EAN vs UPC: The Difference Between UPC and EAN Barcodes
EAN vs UPC: a UPC-A barcode holds 12 digits and an EAN-13 holds 13, but they are the same barcode family. A UPC is an EAN-13 that starts with 0, so stores that follow GS1 read both. This guide compares UPC and EAN, shows how to convert one to the other and when to use each.
By the Barcode.codes editorial teamReviewed
What Is the Difference Between UPC and EAN?
A UPC-A holds a 12-digit GTIN-12 and an EAN-13 a 13-digit GTIN-13; they belong to the same barcode family and every checkout that follows GS1 reads both.
| Property | UPC-A | EAN-13 |
|---|---|---|
| Digits | 12 | 13 |
| Number inside | GTIN-12 | GTIN-13 |
| Company prefix from | GS1 US (a U.P.C. Company Prefix) | A GS1 office in any country |
| Short version | UPC-E (8 digits, zeros left out) | EAN-8 (its own GTIN-8) |
| Barcode family | EAN/UPC | EAN/UPC |
| Quiet zones | 9 modules on each side | 11 modules left, 7 right |
Are UPC and EAN the Same?
Not quite: a UPC-A is an EAN-13 whose first digit is 0, so every UPC can be written as an EAN-13 but not every EAN-13 is a UPC.
The Leading Zero
GS1's standard says a UPC-A may be decoded as a 13-digit number by adding an implied leading 0. GTIN-13s are never built from a prefix that starts with 0, so a 13-digit number starting with 0 is always a UPC.
How to Convert a UPC to an EAN-13
Put a 0 in front of the 12 digits; the check digit stays the same, because a leading 0 adds nothing to the sum.
- Take the full UPC-A, such as 036000291452.
- Add a 0 in front: 0036000291452.
- Keep the last digit: the check digit is 2 in both forms.
The reverse only works for an EAN-13 that starts with 0: drop the 0 to get the UPC-A. An EAN-13 that starts with any other digit has no UPC form; it needs a GTIN-12 of its own if a retailer insists on a UPC.
Try it: check digit calculator
11 digits without the check digit.
Check digit
2
036000291452
Show the calculation
| # | Character | Value | Weight | Product |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | ×3 | 0 |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | ×1 | 3 |
| 3 | 6 | 6 | ×3 | 18 |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | ×1 | 0 |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | ×3 | 0 |
| 6 | 0 | 0 | ×1 | 0 |
| 7 | 2 | 2 | ×3 | 6 |
| 8 | 9 | 9 | ×1 | 9 |
| 9 | 1 | 1 | ×3 | 3 |
| 10 | 4 | 4 | ×1 | 4 |
| 11 | 5 | 5 | ×3 | 15 |
| Sum | 58 | |||
Nearest multiple of ten at or above 58 is 60: 60 − 58 = 2
UPC-E vs EAN-8
Both are 8-digit barcodes for small packs, but a UPC-E is a compressed UPC-A while an EAN-8 is a separate GTIN-8.
UPC-E Is a Compressed UPC-A
A UPC-E leaves out zeros of a UPC-A that starts with 0, so it works only for numbers with four or five zeros in set places. The scanner expands it back to the full GTIN-12.
UPC-E to UPC-A converter expands a UPC-E or compresses a UPC-A.
EAN-8 Is a Number of Its Own
An EAN-8 carries a GTIN-8, which a GS1 office assigns one by one for packs too small for an EAN-13. It is not a shortened EAN-13.
EAN or UPC: Which One Do You Need?
Use the barcode that matches your GTIN: a UPC-A for a GTIN-12 from GS1 US, an EAN-13 for a GTIN-13 from any other GS1 office.
GS1's rules allow both at retail checkouts, so the choice follows where your number comes from rather than where you sell. Retailers and marketplaces can set their own requirements, so check what yours accept before you print.
UPC barcode generator draws a UPC-A or UPC-E and adds the check digit.
EAN-13 barcode generator draws an EAN-13 or EAN-8 from your number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an EAN-13 Show Where a Product Was Made?
No. Its first digits are the GS1 Prefix of the GS1 office that issued the company prefix, and GS1 states that the prefix does not identify the origin of the item.
Are UPC and EAN Interchangeable?
A UPC-A can always be written as an EAN-13 with a leading 0. An EAN-13 that does not start with 0 has no UPC form, so a product with only that number cannot get a UPC-A from it.
Can I Sell in the US With an EAN-13 Barcode?
GS1's rules allow an EAN-13 at retail checkouts, and US scanners that follow them read it. Some retailers and marketplaces still ask for a UPC, so check their requirements first.
Do I Need Both a UPC and an EAN for One Product?
No. A product has one GTIN, and you print it as a UPC-A or an EAN-13. Two different numbers for the same product would make it two products in the store's system.
Sources
The facts in this guide come from these sources, checked on October 8, 2026.
GS1 General Specifications, Release 26.0, ratified January 2026 defines the GS1 identification keys, barcodes and Application Identifiers; the text names the sections used.
GS1 US: How to get a UPC barcode describes the single GTIN and GS1 Company Prefix options and their limits.
Related Barcode Guides
- What is a UPC code?
The 12 digits, the check digit and how to get one.
- What is a GTIN?
The product number inside every retail barcode.
- Barcode country codes
The GS1 prefixes and the offices that issue them.
- Types of barcodes
Every 1D and 2D barcode type, what it holds and where it is used.
- What is a barcode?
What a barcode is, what it holds and where it is used.