mainly in the United States and Canada for book-trade pricing and is not normally needed for Australian publishing.
Some publishing workflows also display the formatted text ISBN 978-… near the barcode. This utility generates the EAN-13 symbol and its required human-readable EAN digits; add any publisher-specific ISBN caption or surrounding text in your cover-layout application if your printer, distributor or local ISBN guidance requires it.
SVG is recommended for book covers. The bars are vector rectangles, so they remain sharp through normal print workflows.
PNG is provided for applications that cannot use SVG. The PNG exporter rounds each barcode module to an integer number of pixels, then records the corresponding physical resolution in the PNG metadata. This avoids soft or uneven bar edges caused by fractional-pixel modules.
index.html and standalone/EAN13_Book_Barcode_Generator.html contain the full application: HTML, CSS and JavaScript in one file. There are no external scripts, fonts, analytics or network calls.
That makes the app suitable for:
- offline use;
- archiving with a publishing project;
- GitHub Pages;
- sharing as a single file;
- inspecting the complete source before use.
An alternative Python/Tkinter version is under python/.
It requires only Python 3 and Tkinter. No third-party Python packages are used.
Windows:
py -3 python/ean13_book_barcode.py
Or double-click python/run_barcode_generator.bat after ensuring Python is available.
macOS / Linux:
python3 python/ean13_book_barcode.py
Some Linux distributions package Tkinter separately. On Debian/Ubuntu:
sudo apt install python3-tk
The Python version includes simple known-value tests:
python3 python/ean13_book_barcode.py --self-test
Expected result:
EAN-13 Book Barcode Generator 1.0.0: all self-tests passed
The browser version also performs several internal assertions on startup in the browser console.
The examples/ directory contains both SVG and PNG output for the well-known example ISBN 9780306406157.
This project generates EAN-13 artwork from supplied digits. It is not a GS1, ISBN Agency, printer, retailer or barcode-verification service.
A technically correct digital image can still become unreadable because of print gain, scaling, low contrast, insufficient resolution, trimming, artwork placed inside quiet zones, unsuitable substrate, or other production factors. Where formal barcode verification is required, use an appropriate verification service or follow the requirements of your printer/distributor.
The browser app contains no network code and no analytics. Entered ISBN/EAN values remain in the local browser session.
Released under the MIT License.
Copyright © 2026 Peter Rodger.