ISSN 2 Add-On Generator

What Is the ISSN + 2 Add-On?

This is a combined barcode: the standard ISSN-based EAN-13 (built from the periodical's 8-digit ISSN with the 977 prefix) printed alongside a smaller 2-digit EAN-2 supplement. The main barcode identifies the publication itself — the same on every issue — while the 2-digit add-on distinguishes which specific issue a copy belongs to, most commonly the issue or period number within the current volume or year.

This solves a real gap: an ISSN never changes across issues, so without an add-on, a scanner reading only the main barcode has no way to tell January's issue from February's. The EAN-2 add-on is the standard mechanism for attaching that per-issue distinction without needing a different ISSN for every single issue of a magazine or journal.

How the ISSN and Add-On Are Structured

The ISSN portion is built exactly as a standalone ISSN barcode: your 8-digit ISSN is combined with the 977 prefix, and a new EAN-13 check digit is calculated over the resulting 12 digits automatically. Nothing about this part changes when an add-on is attached, and a scanner without add-on support simply reads the ISSN portion and ignores the smaller symbol beside it.

The add-on itself is exactly 2 digits, encoded with its own parity pattern rather than a calculated check digit — the two digits you enter are exactly what's visible. There's no single universal rule for what the 2 digits must mean; publishers commonly use them to represent:

Issue number within the year — e.g., 01 through 12 for a monthly, or 01 through 52 for a weekly.
Month code — a simplified two-digit month representation for monthly publications.

Whatever scheme you choose, consistency across issues matters more than the specific convention — the add-on's job is to let a scanner or inventory system tell issues apart, and any internal team relying on that data needs to agree on how the two digits map to actual issues.

Technical Specifications

The combined symbol pairs two independently-structured barcodes:

Main symbol: ISSN-based EAN-13, built from the 8-digit ISSN with the 977 prefix and a freshly calculated mod-10 check digit, identical to a standalone ISSN barcode.
Add-on: EAN-2 supplement, exactly 2 digits, encoded with its own parity pattern rather than a calculated check digit — the two digits you enter display exactly as typed.
Meaning: no single standard governs what the 2 digits represent; common conventions include issue number within the year or a simplified month code, chosen and applied consistently by the publisher.

Because the add-on carries no fixed universal meaning, downstream systems (distributors, library catalogs) need to agree with the publisher on the convention used.

Where This Is Used

Weekly and monthly magazines distinguishing issues at retail without changing the underlying ISSN.
Academic journals issued in numbered parts within a volume, where library systems need to track which specific issue a physical copy represents.
Newsstand distribution and returns processing — distributors use the issue add-on to reconcile which specific issues sold versus were returned unsold.
Subscription fulfillment centers matching physical copies to specific mailing cycles.

How to Create an ISSN + 2 Add-On in Barcode Mint

Select ISSN + 2 add-on from the Retail (EAN/UPC) group. Enter your 8-digit ISSN — the 977 prefix and EAN-13 check digit are handled automatically — and enter your 2-digit issue code separately, such as 07 for the seventh issue of the year. The live preview renders the full ISSN barcode with the add-on positioned beside it as it will appear on the cover.

Decide on your issue-numbering convention before generating barcodes for a full year, and keep it consistent across every issue so downstream inventory systems interpret it correctly.
Adjust size so both the main barcode and the smaller add-on remain legible together; the add-on typically sits slightly higher and to the right, matching standard periodical cover layout.
Toggle human-readable text for both parts.
Set colors carefully if your cover isn't plain white, maintaining strong contrast for both symbols.
Preserve the quiet zone between the ISSN barcode and the add-on, and around the full combined symbol.
Export as PNG, SVG, or PDF, or Copy into your layout software.

For a full publishing year or multi-title run, the bulk CSV → ZIP/PDF tool accepts one row per issue with the ISSN and its 2-digit code, generating every cover barcode in one batch. The REST API supports the same call pattern, e.g. /barcode?type=issnaddon2&data=12345678+07, for automated publishing pipelines.

Print Placement Best Practices

Keep the 2-digit add-on in the standard position to the right of the main ISSN barcode with clear separation, matching the layout readers and scanners expect.
Update the add-on for every single issue — reusing an old issue's add-on on a new cover will cause inventory and returns systems to misattribute the physical copy.
Maintain the same numbering convention year over year if possible; switching schemes mid-run (e.g., from issue number to month code) can confuse automated reconciliation at distributors.
Test a physical proof with an actual newsstand or library scanner before a full print run to confirm both the main barcode and add-on read cleanly together.

ISSN + 2 Add-On vs Related Codes

How this compares to nearby formats:

ISSN + 2 add-on vs plain ISSN — the plain ISSN barcode is fully valid without the add-on; the add-on exists purely to let scanners and inventory systems distinguish individual issues of the same title.
ISSN + 2 add-on vs ISBN-13 + 5 add-on — books use a 5-digit add-on for currency and price; periodicals use a 2-digit add-on for issue number, reflecting the different information each format needs.
ISSN + 2 add-on vs a printed issue date — a printed date on the cover is human-readable only, while the add-on makes the issue distinction machine-readable at checkout or during returns processing.

Common uses

Weekly and monthly magazine issue differentiation
Academic journal issue-within-volume tracking
Newsstand distribution and returns reconciliation
Subscription fulfillment cycle matching
Publisher inventory systems tracking specific issues

Frequently asked questions

What does the 2-digit add-on on a magazine barcode mean?

It's an EAN-2 add-on that distinguishes one issue of a publication from another, since the ISSN itself stays the same across every issue of the same title.

Is the ISSN + 2 add-on required?

No, it's optional. The ISSN-based EAN-13 barcode is fully valid and scannable on its own; the add-on is used when a publisher wants issue-level distinction encoded in the barcode itself.

What should the 2 digits represent?

There's no universal standard — publishers commonly use issue number within the year or a simplified month code, as long as the convention stays consistent across issues.

Is this ISSN + 2 add-on generator free to use?

Yes — Barcode Mint generates the combined ISSN and issue add-on barcode free in your browser, with PNG, SVG, and PDF export.

Do I need a new ISSN for every issue?

No, the ISSN identifies the serial publication as a whole and doesn't change between issues; the 2-digit add-on is what differentiates individual issues.

Can I generate a full year of issue barcodes at once?

Yes — the bulk CSV tool accepts the ISSN and a 2-digit code per row, producing a ZIP or print-ready PDF covering an entire publishing year.

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ISSN 2 Add-On Generator

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