EAN-13
The 13-digit retail point-of-sale barcode used on consumer products worldwide outside North America.
EAN-13 Specification
| Character set | Digits 0-9 only |
| Data length | Exactly 13 digits (12 data + 1 check) |
| Check digit | Mandatory Mod 10 check digit, computed from the first 12 digits |
| Density | 95 modules total; 13 digits fixed capacity |
| Module width (X-dimension) | Nominal 0.33 mm X at 100% magnification |
| Print ratio | Variable-width bars and spaces (2-wide encoding per digit half) |
| Magnification | 80%-200% of nominal (X = 0.26-0.66 mm); 150%-200% for direct corrugate printing |
| Quiet zone | 11X on the left, 7X on the right |
| Standard | GS1 General Specifications; symbology basis ISO/IEC 15420 |
| Origin | EAN International (now GS1), based on UPC-A, 1977 |
| Sample data | 5901234123457 |
Try It: Generate a EAN-13 Barcode
This live generator is preconfigured for EAN-13. Adjust size, colors, and text — then download as PNG or SVG. Free, no signup, all encoding happens in your browser.
What Is EAN-13?
EAN-13 is the fixed-length retail symbology of the GS1 system, encoding a 13-digit number: a GS1 prefix (country/region or reserved range), a company prefix and item reference assigned by the brand, and a final Mod 10 check digit. Scanned at supermarket checkout in more than a hundred countries, it is the most recognized barcode on earth. The symbol is 95 modules wide with a central guard pattern and two six-digit halves that use different encodings — the left half uses odd and even parity patterns chosen by a parity digit to add another layer of validation.
EAN-13 descends directly from UPC-A: an EAN-13 whose number starts with 0 is structurally a UPC-A, and any scanner that reads one reads the other. GS1 refers to the data itself as a GTIN-13. Beyond the physical bars, the same number is the join key for price look-up, inventory, and product databases across the entire retail ecosystem.
Common Applications
- Retail point-of-sale scanning worldwide (outside US/Canada)
- GTIN-13 product identification in GS1 databases
- E-commerce listing and marketplace product feeds
Related Barcode Types
The 8-digit short-form retail barcode for very small packages where EAN-13 will not fit.
The original 12-digit retail barcode of the United States and Canada, and direct ancestor of EAN-13.
A 5-digit add-on barcode printed beside EAN-13/UPC on books and magazines, typically carrying price.
The 14-digit Global Trade Item Number for cases and inner packs, carried by GS1-128 or ITF-14 symbols.
The book trade's EAN-13 — an ISBN-13 product number, usually with a 5-digit price add-on.
The EAN-13-based identification number for serials — journals, magazines, and newspapers — with a 2-digit issue add-on.
The EAN-13-based identification number for printed music — scores, sheet music, and parts.
EAN-13 FAQ
How is the EAN-13 check digit calculated?
Multiply each of the first 12 digits alternately by 1 and 3 (starting with 1 from the left), sum the products, and take the units digit of the amount needed to reach the next multiple of 10. That amount is the 13th digit. Every generator computes this automatically — entering a made-up 13th digit produces an invalid barcode.
What do the first three digits of an EAN-13 mean?
They are a GS1 prefix allocating the number space: 000-019 and 030-039 identify GS1 US, 400-440 Germany, 450-459 and 490-499 Japan, 690-699 China, and so on. Prefixes do not indicate country of manufacture — they indicate which GS1 member organization issued the company prefix.