How To Get An ISBN In Australia: Costs, Steps And Mistakes To Avoid

By Tasman Publishers 23 October 2026 8 min read

In Australia, ISBNs are sold by Thorpe-Bowker, the official ISBN agency, through myidentifiers.com.au. You need one ISBN per format (paperback, hardback, ebook, audiobook), so most authors buy a pack rather than a single number. Register the ISBNs in your own name, not a platform's, so you keep control of your book.

An ISBN is a small number with big consequences. Get it right, and your book can be sold in any bookshop, library or online store in the world. Get it wrong, and you can end up locked into one retailer, or listed under someone else's name as the publisher. Here is how ISBNs work for Australian authors, step by step.

What Is An ISBN, And Do You Need One?

An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a 13-digit number that identifies one specific edition and format of a book. Bookshops, wholesalers, libraries and online retailers use it to order, stock and track your book.

Format	Do you need an ISBN?
Paperback or hardback for sale	Yes. Bookshops, libraries and wholesalers need it to order the book.
Kindle ebook (Amazon only)	No. Amazon assigns its own ASIN.
Ebook sold on other stores (Apple, Kobo, libraries)	Yes, in practice. Most distributors and library platforms expect one.
Audiobook	Recommended. Some platforms don't require one, but wider retail and library distribution does.
Family history or private print run you won't sell	Optional. No ISBN is needed if the book will never be sold through the trade.

Who Issues ISBNs In Australia?

Thorpe-Bowker is the official ISBN agency for Australia. You buy ISBNs directly from them at myidentifiers.com.au. Some publishing platforms resell ISBNs too, but buying from the agency is the simplest way to make sure they are registered to you.

New Zealand authors: ISBNs are free in New Zealand. The National Library of New Zealand issues them to publishers and self-publishers located in NZ. You apply online, and after publication you send copies of the finished book to the National Library.

What Affects What You Pay For ISBNs?

Thorpe-Bowker sets ISBN prices and publishes the current list on myidentifiers.com.au. What you end up paying depends on a few choices:

Factor	How it affects the cost
Single ISBN or a pack	Packs cost far less per ISBN. A single number only makes sense for a one-format book you will never republish.
How many formats	Each format needs its own ISBN, so paperback, ebook, hardback and audio editions each use one.
First-time buyer	New publishers pay a one-off setup fee on their first order.
Barcodes	Buying a barcode from the agency is extra, but many printing platforms generate one for free.
Future books	If you plan a series or a second book, a pack covers those too.

For most authors a pack is the sensible choice. A paperback and an ebook already need two ISBNs. Add a hardback or an audiobook, and a single book can use four. A pack usually costs about the same as buying just a couple of ISBNs singly.

Publishing with us? ISBN registration is part of the publishing service, so it's covered in your fixed, itemised quote. What the full project costs depends on your manuscript's length, the formats you want and how quickly you need the book.

Want Us To Handle The ISBNs? We register Australian ISBNs through Thorpe-Bowker in your own legal name, set up the metadata and barcode, and get the book ready for every store. Send us the details for a fixed quote. Get a fixed quote or call +61 8 7111 2944.

How Many ISBNs Do You Need?

You need one ISBN for each format and each edition:

Paperback: one ISBN
Hardback: a different ISBN
Ebook (EPUB): a different ISBN
Audiobook: a different ISBN
Large-print edition: a different ISBN

You do not need a new ISBN for a straight reprint, a new print run, a price change or small corrections. You do need a new one for a significantly revised edition.

How To Get An ISBN In Australia, Step By Step

Decide your publisher name. This can be your own legal name, or an imprint name you use for your books. It appears as the publisher in retailer and library records, so choose it before you buy. It is hard to change later.
Create an account at myidentifiers.com.au. Register in your own name, or your business's name, as the publisher.
Buy your ISBNs. For most authors this means a pack. The new publisher fee is added to your first order.
Assign an ISBN to each format. In your Thorpe-Bowker account, enter the title, author, format, page count, price and publication date for each ISBN. Good metadata is what helps bookshops and libraries find your book.
Add the ISBN to your book. It goes on the copyright page and, for print books, on the back cover as a barcode.
Use the same ISBN everywhere that format is sold. For example, your paperback ISBN goes into both Amazon KDP and IngramSpark.

