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Amazon Standard Identification Number

An Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) is a unique 10-character alphanumeric code Amazon assigns to products in its store.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

An Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) is a unique 10-character alphanumeric code that Amazon assigns to products in its store. It is used internally to identify, organize, and track listings, including product variations. For books, the ASIN is often the same as the ISBN. Canadian sellers on Amazon.ca frequently encounter ASINs in product listings, catalog management, and advertising workflows.

Meaning and format

The Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) is a 10-character alphanumeric code used by Amazon to distinguish products in its catalog. The identifier consists of a combination of letters and numbers. For more on alphanumeric codes, see Wiki.

Purpose in Amazon’s catalog

Amazon uses ASINs to uniquely identify product detail pages and to group offers for the same item from different sellers. ASINs also support catalog management, inventory tracking, advertising campaigns, and review aggregation. For more on advertising technology, see Artificial Intelligence.

Relationship to other identifiers

Unlike global product identifiers such as the Universal Product Code (UPC) or European Article Number (EAN), the ASIN is an Amazon-specific code and not a global standard. For books, Amazon often uses the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) as the ASIN, making them identical. For examples of global standards, see Wiki.

Product variations

ASINs are used to identify product variations, such as different sizes or colours of the same item. This allows Amazon to associate related offers from multiple sellers with the correct product listing. For examples of product variations, see Car.

Key facts

  • ASINs are unique identifiers used by Amazon to organize products in its catalog.
  • They are 10-character alphanumeric codes.
  • ASINs help Amazon track listings, inventory, product detail pages, and product variations.
  • The same product generally shares the same ASIN across sellers on Amazon.
  • For books, the ASIN is commonly the same as the ISBN.
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Canadian context

Canadian readers who sell on Amazon.ca or use Amazon marketplaces encounter ASINs in product listings, catalog management, and advertising workflows.

Frequently asked questions

What does ASIN stand for?
ASIN stands for Amazon Standard Identification Number.
How long is an ASIN?
An ASIN is 10 characters long and uses letters and numbers.
Is ASIN a global product standard?
No. ASIN is Amazon-specific and is used inside Amazon’s own marketplace system.
Do different sellers use the same ASIN for the same product?
Yes. The same product typically shares the same ASIN across sellers on Amazon.
Are book ASINs different from ISBNs?
Often no. For books, Amazon commonly uses the ISBN as the ASIN.

References

  1. Amazon — https://sell.amazon.com/blog/what-is-an-asin
    Supports: ASIN meaning and 10-character product identifier
  2. UPCgen — https://upcgen.com/es/learn/what-is-asin
    Supports: ASIN format, Amazon-specific internal use, and catalog functions
  3. Lumina — https://www.get-lumina.com/glossary/asin
    Supports: Same product sharing ASIN across sellers
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Standard_Identification_Number
    Supports: ASIN history, relationship to ISBN, and product detail page URL use
  5. Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/browse/asin
    Supports: Definition of ASIN as Amazon Standard Identification Number
  6. DataFeedWatch — https://www.datafeedwatch.com/blog/amazon-asin-number-what-is-it-and-how-do-you-get-it
    Supports: Books using ISBN and ASIN lookup context
  7. Amazon Ads — https://advertising.amazon.com/library/guides/asins-introduction
    Supports: ASIN role in product detail pages, variations, inventory, and advertising