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EAN-13 Barcode Generator
Generate EAN-13 barcodes, the international standard used on retail products worldwide. EAN-13 encodes 13 digits (12 data digits plus one check digit calculated automatically). It is the most widely used barcode format for point-of-sale scanning in Europe, Asia, and most countries outside North America.
Customize
Preview
Enter a value to generate your barcode
Specifications
- Digits
- 13 (12 data + 1 check digit)
- Character Set
- Numeric only (0-9)
- Length
- Fixed (exactly 13 digits)
- Check Digit
- Modulo 10 (automatic)
- Standard
- GS1 / ISO/IEC 15420
- Superset Of
- UPC-A (adds leading digit)
Use Cases
- Retail product identification at point-of-sale
- International trade and product registration
- Book identification (ISBN-13 is a subset of EAN-13)
- Magazine and periodical identification (ISSN)
- Pharmaceutical product labeling
- Grocery and consumer goods packaging
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an EAN-13 barcode?
EAN-13 (European Article Number) is a 13-digit barcode standard used worldwide for retail product identification. It encodes a country code, manufacturer code, product code, and an automatically calculated check digit.
How do I get an EAN-13 number for my product?
You need to register with GS1 (the global standards organization) to get a company prefix. GS1 assigns a range of numbers unique to your company, and you assign individual product codes within that range.
What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
EAN-13 has 13 digits and is used internationally. UPC-A has 12 digits and is used primarily in North America. Every UPC-A barcode can be converted to EAN-13 by adding a leading zero.
Do I need to enter the check digit?
No. Enter the first 12 digits and the check digit (13th digit) is calculated and added automatically. If you enter all 13 digits, the generator will validate the check digit.
Can I create a valid EAN-13 without a GS1 registration?
You can generate any 13-digit barcode for testing or internal use. However, for commercial retail products, you must use a GS1-assigned number to avoid conflicts with other products.
What is the difference between EAN-13 and EAN-8?
EAN-8 is a shorter version with 8 digits, designed for small products where a full EAN-13 barcode would not fit. EAN-8 numbers must be specifically requested from GS1.
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