The Free ISBN Trap

Amazon KDP offers a free ISBN for paperbacks, and it is tempting. Here is the catch:

The ISBN is registered to Amazon, not you. Your publisher is listed as "Independently published".
It can only be used on KDP. You cannot take that ISBN to IngramSpark or a local printer.
Bookshops and libraries, which mostly order through wholesalers rather than from Amazon, are much harder to reach.

If your book is only ever going to be sold on Amazon, a free ISBN can work. If you want it in Australian bookshops, libraries and other online stores, buy your own. Bought in a pack, it is one of the cheapest decisions in the whole publishing process, and one of the hardest to undo.

Do You Need A Barcode?

For a print book sold in shops, yes. Bookshops scan the EAN barcode on the back cover, which is generated from your ISBN and can include the price. You can buy a barcode from Thorpe-Bowker, and print-on-demand platforms such as KDP and IngramSpark can generate one when you upload the cover. Your cover designer needs to know the ISBN before the back cover is finished, so sort the ISBN out early.

After You Get Your ISBN

Prepublication Data Service: the National Library of Australia can provide the "A catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library of Australia" statement for your copyright page, before publication.
Legal deposit: once the book is published, Australian law requires you to deposit a copy with the National Library of Australia, and usually with your state library too. Ebooks can be lodged through the National edeposit (NED) service.
Keep a record: note which ISBN belongs to which format. Mixing them up between KDP and IngramSpark is one of the most common self-publishing errors.

Common ISBN Mistakes Australian Authors Make

Using one ISBN for both the paperback and the ebook. Each format needs its own.
Taking the free KDP ISBN, then discovering it can't be used for bookshop distribution.
Registering the ISBN under a service provider's name instead of your own, which means someone else is your publisher of record.
Buying from an unofficial reseller. Resold ISBNs may already be registered to another publisher.
Leaving the metadata blank. A record with no description, category or price is almost invisible to bookshops and libraries.

Want Someone To Handle It For You?

ISBNs are one small part of getting a book ready for sale. When you publish with Tasman Publishers, we register your Australian ISBNs through Thorpe-Bowker in your own legal name. You stay the publisher of record, and we handle the metadata, barcode and retailer setup. For New Zealand authors, we register your free NZ ISBNs at no extra charge. You keep your copyright and 100% of your royalties.

See what a full publishing project involves on our book publishing page, or check typical prices on our publishing costs page.

ISBN Questions

How much does an ISBN cost in Australia?

Thorpe-Bowker, the Australian ISBN agency, sets the price and lists it at myidentifiers.com.au. ISBNs are much cheaper per number in a pack than bought singly, and first-time buyers pay a one-off new publisher fee. Most authors buy a pack, because each format of a book needs its own ISBN. If we handle publishing for you, the ISBN setup is included in your fixed quote.

Do I need an ISBN for a Kindle ebook?

No. Amazon gives Kindle ebooks its own identifier (an ASIN), so an ISBN is optional for a Kindle-only ebook. You do need one if you want the ebook sold through other retailers, or listed with libraries and wholesalers.

Can I use the free ISBN from Amazon KDP?

You can, but the book is then registered to Amazon, the publisher shows as Independently published, and you cannot take that ISBN to IngramSpark or any other printer or distributor. If you want your book in Australian bookshops and libraries as well as on Amazon, buy your own.

Do I need a new ISBN for a second edition?

You need a new ISBN when the book changes significantly, such as substantial new content, a new format or a new publisher. A straight reprint, or fixing a few typos, keeps the same ISBN.

Are ISBNs free in New Zealand?

Yes. The National Library of New Zealand issues ISBNs free to publishers and self-publishers located in New Zealand. You apply online and send copies of the finished book to the National Library after publication.