EAN-13 Barcode Generator

EAN-13 is the 13-digit barcode you see on products in shops almost everywhere. Type 12 digits and we'll work out the last one, or type all 13 and we'll check it.

Barcode type
EAN-13Choose another type

Enter 12 digits and the check digit is added, or 13 digits to have it verified.

Your barcode will appear here.

Your barcode data is processed in your browser and is not uploaded to our server.

Size and appearance

The blank margin (quiet zone) is never smaller than 10 times the bar width, so the barcode stays scannable.

EAN-13 at a glance

Digits13 (12 data digits + 1 check digit)
CharactersDigits only
Check digitLast digit; calculated automatically
Typical useRetail product packaging, books (ISBN-13)

What you can enter

  • Exactly 12 digits (the check digit is added), or 13 digits including a correct check digit
  • Digits only; no letters, hyphens or symbols
  • If you type 13 digits and the last one is wrong, the generator tells you the correct digit instead of creating the barcode

What is an EAN-13 barcode?

EAN stands for European Article Number. The 13 digits are what GS1 calls a GTIN-13: a prefix that shows which GS1 office issued the number, then the company and item reference, then one last digit that is calculated from all the others.

That last digit is a safety net. If a scanner misreads a bar or someone mistypes a number, the sums don't add up and the scan is rejected, so you don't end up charging for the wrong product.

Where EAN-13 is used

  • Products sold in shops across Europe, Asia, Africa and most other regions. North American tills read it too
  • Books: an ISBN-13 starts with 978 or 979 and is printed as an EAN-13, so the barcode on the back cover is one
  • Price tags and shelf labels that point to a product number
  • Testing a till or stock system before you have real product numbers

EAN-13 compared with other retail barcodes

In North America you'll more often meet the 12-digit UPC-A. It's the same thing as an EAN-13 with a zero added at the front, so modern systems treat the two alike. If the pack is tiny, look at EAN-8. If you're labelling cartons rather than single products, ITF-14 is the usual pick.

And if the barcode is only for your own stock control, not for retail, a Code 128 barcode is easier to work with because it accepts letters too.

How to create a EAN-13 barcode

  1. Enter your data in the box above, for example 590123412345.
  2. Check the preview and read any message under the box. It explains how to fix invalid input.
  3. Adjust the bar width, height or margin under “Size and appearance” if you need to.
  4. Select Download PNG, Download SVG or Print. Files are named ean-13-barcode.png and ean-13-barcode.svg.

Prefer another format? Return to the barcode generator to choose a different type.

About product numbers and GS1

This site creates barcode images. It does not issue or register product numbers. Retailers and online marketplaces generally expect the GTIN, UPC or EAN on a product to be issued to your business by GS1, the standards organisation that manages these numbers, through its local member organisation. If you plan to sell products through retailers, obtain your numbers from GS1 first and then enter them here to create the barcode artwork. For testing, training, mock-ups and internal use, any correctly formed number will do.

EAN-13 questions

What is the check digit and how is it calculated?

It's the 13th digit. Going from the right of the first 12 digits, multiply them alternately by 3 and 1 and add everything up. The check digit is whatever you need to add to reach the next multiple of 10. The generator does the maths for you.

Why was my 13-digit number rejected?

The last digit didn't match the check digit worked out from the first 12. The message tells you what it should be. If you're not sure about your number, just enter the first 12 digits.

Is an ISBN the same as an EAN-13?

Pretty much. An ISBN-13 starts with 978 or 979 and is printed as an EAN-13 barcode, so go ahead and enter it here.

Can I use any 12 digits for a product I want to sell in shops?

It will scan, but shops and marketplaces expect numbers issued to your business through GS1. See the note below.

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