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An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a unique 13-digit number that’s used to identify a specific book, edition and format. It's used worldwide by publishers, booksellers and libraries to identify and manage books, distinguish one title or edition of a title from another and make sure everyone is referring to the same book.
If you're looking to sell your books, you'll usually need the ISBN to get an instant valuation. At WeBuyBooks, we use the ISBN to identify the exact edition of your book so we can provide you with an instant cash offer.
Whether you're wondering what an ISBN means, where to find it or how to use it when selling books, you'll find everything you need to know below.
ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number.
Most ISBNs contain 13 digits.
Books published before 2007 may have a 10-digit ISBN (ISBN-10).
Every edition and format of a book has its own ISBN.
Paperback and hardback editions usually have different ISBNs.
You'll usually find the ISBN above the barcode or on the copyright page.
ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. Every published edition of a book is given its own ISBN. This means a paperback, hardback and revised edition of the same title will usually all have different ISBNs, which makes it easy to identify the exact version of a book.
The ISBN is usually easy to find if you have the book in front of you. Whether it's printed on the back cover, title page, or copyright page, locating the ISBN shows you the title, edition of the book, and format (softback or hardback). Most books display it in one of the following places:
On the back cover: Most books have the ISBN printed above or below the barcode on the back cover. Just look for the barcode accompanied by a series of numbers.
On the title page: Some publishers also include the ISBN on the title page along with other publication information. You can usually find the title page near the beginning of the book.
On the copyright page: The copyright page may also contain the ISBN alongside the bibliographic details. You can usually find the copyright page near the title page or at the back of the book.
Tip: If you're looking to sell your books with WeBuyBooks, you can simply scan the barcode using our website or app and we’ll identify the ISBN automatically, so there’s no need to find and type it manually.
If you don't have the book with you, you can usually find the ISBN online by searching for the book title and author online.
Browse online book retailers: Try searching online retailers like Amazon, Waterstones or Google Books. The ISBN is usually listed in the book's product details.
Explore library catalogues: Library catalogues often include the ISBN in their records. Search for the book in your local library's online catalogue or use a national library database to locate the ISBN.
Scan the barcode: If you have a phone with a camera, use the WeBuyBooks barcode scanner on our website or in our app to scan the barcode on the back of the book. Our scanner will quickly retrieve the ISBN and other details for you.
An ISBN helps identify the exact edition of a book, making it easier to buy, sell and search for books online. It can also be used to find publication details, compare different editions and locate books in library catalogues. If you’re selling books with WeBuyBooks, simply enter or scan the ISBN and we’ll identify your book and provide an instant cash offer. Because different editions can have different values, using the correct ISBN helps us give you the most accurate price.
Yes. Books published before ISBNs became standard in 1967 may not have one at all, and occasionally newer books can have damaged or unreadable barcodes.
If your book doesn’t have an ISBN, simply email info@webuybooks.co.uk with the book title, author, publisher and publication date (if known). Our Antiquarian book team will review the information and provide a valuation where possible.
If your book should have an ISBN but you can’t find it, send us the same details and we’ll do our best to identify the correct edition.
Enter or scan your ISBN to receive an instant cash offer.
An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a unique number that identifies a specific edition and format of a book.
ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number.
You’ll usually find it:
Not exactly. The ISBN is usually included within the barcode, but the barcode also contains additional information used by retailers.
No. Every ISBN is unique to a specific edition of a book. If the same title is released as a paperback and hardback, each version will usually have its own ISBN.
No. Many books published before ISBNs became standard, along with some privately published books, may not have an ISBN.
There are a few possible reasons: The book was published before ISBNs became standard. The barcode has been damaged or removed. The book is a private or limited publication. The ISBN is printed inside the book rather than on the back cover.
Yes. Searching an ISBN on Google, online bookshops or library catalogues is one of the quickest ways to find the exact edition of a book.
There are a few possible reasons: The book was published before ISBNs became standard. The barcode has been damaged or removed. The book is a private or limited publication. The ISBN is printed inside the book rather than on the back cover.
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