---
title: "What Are BISAC Codes? Book Subject Headings"
description: "What BISAC subject codes are, how a heading and its code are built, who uses them, and how they differ from the categories you pick on KDP."
url: "https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/bisac-subject-codes"
updated: "2026-10-20"
---

# BISAC subject codes

**Definition.** BISAC subject codes are the book trade's standard list of subject headings, maintained by the Book Industry Study Group (BISG). Each heading, such as TRAVEL / United States / South / General, has a nine-character code (TRV025070), and retailers, distributors, data services and libraries use them to classify, shelve and search for books.

Sources checked October 20, 2026.

## How it works

A heading has two to four levels separated by slashes, starting with a major section such as COMPUTERS or HISTORY. Its code is a three-letter prefix, usually a mnemonic, followed by six digits. BISG publishes the full list free online and releases a new edition each fall. Its guidance is that any item with an ISBN should get a code, that items with no subject, such as a blank journal, take NON000000, and that the code needn't be printed on the book at all. KDP's categories help page describes Amazon's own category tree, from which you pick up to 3 categories, and doesn't mention BISAC.

## An example

A guide to road trips across the American South fits TRAVEL / United States / South / General, code TRV025070. If it is also a food guide, BISG suggests repeating the search in other major sections and choosing a second heading there, so the book can be shelved in both places.

## Common mistakes

Assuming the categories chosen on KDP are BISAC codes: on Amazon you pick from its own tree. Settling for a General heading when a more specific one fits. And printing the nine-character code on the cover, which BISG recommends against: the code is meant for data exchange between companies, and the words of the heading are what people read.

## Questions

**Does KDP use BISAC codes?** KDP's categories help page describes choosing up to 3 categories from Amazon's own category tree, like shelves in a store, and doesn't mention BISAC. BISAC headings matter more when your book's data goes to other retailers and distributors.

**Do I have to pay for the BISAC list?** No, to look codes up: BISG publishes the full list on its website free of charge. A paid license is only for downloading the list into business systems.

## Sources

- [Book Industry Study Group: BISAC FAQ](https://www.bisg.org/BISAC-FAQ): What BISAC stands for, heading levels and code structure, who uses them, the yearly fall release, NON000000, not printing codes, and choosing headings across sections.
- [Book Industry Study Group: Complete BISAC Subject Headings List](https://www.bisg.org/complete-bisac-subject-headings-list): The free online list and the major headings.
- [KDP: KDP Categories](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200652170): Amazon's own categories, chosen when creating a book, with no mention of BISAC.

## Related terms

- [Keywords (KDP metadata)](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/kdp-keywords.md)
- [ISBN](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/isbn.md)
- [Low-content book](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/low-content-book.md)

## Read next

- [KDP categories and keywords: the rules](https://www.superebook.ai/guides/kdp-categories-and-keywords.md)
- [How to write a KDP book description](https://www.superebook.ai/guides/how-to-write-a-kdp-book-description.md)
- [KDP vs Gumroad vs Etsy for selling ebooks](https://www.superebook.ai/guides/kdp-vs-gumroad-vs-etsy.md)
- [All glossary terms](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary.md)