EAN-13 Barcode Generator

Create an EAN-13 barcode online for free: enter the 12 digits of your GTIN-13 and the check digit is added, or enter all 13 and it is checked. Add a 2- or 5-digit add-on, switch to EAN-8 for small packs, and download SVG, PNG, PDF or EPS at your printer's DPI.

Valid

40.8 × 27.8 mm at 300 DPI

Barcode

12 characters

12 or 13 digits; the check digit is added.

Check digit 7 is added.

2 digits (EAN-2, such as an issue number) or 5 digits (EAN-5, such as a book price: 52495 is US$24.95).

Barcode.codes draws the barcode for the number you enter; it does not issue numbers. Product numbers come from a GS1 Company Prefix: GS1 US.

Size and resolution

Output DPI

300 DPI · Thermal / offset

Sets the X-dimension and the minimum bar height together. 100% is a 0.33 mm X-dimension.

4 px per module at 300 DPI. Print size: 40.8 × 27.8 mm (1.61 × 1.10 in). PNG, WebP and JPEG: 495 × 337 px.

Human-readable text

Text size and alignment

Alignment

UPC, EAN, ISBN, ISSN and ISMN keep the standard digit layout in OCR-B, with the outer digits beside the bars.

Label textNew

Font

Alignment

Printed in the file with the barcode, outside the quiet zone, in Helvetica or Courier so it looks the same in every format.

Colors

Contrast 21.0:1; estimated symbol contrast 100%.

PreviewOff
Quiet zone (modules)2 · 7 · 2 · 11

Bar width reduction0 mil

Makes each bar thinner by this amount, to make up for ink that spreads on paper. Ask your printer for the value, or leave 0 for laser and thermal printing.

Rotation and backgroundNew0° · Filled

Rotation

In the preview, a checkered pattern shows the transparent areas. Print a transparent barcode only on a white or very light surface: scanners need the light quiet zone around it.

Margin and borderNew0 mm · no border

The margin is blank space outside the quiet zone, for cutting; the border is drawn at the outer edge. Both count in the print size.

Data inspectorNew12 chars
PresetsNew0 saved

No presets yet. Save the current settings to reuse them.

    Presets stay in this browser. They keep the type, size and style; the data and the logo are not saved.

    Recent barcodesNew0

    The barcodes you download appear here, newest first.

      The last 10 downloads, kept in this browser only.
      EAN-13 · Live previewValid
      EAN-13 barcode encoding 590123412345
      New

      Scaled to fit. Actual size shows the print size on screen.

      Print simulationNew

      Shows how a worn print looks and tests it with the decoder.

      Type
      EAN-13 · 1D
      Print size
      40.8 × 27.8 mm
      Raster
      495 × 337 px
      Modules
      95 wide
      GS1 prefix
      590 · GS1 Poland

      Download

      Vector drawing, 40.8 × 27.8 mm. Design and label programs place it at its print size.

      New
      More export optionsNewTest sheet · size set · embed code

      Print test sheet (PDF)

      The code at 80%, 100% and 150% with 100 mm and 4 in rulers. Print it at actual size and scan each copy before printing many.

      Size set (ZIP)

      Magnification

      Embed code

      Nothing you type is uploaded.New

      How to Create an EAN-13 Barcode

      Type the number, check the size and download the file; the check digit and the GS1 layout are handled for you.

      1. Keep EAN-13 selected, or choose EAN-8 if your package is too small and you have a GTIN-8.
      2. Type the 12 digits of your number, or all 13 to have the check digit verified.
      3. Add a 2- or 5-digit add-on only if your trade uses one, such as an issue number on a magazine.
      4. Download SVG, PNG, PDF or EPS at your printer's DPI and scan a test print.

      EAN-13 and EAN-8 Barcodes

      EAN-13 is the 13-digit product barcode used in most countries, and EAN-8 is an 8-digit version for very small packages.

      EAN-13: The International Product Code

      • Digits: 12 digits of the GTIN-13 plus a check digit.
      • Layout: the first digit is printed outside the bars and set by the other digits' patterns.
      • Quiet zone: 11 modules on the left and 7 on the right.
      EAN-13 barcode 5901234123457 with its first digit printed left of the bars.
      EAN-13 5901234123457: 13 digits, the last one the check digit.

      EAN-8: For Very Small Packages

      • Digits: 7 digits of the GTIN-8 plus a check digit.
      • Numbers: GTIN-8s are assigned one by one by a GS1 member organization, for packages too small for EAN-13.
      • Add-ons: none: GS1 defines add-on symbols only for EAN-13, UPC-A and UPC-E.
      EAN-8 barcode 96385074, a shorter barcode for very small packages.
      EAN-8 96385074: 8 digits.

      EAN-13 and EAN-8 Specifications

      These are the GS1 rules for EAN symbols scanned at retail checkouts.

