EAN-5
A 5-digit add-on barcode printed beside EAN-13/UPC on books and magazines, typically carrying price.
EAN-5 Specification
| Character set | Digits 0-9 only |
| Data length | Exactly 5 digits |
| Check digit | Hidden Mod 10 check digit encoded in the parity pattern, not printed as text |
| Density | 47 modules total |
| Module width (X-dimension) | Nominal 0.33 mm X, matching the adjacent main symbol |
| Print ratio | Variable-width bars and spaces |
| Magnification | Must match the main symbol magnification (80%-200%) |
| Quiet zone | Shared line with the main symbol; separator space between main and add-on |
| Standard | GS1 General Specifications (add-on supplements) |
| Origin | EAN International (now GS1), 1977 |
| Sample data | 54495 |
Try It: Generate a EAN-5 Barcode
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What Is EAN-5?
The EAN-5 (also called the 5-digit add-on or price supplement) is a miniature EAN-style symbol printed to the right of an EAN-13 or UPC-A on the same line. In book retailing it carries the suggested retail price — 90000 means no price specified, while 5xxxx encodes a US list price. Magazine publishers use it for the price of single issues sold alongside subscription copies.
Structurally it encodes five digits plus a Mod 10 check digit that never appears in the human-readable text, using parity patterns selected by that hidden check digit. Scanners read it in the same pass as the main symbol and transmit the two strings together, letting POS software join price data to the GTIN without a database lookup.
Common Applications
- Book price supplement next to ISBN-based EAN-13
- Magazine single-issue pricing
- Any retail item needing one extra numeric attribute at POS
Related Barcode Types
The 13-digit retail point-of-sale barcode used on consumer products worldwide outside North America.
A 2-digit add-on barcode beside EAN-13/UPC on magazines and newspapers, typically carrying the issue number.
The book trade's EAN-13 — an ISBN-13 product number, usually with a 5-digit price add-on.
The original 12-digit retail barcode of the United States and Canada, and direct ancestor of EAN-13.
EAN-5 FAQ
What does 90000 mean in an EAN-5 add-on?
In the North American book trade, an add-on starting with 9 signals a special meaning; 90000 specifically means the price is not encoded and must be looked up or set by the retailer. Price values 5xxxx map directly to US dollars and cents, e.g. 51999 for $19.99.
Does the EAN-5 need its own quiet zone?
It is scanned as an extension of the main symbol, so it needs the normal inter-symbol gap between the EAN-13 and the add-on plus a quiet zone on the outer right side — but not a full independent left quiet zone. In practice, generators that support add-ons lay this out correctly.