Check an ISBN-10 or an ISBN-13

Check an ISBN-10 or an ISBN-13. Useful for developers and administrators checking data before an import, form submission or integration.

Check an ISBN-10 or an ISBN-13. See a clear result update immediately in your browser, with no account, upload or stored data to worry about.

How to use

Type the ISBN into the input field, with or without hyphens, since both layouts are accepted here.
Keep only digits and a possible final X from an ISBN-10; words such as paperback or volume two do not belong in the field.
Start the check with the button provided and look at the answer shown beside your entry.
If the value is rejected, examine the last character first: it carries the check digit and usually points to a typo.
Clear the field before testing the next reference when you are working through several books.

Example

The sample is an ISBN-13 written with hyphens. After running the check, focus on the validation message: a reference whose check character matches its other digits is accepted, while a single mistyped digit is enough to have it refused.

Input

978-0-306-40615-7

Limits and formats

The tool checks structure and the check digit, not whether the book exists in any bookstore catalogue.
A valid ISBN may belong to a title that is out of print or never published; correct formatting says nothing about the book itself.
Library shelf marks, general article barcodes and journal identifiers do not follow this numbering scheme.
Hyphens are optional and their placement varies between publishers, so do not read them as a mistake.

Where processing happens

The validation runs in your browser on whatever value you type or import. No identifier is sent anywhere, and nothing is kept after you leave the page, which suits catalogues you would rather not share with an outside service.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ISBN-10 and ISBN-13?

The older form uses ten characters and may end with an X, while the newer one uses thirteen digits only. Both are accepted here, with or without hyphens, and the message tells you whether the check character matches.

Why is my ISBN rejected when it comes from a real book?

A copied digit, two swapped numbers or a hyphen read as a character is often enough. Compare your entry with the copyright page and run the check again; the final check character exposes most mistakes.

Can I validate many ISBNs at once?

The field is built around one reference per check. Working through a whole catalogue value by value is possible but slow, and a short script will handle that volume far more comfortably.