      EAN-13 and EAN-8 at a glance
      PropertyEAN-13EAN-8
      Digits13 digits: a 12-digit GTIN-13 body and a check digit; the first digit is shown outside the bars8 digits: a 7-digit GTIN-8 body and a check digit
      CharactersDigits 0 to 9Digits 0 to 9
      Check digitGS1 mod 10: weights 3 and 1 from the rightGS1 mod 10: weights 3 and 1 from the right
      X-dimension (narrowest bar)0.33 mm (0.0130 in) standard; 0.264 to 0.66 mm allowed0.33 mm (0.0130 in) standard; 0.264 to 0.66 mm allowed
      Minimum bar height22.85 mm (0.900 in) at the standard X-dimension; 18.28 mm at the smallest and 45.7 mm at the largest18.23 mm (0.718 in) at the standard X-dimension; 14.58 mm at the smallest and 36.46 mm at the largest
      Quiet zone11 modules left, 7 modules right7 modules left, 7 modules right
      Add-onsOptional EAN-2 or EAN-5 add-on, 7 to 12 modules after the main symbol, with a 5-module right quiet zoneNo add-ons: GS1 lists add-on symbols only for EAN-13, UPC-A and UPC-E
      Where the numbers come fromA GS1 Company Prefix from a GS1 member organizationA GTIN-8 assigned individually by a GS1 member organization, for very small packages
      Example590123412345796385074

      GS1 General Specifications §5.2, §7.9, table 5-44 (page 410). GS1 General Specifications §5.2, table 5-44 (page 410).

      Sources, checked 2026-10-04: GS1 General Specifications, Release 26.0 (ratified January 2026).

      What the First Digits of an EAN-13 Mean

      The first two or three digits are a GS1 prefix: they show which GS1 office or system issued the number, not where the product was made.

      Prefixes With a Special Meaning

      • 0: U.P.C. company prefixes: an EAN-13 starting with 0 carries a 12-digit UPC.

        EAN-13 barcode 0036000291452: a leading 0 followed by the 12-digit UPC 036000291452.

      • 20 to 29: restricted circulation numbers for use inside a company or region, such as in-store weighed items.

        EAN-13 barcode 2001234567893, an example restricted circulation number starting with 20.

      • 952: reserved for demonstrations and examples of the GS1 system.

        EAN-13 barcode 9520000000011 under GS1 Prefix 952, kept for demonstrations and examples.

      • 977: serial publications, built from an ISSN.

        ISSN barcode 9770311175001: an EAN-13 starting with 977, built from ISSN 0311-175X.

      • 978 and 979: books (ISBN), with part of 979 used for printed music (ISMN).

        ISBN barcode 978-0-306-40615-7: an EAN-13 starting with 978.

      Prefixes Do Not Mean Country of Origin

      The GS1 General Specifications define a GS1 prefix as a range given to a GS1 member organization, which licenses company prefixes from it. The prefix records which GS1 office issued the number; nothing in it encodes where the product was made.

      How the EAN-13 Check Digit Is Calculated

      The 13th digit is a GS1 mod 10 check digit calculated from the first 12, the same rule as on a UPC.

      A Worked Example

      1. Take the 12 digits 590123412345 and weight them 3 and 1 from the right: 3 × (9 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 5) + (5 + 0 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 4) = 83.
      2. The next multiple of 10 is 90.
      3. 90 − 83 = 7, so the full EAN-13 is 5901234123457.

      EAN-13 or UPC-A?

      Use the format your retailers expect: UPC-A in the United States and Canada, EAN-13 in most other countries.

      Selling in the United States and Canada

      Products sold in stores in the United States and Canada usually carry a UPC-A. A UPC-A has the same bars as an EAN-13 that starts with 0, so a scanner reads either way.

      Selling in Other Countries

      Most other countries use EAN-13 with a company prefix from their national GS1 organization. Check with your retailers if you sell in more than one market.

      EAN vs UPC the full comparison and how to convert a UPC to an EAN-13.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Is This EAN-13 Barcode Generator Free?

      Yes, with no account, no watermark and no download limit. You may use the barcodes on commercial products.

      Do I Need to Enter the Check Digit?

      No. Type 12 digits and the 13th is calculated for you; type all 13 and the generator checks it and offers a fix if it is wrong.

      When Should I Use EAN-8 Instead of EAN-13?

      Only when the package is too small for an EAN-13 and you have a GTIN-8, which a GS1 member organization assigns individually. An EAN-13 number cannot simply be shortened to 8 digits.

      Does the First Digit Show the Country of Origin?

      No. The first digits are a GS1 prefix, which shows which GS1 organization issued the number. Nothing in the number encodes where the product was made.

      Can an EAN-13 Have an Add-On?

      Yes, a 2- or 5-digit add-on can follow an EAN-13, mostly on magazines and books. Scanners at the checkout may ignore it, so the main number must identify the product on its own.

      Which File Should I Send to My Printer?

      Send the SVG: it is a vector file with its print size in millimeters. If your printer asks for an image, send a PNG at their DPI.

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