EAN‑13 Barcode Generator

Generate EAN-13 barcodes for retail products and packaging

Enter exactly 12 digits. The 13th digit (checksum) is calculated automatically.

Barcode Settings
Width of individual bars (1-10)
Total barcode height (20-200)
Generating...
EAN-13 Barcode Generated!
Tool used 0 times

Free EAN-13 Barcode Generator - Global Retail Product Identification

What is EAN-13?

EAN-13 (European Article Number) is the international standard barcode for retail product identification. It consists of 13 digits: a country code, manufacturer code, product code, and a checksum digit.

EAN-13 is used worldwide (except North America, which uses UPC-A). It's managed by GS1 and is essential for selling products in retail stores, supermarkets, and e-commerce platforms.

Key Features

  • Global Standard - Recognized worldwide
  • Auto Checksum - 13th digit calculated automatically
  • Retail Compatible - All POS systems
  • GS1 Compliant - Industry standard
  • Fixed Length - Always 13 digits
  • Free - No registration required

How to Generate EAN-13 Barcode

  1. Enter 12 Digits - Input your product code (country + manufacturer + product). You need a valid GS1 prefix.
  2. Auto Checksum - The system automatically calculates and adds the 13th digit (checksum).
  3. Adjust Size - Set bar width and height based on label size and printing resolution.
  4. Generate - Create your EAN-13 barcode instantly.
  5. Download & Print - Use on product packaging, labels, or price tags.
Important: To sell products in retail stores, you must obtain a valid GS1 Company Prefix from your national GS1 organization. This tool generates barcodes from any 12-digit code but does not assign official GS1 numbers. For testing purposes only use codes starting with 200-299 (internal use range).

EAN-13 Barcode Use Cases

Retail & E-commerce

  • Product Packaging - Consumer goods
  • Supermarket Items - Food and beverages
  • Electronics - Appliances and gadgets
  • Books & Media - ISBN barcodes (EAN-13 format)
  • Online Marketplaces - Amazon, eBay requirements
  • Price Tags - Shelf labels and stickers

Inventory & Supply Chain

  • Point of Sale - Checkout scanning
  • Inventory Management - Stock tracking
  • Warehouse Systems - Receiving and shipping
  • Distribution Centers - Product routing
  • Retail Analytics - Sales data collection
  • Supply Chain - Product traceability

EAN-13 Structure

13-Digit Breakdown:

  • Digits 1-3: GS1 Prefix (country or organization code)
  • Digits 4-7 or 4-8: Manufacturer code (assigned by GS1)
  • Remaining digits: Product code (assigned by manufacturer)
  • Last digit: Checksum (calculated automatically)

Example: 590-1234-12345-6 → Country: 590 (Poland), Manufacturer: 1234, Product: 12345, Check: 6


Best Practices for EAN-13

Do's

  • Obtain official GS1 prefix for commercial use
  • Use high-resolution printing (300+ DPI)
  • Ensure proper barcode placement on packaging
  • Test barcode with retail scanners
  • Maintain adequate quiet zones (margins)

Don'ts

  • Don't use fake or unregistered GS1 codes for retail
  • Avoid stretching or distorting barcode images
  • Don't print on curved or reflective surfaces
  • Avoid low-contrast color combinations
  • Don't make barcodes smaller than minimum size
Testing Range: For internal testing and private use, use GS1 prefix 200-299. These codes are reserved for in-store use and won't conflict with official GS1 numbers. Example: 200123456789.

Pro Tip:

For product labels, use bar width 2-3px and height 50-60px. For shelf tags and larger formats, increase to width 3-4px and height 80-100px. Always print at 300 DPI or higher for retail scanner compatibility!

Popular tools from this category

QR Code Generator

Create QR codes for URLs, text, phone numbers and more in se...

7 uses Try it
Phone Call QR Code Generator

Generate QR codes that start a phone call when scanned

1 uses Try it
WiFi QR Code Generator

Share your Wi‑Fi network name and password instantly by scan...

0 uses Try it