Free EAN-13 Barcode Generator — Create Retail Barcodes Online
Table of Contents
EAN-13 is the global standard barcode for retail products. Every item on a supermarket shelf in Europe, Asia, Australia, and most of the world carries an EAN-13. If you need to get a product onto international retail shelves or into a product database, EAN-13 is the format to know.
This free generator creates EAN-13 barcodes in your browser — no upload, no account, no cost. Enter your 12-digit GS1 number, and the check digit is calculated and appended automatically.
What Is an EAN-13 Barcode?
EAN stands for European Article Number (now called International Article Number to reflect its global use). The EAN-13 format encodes exactly 13 digits:
- Country prefix: 2-3 digits assigned by GS1 (e.g., 890 = India, 380 = Bulgaria, 978 = ISBN barcodes)
- Company prefix: Assigned by your national GS1 member organization
- Item reference: Your own product number
- Check digit: The 13th digit, calculated automatically from the first 12
The check digit is what prevents scanning errors. If even one digit is misread, the check digit will not match and the scanner will reject the read. This tool calculates it automatically.
How to Generate an EAN-13 Barcode
- Open the barcode generator and select EAN13 from the format dropdown
- Enter your 12-digit GS1 product number (do not include the check digit yet)
- The barcode renders instantly with the check digit appended
- Adjust bar height and size as needed for your label layout
- Download as PNG or SVG
Note: If you enter all 13 digits, the generator validates your check digit. If you only have a 12-digit number, the 13th check digit is computed for you.
Sell Custom Apparel — We Handle Printing & Free ShippingEAN-13 Check Digit Calculation Explained
The check digit is calculated using a weighted alternating sum. For digits d1 through d12:
- Multiply odd-position digits (d1, d3, d5...) by 1
- Multiply even-position digits (d2, d4, d6...) by 3
- Sum all results
- Check digit = (10 - (sum mod 10)) mod 10
Example: for 590123412345, the sum calculates to 69. Check digit = (10 - 9) = 1. Full EAN-13: 5901234123457.
You never need to do this math yourself — the generator handles it. But knowing how it works helps you catch data entry errors before printing.
Do You Need a GS1 Number for EAN-13?
For retail distribution (selling through stores, Amazon, major retailers), yes — you need a registered GS1 company prefix. GS1 assigns globally unique prefixes to ensure no two companies create the same barcode.
| Use Case | GS1 Number Required? |
|---|---|
| Selling at major retailers (Walmart, Target, Tesco) | Yes — retailers verify GS1 ownership |
| Selling on Amazon | Yes — Amazon checks GS1 registry |
| Internal warehouse tracking | No — use any 12-digit code |
| Prototype / testing | No — use any 12-digit code |
| ISBN books | ISBN is already GS1-compatible (978/979 prefix) |
GS1 company prefixes start at $250/yr for small businesses. For books specifically, see the ISBN barcode guide — ISBNs already have a GS1 structure built in.
EAN-13 vs UPC-A: Key Differences
| Feature | EAN-13 | UPC-A |
|---|---|---|
| Digits | 13 | 12 |
| Primary region | International (190+ countries) | USA and Canada |
| Country prefix | Yes (varies by country) | Always starts with 0 |
| Scannable by US retailers | Yes (since 2005) | Yes |
| GS1 registration | Through national GS1 body | Through GS1 US |
A UPC-A barcode is actually a subset of EAN-13 — prepend a 0 to any 12-digit UPC and you have a valid EAN-13. US scanners read both without any issue.
Try It Free — No Signup Required
Runs 100% in your browser. No data is collected, stored, or sent anywhere.
Open Free Barcode GeneratorFrequently Asked Questions
Can I use any 12-digit number for an EAN-13 barcode?
Technically yes — any 12-digit number will produce a valid EAN-13 barcode. However, for retail distribution, your prefix must be registered with GS1 to guarantee global uniqueness. For internal use, any number works fine.
Is EAN-13 the same as UPC?
No, but they are related. UPC-A has 12 digits and is used in North America. EAN-13 has 13 digits and is used globally. UPC-A barcodes can be read by EAN scanners, and all US retailers now accept EAN-13 barcodes. A UPC-A barcode is mathematically equivalent to an EAN-13 with a leading 0.
What is the minimum print size for an EAN-13 barcode to scan correctly?
The standard EAN-13 barcode is 37.29mm x 26.26mm at 100% magnification. The minimum scannable size is about 80% of that (roughly 30mm x 21mm). Do not print smaller than this or scanning reliability drops significantly. Use SVG output for the sharpest print quality at any size.
Brandon spent six years as a project manager where he became the team's go-to "tools guy" — always finding a free solution first. He covers generator tools and productivity utilities with a focus on real time savings.
More articles by Brandon →