EAN-13 Barcode Generator
EAN-13 is the barcode most shoppers have seen on retail packaging, and it encodes a 13-digit number built from a GS1 prefix, a company number and a product reference. Enter the first 12 digits and the generator calculates the final digit for you.
What an EAN-13 barcode represents
An EAN-13 symbol carries a GTIN-13 number. The leading digits are the GS1 prefix, which points to the GS1 member organization that assigned the number, usually in a particular country. The middle digits identify the company and the product, and the last digit is a check digit that catches misreads. Scanners return the number to the point-of-sale system, which looks up the price and description in its own database.
The generator does the arithmetic. Enter 12 digits and it adds the GS1 mod-10 check digit, weighting the digits alternately 3 and 1 from the right. For example, 590123412345 becomes 5901234123457. If you type 13 digits, the last one is checked, and a wrong value is refused with the digit that was expected.
The generator draws the symbol. It does not issue numbers, reserve a prefix or register a product. Your company number and item references come from GS1 or from the organization that manages your numbering, and you should use only the numbers assigned to you.
The check digit catches many single-digit errors, but it does not catch every mistake. Two adjacent digits swapped can still produce a valid-looking number, so compare the printed digits with the product record before you approve the artwork. That short check costs a minute and prevents a correction at the till.
How to make an EAN-13 barcode in three steps
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01
Choose EAN-13 and enter 12 or 13 digits
Select EAN-13 in Type. Enter the first 12 digits in Value, with no spaces or hyphens. The hint under the field shows the rule and an example, and Use an example loads 590123412345 so you can see the result.
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02
Pick colors and size
Use Bar color and Background for the print colors. Keep Show the number on, because EAN-13 is normally printed with its digits under the bars, so a cashier can key in the number if a scan fails. Size and Bar height control the overall dimensions.
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03
Check the preview and download
Scan the preview with a phone or a handheld reader, then download SVG for print, or PNG, JPG or WEBP for a web page. Check the printed size before a run, because very small codes can be hard for scanners to read.
Where EAN-13 barcodes appear
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Packaged consumer goods
Food, drink, cosmetics and household products carry an EAN-13 on the back or side of the pack, so the point-of-sale system can identify each item at the till.
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Books and magazines
Many books carry a 13-digit barcode on the back cover. An ISBN-13 is encoded as an EAN-13 symbol, so a publisher can draw a valid ISBN-13 with this generator.
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Small shops with their own range
A shop that sells its own goods can print EAN-13 labels for shelf items once its organization has assigned the numbers. The till then reads the code instead of asking for a manual price each time.
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Spreadsheet product lists
Product lists often hold the EAN for each SKU. Copy the 12 digits from the list into the generator to check the check digit and produce a print file for the new label.
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Shelf-edge labels
Shelf-edge labels often show a barcode next to the price so staff can scan the shelf position. Print the code at the size of the label and test it from the distance used in the store.
Tips for EAN-13 labels that scan first time
- Get the number from GS1 first
- The generator draws any valid 13-digit pattern, which is not the same as owning it. Confirm that your company prefix is assigned to you before you print codes for products you sell.
- Do not reuse a number for a new product
- A code identifies one product version. If a product changes size, flavor or packaging in a way that matters at the till, it needs its own number, or the sales records will mix two items.
- Keep the digits under the bars
- For retail packs, leave Show the number on. The printed digits are the fallback when a scan fails, and they help staff check that the symbol matches the product.
- Watch the margin and the contrast
- EAN-13 needs a clear area on each side of the bars, and dark bars on a light background read best. Glossy or dark packaging can lower the contrast, so test the code on the finished material.
EAN-13 questions
Does the generator create a new EAN-13 number?
No. It calculates the check digit for the 12 digits you enter and draws the symbol. The digits themselves must come from GS1 or from the range your organization has been assigned.
What happens if I enter a wrong check digit?
The editor reports that the check digit is wrong and states the digit it expected, so you can correct the value before you download.
Can I enter 12 digits and get a valid code?
Yes. Type 12 digits and the editor adds the thirteenth, so the file contains a complete EAN-13 with its check digit.
Is EAN-13 the same as UPC-A?
They are closely related. A 12-digit UPC-A number becomes an EAN-13 when you put a zero in front of it, so the same product can carry one number in either symbol.
Can I use EAN-13 for ISBN-13 book numbers?
Yes, when the number is a valid ISBN-13. ISBN-13 numbers start with 978 or 979, and the symbol encodes them the same way as any other 13-digit value.
Do I need a membership to print an EAN-13?
The generator needs no membership. Your organization must have its numbers assigned through GS1 or its GS1 member organization before you use them on products for sale.
Can an EAN-13 be printed at a smaller size?
Yes, within the limits of the scanner. Adjust Size and Bar height, print a proof, and scan it at the distance staff or shoppers will use. A very small symbol loses detail, so test before a full run.
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