BISAC codes

BISAC codes (from Book Industry Standards and Communications) are standard subject headings maintained by the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) in the United States. Each code pairs a nine-character identifier with a heading that runs from broad to narrow, for example FIC022000: FICTION / Mystery & Detective / General. The three letters name the main subject area, such as FIC for fiction, JUV for juvenile fiction or BUS for business and economics, and the six digits identify the heading within it. BISG updates the list every year, adding, renaming and retiring headings.

Why it matters for indie authors

Distributors, wholesalers, retailers and library catalogs use BISAC codes to decide where a book is shelved and which browse lists it appears in. When you distribute through a service such as IngramSpark, you choose the codes during setup, and they travel with your book’s metadata to stores and libraries.

Amazon works differently. KDP asks you to choose up to three of Amazon’s own store categories rather than BISAC codes. The two systems overlap but aren’t the same, so if you sell beyond Amazon, choose both with care. For Amazon’s side, the free KDP Category Finder suggests store categories that fit your book, with the reasons.

Example

An author is listing a cozy mystery set in a seaside bakery. FIC022000 describes it, but only in the broadest terms. BISG’s guidance is to use the most specific heading that fits and not to add the general heading alongside a specific one from the same branch. She opens the current list on BISG’s website, finds the most specific mystery heading that matches her book and makes it her first code. Her second code covers another real side of the book rather than repeating the first. She stops at two, well within the usual limit of three.

Common mistakes

• Choosing “General” by default. A broad heading files your book alongside everything in the field; a specific one reaches readers browsing your niche.
• Pairing general and specific headings from the same branch, which BISG advises against.
• Picking codes for visibility rather than fit. A book shelved in the wrong place disappoints the readers who find it there.
• Using an outdated list. Headings change every year, so check the current list before you submit.
• Assuming BISAC codes control Amazon categories. KDP uses its own category system.