How to Convert a 10 Digit ISBN to 13

Making the Conversion

• 1

  Drop the last digit of the ISBN-10, creating a 9-digit number, ABCDEFGHI.

• 2

  Insert “978” at the beginning of the remaining number, creating a 12-digit number, 978ABCDEFGHI.

• 3

  Calculate a new final digit, the ISBN-13 check digit, Z. Multiply the sum of the numbers in even positions in the 12-digit number by 3, 3(7 + A + C + E + G + I). Add this product to the sum of the numbers in the odd positions, 9 + 8 + B + D + F + H. Divide by 10. Subtract the remainder from 10. The result is the check digit Z for the 13-digit ISBN. When the remainder is 0, however, the check digit becomes 0. Insert the calculated check digit Z at the end of the 12-digit number from Step 2, creating the new 13-digit ISBN, 978ABCDEFGHIZ.

Using an Online Converter

• 4

  Access the R.R. Bowker ISBN-13 online converter at ISBN.org.

• 5

  Insert the 10-digit ISBN, with or without hyphens, into the upper box.

• 6

  Click “Submit.”

• 7

  Copy and paste the 13-digit ISBN appearing in the lower box on the online converter page into your document.

• 8

  Verify the 13-digit ISBN, if desired, by using the Library of Congress ISBN converter at LoC.gov.

• 9

  Insert the original 10-digit ISBN, with or without hyphens, into the upper box.

• 10

  Select the “Hyphenate ISBNs” check box.

• 11

  Click “Convert ISBN.”

• 12

  Confirm the ISBN returned by the Library of Congress online converter matches the ISBN returned by the Bowker converter.