Free EAN-13 Barcode Generator

Generate EAN-13 barcodes used on retail products worldwide. The international standard for product identification at the point of sale.

EAN-13 GENERATOR

Create your free EAN-13 instantly

Generate EAN-13 barcodes for free. No registration required, no watermarks, no limits.

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What Is an EAN-13 Barcode?

EAN-13 (European Article Number, now officially the International Article Number) is a 13-digit barcode standard defined in ISO/IEC 15420. It is the primary product identification code used in retail stores across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The symbology was introduced in 1977 by the predecessor organization of GS1.

The 13 digits comprise a GS1 country prefix (2-3 digits), a manufacturer code, a product code, and a single check digit calculated with a modulo-10 algorithm. This structure guarantees global uniqueness when numbers are assigned through the GS1 system, preventing duplicate product identifiers across different companies and countries.

EAN-13 is fully compatible with the North American UPC-A system. A UPC-A barcode is simply an EAN-13 with a leading zero. Retail point-of-sale systems worldwide can scan both formats interchangeably, making EAN-13 the de facto global standard for product barcodes on consumer goods.

How to Create a EAN-13 Barcode

  1. 1

    Enter Your 12 Digits

    Type the first 12 digits of your EAN-13 number. The generator will calculate and append the 13th check digit automatically.

  2. 2

    Select EAN-13 Format

    Choose 'EAN-13' from the barcode type dropdown to ensure the correct encoding rules, guard patterns, and check-digit algorithm are applied.

  3. 3

    Customize the Design

    Adjust colors and dimensions to fit your product packaging artwork while keeping sufficient contrast for scanner readability.

  4. 4

    Preview and Validate

    Review the live preview and confirm the human-readable digits match your intended GTIN. Cross-check with the GS1 database if needed.

  5. 5

    Download for Print

    Export your EAN-13 barcode as a high-resolution PNG or SVG file, ready to be placed on product packaging, shelf labels, or catalogs.

Key Features

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Automatic Check Digit

The generator computes the modulo-10 check digit for you, eliminating manual calculation errors and ensuring every barcode scans correctly.

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Global Retail Standard

EAN-13 is recognized by point-of-sale systems in over 100 countries, giving your products seamless checkout compatibility worldwide.

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Print-Ready Output

Download barcodes at resolutions that meet GS1 General Specification print-quality guidelines for retail packaging.

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UPC-A Interoperability

Because UPC-A is a subset of EAN-13, your barcode works at every North American checkout lane as well as globally.

Use Cases

Retail Product Packaging

Consumer-goods brands print EAN-13 barcodes on food, beverage, and household product packaging to enable automated checkout at grocery and department stores.

Book Publishing (ISBN)

Publishers encode ISBNs in the EAN-13 format on book covers and back-of-book panels, allowing bookstores and libraries to scan and catalog titles instantly.

Magazine and Periodical Identification

News publishers assign EAN-13 codes (ISSN-based) to periodical issues for subscription management and retail distribution tracking.

Pharmaceutical Packaging

Drug manufacturers place EAN-13 barcodes on over-the-counter medication boxes, enabling pharmacies to manage stock levels and verify pricing at the register.

Warehouse Receiving and Putaway

Distribution centers scan EAN-13 codes on incoming cases to reconcile purchase orders, update inventory databases, and direct pallets to the correct storage location.

E-Commerce Product Listings

Online marketplaces like Amazon require a valid EAN-13 (GTIN) for product listings, using the code to match offers and prevent duplicate catalog entries.

Tips & Best Practices

  • check_circleObtain your GS1 company prefix from the local GS1 Member Organization before generating EAN-13 codes for commercial products.
  • check_circleAlways verify the check digit against the official GS1 algorithm — an incorrect 13th digit will cause scan failures at point of sale.
  • check_circlePrint the barcode at a magnification between 80% and 200% of the nominal size (37.29 mm wide) per GS1 specifications.
  • check_circleUse high-contrast colors and avoid red or dark-red backgrounds, which confuse the red-light lasers in many retail scanners.
  • check_circleRun a barcode verification test (ISO/IEC 15416 grade) on a printed sample before committing to a full production run.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?expand_more
EAN-13 uses 13 digits while UPC-A uses 12. A UPC-A code is effectively an EAN-13 with a leading zero. Modern POS systems read both formats interchangeably, so a product with a UPC-A barcode scans without issue on European EAN-13 readers and vice versa.
Do I need a GS1 membership to use EAN-13?expand_more
If you plan to sell products through retail stores or online marketplaces that require a GTIN, yes — you need a GS1 company prefix to guarantee global uniqueness. For internal-use-only barcodes, you can generate codes without a GS1 membership.
How is the EAN-13 check digit calculated?expand_more
The check digit uses a modulo-10 weighted algorithm. Odd-position digits are multiplied by 1 and even-position digits by 3, the products are summed, and the check digit is the number needed to round that sum up to the nearest multiple of 10.
Can I use EAN-13 for products sold in the United States?expand_more
Absolutely. All U.S. retail POS systems recognize EAN-13 barcodes. Since 2005, the Uniform Code Council (now GS1 US) requires scanners to accept both UPC-A and EAN-13, so there is no compatibility issue.
What is a GTIN and how does it relate to EAN-13?expand_more
GTIN stands for Global Trade Item Number and is the umbrella term for product identification numbers managed by GS1. An EAN-13 barcode encodes a GTIN-13. Other GTIN formats include GTIN-8 (EAN-8), GTIN-12 (UPC-A), and GTIN-14 (ITF-14 for cartons).

Other Barcode Types

Aztec CodeCode 128 BarcodeCode 39 BarcodeEAN-8 BarcodeUPC-A BarcodeData MatrixPDF 417

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