ISBN Information

Cost of ISBN Numbers

By Bill Pearce. Last reviewed and updated on Tueday, August 31, 2021.

The cost of ISBN numbers to individual publishers can depend on a number of factors, the first to be considered being what regional, national or linguistic group that you are part of. The global ISBN system is administered by grouping itself into a large number of groups, each of which largely oversees its own affairs. One of the things that each group administers is the cost of that region's, nation's or linguistic group's ISBN numbers.

As well as providing ISBNs, regional ISBN agencies may offer other products and services, such as barcodes for ISBNs, and self-publishing packages to assist self-publishers with services and products such as marketing, ebook creation and book cover design.

The Cost of ISBN Numbers in the USA

The ISBN authority for the USA is R R Bowker in New Providence, NJ.

You purchase ISBN numbers in blocks of 1, 10, 100 or more.

The table below shows the fee for each number of ISBNs purchased.

Cost of ISBN Numbers From R R Bowker For US Publishers
1 ISBN $125
10 ISBNs $295
100 ISBNs $575

Bowker also offer larger quantities of ISBNs for purchase, price upon application.

The Cost of ISBN Numbers in the United Kingdom and The Republic of Ireland

The ISBN authority for the UK and Ireland is Nielsen Book Services in Surrey.

You can purchase ISBN numbers singly, or in blocks of 10, 100, 1,000 or more.

The table below shows the total fee for each number of ISBNs purchased.

Cost of ISBN Numbers From Nielsen For UK Publishers (inclusive of VAT at 20%)
1 ISBN £89
10 ISBNs £164
100 ISBNs £369
1000 ISBNs £949

To order ISBNs if you're a United Kingdom publisher, including self-publishers, go to the Nielsen ISBN Store.

If you need further information or would like to discuss your particular requirements regarding ISBNs in the United Kingdom, then email Nielsen at isbn.agency@nielsen.com.