Barcode space and back cover layout

The back cover sells the book, but it also has a job for the printer and the bookstore: a clear, scannable barcode. Leave the right space and the rest is yours.

Quick answer

Leave the lower right of the back cover clear: 2" wide x 1.2" tall for KDP (KDP adds its barcode there if you don't), and at least 1.75" x 1" for IngramSpark. The ISBN in your barcode must match the ISBN of that exact edition.

Want the answer for your book? Upload it and SparkPrep checks it against your printer's own rules.Scan my book free

Barcode box sizes

Printer	Box size	Where	Who adds the barcode
Amazon KDP	2" x 1.2"	Lower right of the back cover	KDP, if you don't
IngramSpark	1.75" x 1" (at least)	Shown on IngramSpark's template	IngramSpark's template includes it
Barnes & Noble Press	2" x 1.2"	Lower right of the back cover	See B&N's template
Lulu	2" x 1.2"	Lower right of the back cover	See Lulu's template

Keep a plain, light background behind the barcode. A busy photo behind a barcode can make it unscannable.

ISBN rules that cause rejections

One ISBN per format. Paperback, hardcover and ebook each need their own.
The barcode's ISBN must match the ISBN you entered for that edition, digit for digit.
KDP's free ISBN can only be used for the KDP edition. For IngramSpark you need your own ISBN or IngramSpark's.
A price in the barcode (the small add-on) must match your list price, or use 90000 for "no price".

A back cover layout that works

Top third: a short hook line in bigger type.
Middle: the blurb, 100 to 200 words, at least 10 point, high contrast.
Lower left: author photo and one-line bio, or a review quote.
Lower right: the clear barcode box.
Edges: 0.125" bleed on the outer edge and a safe zone inside the trim and spine fold.

Don't put the blurb in pale gray on a photo. It may look stylish on screen and unreadable in print.

SparkPrep checks the barcode area is clear and that the ISBN on your cover matches your book's ISBN. Need a fix? See IngramSpark's ISBN mismatch message.

Find out what's wrong with your files before the printer does

SparkPrep checks your cover and every interior page against the exact rules Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press and Lulu use, tells you each problem in plain English, and can fix it for you.

Scan my book free See how SparkPrep works

The scan is free and shows how many problems your files have. To see every problem and where it is, the audit is $1.99 ($3.99 after January 1). The Advanced Audit checks every page, up to 300, for $9.99.

Questions people ask

Do I need to add a barcode to my KDP cover?

No. KDP adds one in a 2 by 1.2 inch area at the lower right of the back cover if you leave it empty.

Can I put the barcode anywhere?

Follow your printer's template. KDP and most printers expect the lower right of the back cover.

More on this site

How a print book cover is builtHow a print book cover file is built: back, spine and front in one wide file, plus bleed and safe zones. The simple full cover size formula, with an example.KDP paperback cover size chartFull cover sizes for six trim sizes and 100 to 400 pages, white and cream.IngramSpark cover sizeIngramSpark spine from pages per inch, and full cover sizes for common trims.Book spine width chartSpine widths from 24 to 600 pages for every common KDP and IngramSpark paper.Hardcover and dust jacket coversCase wraps, hinges, flaps and the three files a jacketed hardcover needs.

Free help from SparkPrep

Book Preflight, ExplainedWhat book preflight is, who needs it and what gets checked before KDP or IngramSpark prints your book.Print File FixesStep-by-step fixes for bleed, margins, fonts, transparency, picture quality, color and spine problems.Rejection Messages DecodedWhat KDP and IngramSpark rejection messages really mean, in plain English, and what to do next.First Book GuideYour first print book, step by step: costs, timeline, words to know and the mistakes to skip.Free book toolsCover calculator, spine width, margins, DPI checker and page count, on sparkprep.legenddary.com.

Last updated 2026-11-01. Written by Joshua Davis, founder of SparkPrep. Numbers come from each printer's own published guides; always double-check your printer's current rules before you upload.