EAN-13 Barcode Generator
Generate a valid EAN-13 retail barcode, with the check digit calculated for you, and download it as a print-ready PNG. Free, no signup, nothing uploaded.
EAN-13 is the 13-digit retail barcode used on products worldwide outside North America. Enter your 12-digit GS1 number and the thirteenth digit - the check digit - is calculated and appended automatically, then rendered as a scannable PNG you can drop straight into packaging artwork.
Runs entirely in your browser · no signup · nothing is uploaded · updated 2026-09-08
Symbology
EAN-13
Retail products. Exactly 12 or 13 digits.
How to use it
- 1.Enter the 12 digits of your GS1 number, or all 13 if you already have the check digit.
- 2.The check digit is computed with the standard 3-1 weighting and appended for you.
- 3.Download the PNG and place it at 100% scale - EAN-13 has a defined nominal size and shrinking it below 80% breaks scanning.
What the 13 digits mean
The first digits are a GS1 prefix that identifies the issuing member organisation, not the country of manufacture. A product made in Vietnam and registered with GS1 UK carries a 50 prefix.
| Part | Digits | Who assigns it |
|---|---|---|
| GS1 prefix | First 2-3 | GS1, identifying the member organisation |
| Company prefix | Next 4-7 | Your national GS1 office, when you join |
| Item reference | Remaining | You, one per product variant |
| Check digit | Last 1 | Calculated - never chosen |
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a free EAN-13 number?
You can generate a scannable image from any 12 digits, and for a mockup or an internal test that is fine. For actual retail you cannot: the number must come from a GS1 company prefix, and major retailers verify that a barcode resolves to a registered owner before they will list the product.
How is the EAN-13 check digit calculated?
Multiply the digits alternately by 1 and 3 from the left, sum them, and the check digit is whatever brings that sum up to the next multiple of ten. Enter 12 digits here and it is done for you.
What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
UPC-A is 12 digits and EAN-13 is 13. A UPC-A code is really an EAN-13 with a leading zero, so every EAN-13 scanner reads UPC-A. The reverse is not guaranteed on older North American hardware, which is why products sold in the US usually carry UPC-A.
Does the first digit tell me the country of origin?
No, and this is the most persistent barcode myth. The prefix identifies the GS1 member organisation the company registered with, not where the goods were made.
What if my number is only 8 digits?
That is EAN-8, a separate short symbology for packaging too small for a full EAN-13. It is issued separately by GS1 and is not a truncated EAN-13.
How large should an EAN-13 barcode be printed?
Nominal size is 37.29mm by 25.93mm. The permitted range runs from 80% to 200% of that. Below 80% the bar widths fall under what checkout scanners are calibrated for and read rates collapse.
Can I put an EAN-13 barcode on a coloured background?
Only if the contrast holds. Dark bars on a light background is the rule - black on white is safest. Red bars are effectively invisible to the red laser in older scanners, so never print bars in red or place them on a red background.
Do I need a new barcode for each size or colour?
Yes. Every variant a retailer prices or stocks separately needs its own item reference. A shirt in three sizes and two colours is six EAN-13 numbers.
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