Free EAN-13 Barcode Generator - Retail Ready
Generate a standards-compliant EAN-13 barcode for retail product labels. Download as SVG or PNG.
Enter all 12 digits to generate the barcode.
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How to generate an EAN-13 barcode
Enter the first 12 digits of your EAN-13 number - the country prefix, company code, and product number combined. The tool calculates the check digit automatically and generates a scannable barcode in real time. Download the result as an SVG for print production or as a PNG for digital use.
The barcode preview updates instantly as you type. Once all 12 digits are entered the full 13-digit number is shown below the input and the barcode appears ready to download.
EAN-13 barcode structure explained
An EAN-13 barcode encodes a 13-digit number in a pattern of parallel bars and spaces. The number is structured as a country or system prefix (2–3 digits), a manufacturer code (4–5 digits), a product code (5 digits), and a check digit (1 digit). The check digit is derived mathematically from the preceding 12 digits and ensures the number has not been mis-scanned or mis-keyed.
Common country/system prefixes
- 000–019, 030–039, 060–139: United States and Canada (UPC compatible)
- 400–440: Germany
- 500–509: United Kingdom
- 600–601: South Africa
- 690–699: China
- 978–979: Books (ISBN)
- 977: Periodicals (ISSN)
Printing EAN-13 barcodes
For retail use, print the barcode within the GS1-recommended size range of 29.83 mm to 74.58 mm wide. Use a laser or inkjet printer with at least 300 DPI resolution. The quiet zone (blank space on each side of the bars) must be at least 3.48 mm. Always test-scan a printed proof before committing to a production print run.
- Use the SVG download for professional print workflows - it scales without quality loss
- Print in black on white where possible - colour barcodes require contrast checking
- Do not stretch the barcode disproportionately - bar width is critical for scanning
- Maintain the quiet zone on both sides of the barcode
Frequently asked questions
What is an EAN-13 barcode?
EAN-13 (European Article Number) is a 13-digit barcode standard used worldwide to identify retail products. It is an extension of the older UPC-A standard and is the format you see on almost every supermarket product. The first 2–3 digits are the country or system prefix, the next 4–5 digits are the company number, the following 5 digits are the product number, and the final digit is the check digit calculated automatically.
How does the check digit calculation work?
The EAN-13 check digit uses a weighted modulo-10 algorithm. Each of the first 12 digits is multiplied alternately by 1 and 3 (starting with 1 for position 1). The products are summed, the result is divided by 10, and the check digit is 10 minus the remainder (or 0 if the remainder is already 0). This tool calculates and displays the check digit automatically as you type.
Can I use any 12-digit number for an EAN-13 barcode?
Technically yes - the check digit can be calculated for any 12-digit sequence and a valid barcode will be generated. However, for commercial retail use you must obtain an official GS1 company prefix and product number through GS1 (the international standards body) in your country. Using arbitrary numbers on retail products without registration can cause conflicts in retail databases and supply chains.
What is the minimum print size for an EAN-13 barcode?
The GS1 specification defines a nominal size of 37.29 mm wide by 26.26 mm tall for EAN-13. The allowable magnification range is 80–200% of nominal (29.83–74.58 mm wide). Below 80%, scanning reliability decreases significantly. The downloaded SVG from this tool scales without quality loss, so you can print at any size while maintaining sharp lines.
What file format should I download - SVG or PNG?
Download SVG for use in design software, print production, or any situation where the file may be resized. SVG is a vector format that renders crisp lines at any scale. Download PNG when you need a raster image for a web page, document, or application that does not support SVG. The PNG is exported at high resolution suitable for most printed labels.
Is this barcode compatible with retail scanners and point-of-sale systems?
The barcode generated here follows the ISO/IEC 15420 standard for EAN/UPC barcodes and will scan on any compliant reader. However, whether a specific product number is registered in a retailer's product database is a separate matter - the physical scan will succeed, but the retailer's system will only recognise it if the product has been registered with them.
What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
UPC-A is a 12-digit code historically used in North America, and EAN-13 is the 13-digit international extension. An EAN-13 barcode with a leading zero is equivalent to the 12-digit UPC-A (the leading zero is the country prefix). All modern retail scanners read both formats transparently. If you are selling only in North America, UPC-A is sufficient; for global distribution, EAN-13 is preferred.
Can I generate an EAN-13 barcode for a book or magazine?
Books use a specific EAN-13 variant called ISBN-13. The barcode structure is identical to EAN-13, but the data must come from a valid ISBN-13 number issued by the national ISBN agency for your country. You can enter your 12-digit ISBN-13 (without the check digit) and this tool will calculate and render the barcode correctly. The prefix for books is always 978 or 979.
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