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EAN-13 Barcode Generator

EAN-13 (European Article Number, 13 digits) is the global standard barcode for retail products sold outside North America - and increasingly worldwide alongside UPC-A. It encodes a GTIN-13, which identifies the product and the company that made it. This free EAN-13 barcode generator accepts 12 or 13 digits: enter 12 and the check digit is calculated and added automatically; enter all 13 and the check digit is validated. A GS1 prefix lookup shows the country or region associated with the first digits. Download as high-resolution PNG or scalable SVG.

12/13 digits

Prefix: Poland

Full EAN-13

5901234123457

Check digit

7(calculated)

No signupRuns in your browserFormula explained belowGeneral information only

How to use this tool

  1. 1Type or paste your EAN-13 digits into the input field. Digits only - no spaces, hyphens, or letters.
  2. 2Enter 12 digits (the payload without the check digit) to auto-calculate the 13th check digit.
  3. 3Enter all 13 digits to validate whether the check digit is correct.
  4. 4The GS1 prefix description appears below the input to confirm the country/region associated with the code.
  5. 5Click Download PNG for a high-resolution raster image or Download SVG for a scalable vector file.

Formula used

The EAN-13 check digit is calculated from the first 12 digits using alternating weights of 1 and 3, counting from the right of the payload. Multiply each digit by its weight, sum the products, take the result modulo 10, and subtract from 10 (modulo 10 again to handle a result of 10). For example, payload 590123412345: sum = 5x1+9x3+0x1+1x3+2x1+3x3+4x1+1x3+2x1+3x3+4x1+5x3 = 87, check = (10-7)%10 = 7, full code 5901234123457.

Example

Entering 12 payload digits for auto check digit

Input: 590123412345 (12 digits). The tool calculates check digit 7, shows the complete EAN-13 as 5901234123457, identifies the prefix 590 as Poland, and renders the barcode. Click Download PNG and use the image on your product packaging or label.

Validating a full 13-digit code

Input: 4006381333931 (13 digits, a well-known German consumer product). The tool identifies prefix 400 as Germany, validates that the check digit 1 is correct, and renders the barcode. A wrong last digit would show the expected correct value in red.

Common use cases

  • Product managers generating a barcode image to include in packaging artwork files
  • E-commerce sellers needing an EAN-13 barcode image for a marketplace listing
  • Importers verifying that a supplier's EAN-13 code is mathematically valid before printing
  • Developers testing barcode scanning software with known-good EAN-13 test codes
  • Buyers checking the GS1 prefix to confirm a product's country of origin registration

Common mistakes

  • Entering 12 digits and expecting the tool to accept them as a complete EAN-13 - the 12-digit form is UPC-A, not EAN-13; EAN-13 is always 13 digits.
  • Inventing an EAN-13 for a product sold in retail stores - official GTINs must be licensed through GS1 to avoid code conflicts with other brands.
  • Using the same EAN-13 on different product variants (size, colour) - each distinct item needs its own unique GTIN.
  • Confusing EAN-13 with Code 128 - EAN-13 is a fixed 13-digit retail format; Code 128 encodes any text and is used for internal or logistics barcodes.

Frequently asked questions

What is EAN-13?

EAN-13 stands for European Article Number with 13 digits. It is the standard barcode format for retail products sold in Europe, Australia, Asia, and most of the world. It encodes a GTIN-13 (Global Trade Item Number) that uniquely identifies a product and its manufacturer.

What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?

UPC-A is a 12-digit format used predominantly in the United States and Canada. EAN-13 is a 13-digit format used globally. UPC-A is technically a subset of EAN-13 - a UPC-A code can be read as an EAN-13 by prepending a 0. Most modern scanners read both formats interchangeably.

Do I need to buy a GTIN to use this tool?

For internal use, testing, or non-retail applications (shelf labels, internal inventory), you can use any 12-digit payload. For products sold in retail stores or listed on major marketplaces (Amazon, Walmart), you need a GS1-licensed GTIN. Buying prefixes from GS1 ensures your codes do not conflict with other brands.

What does the GS1 prefix tell me?

The first three digits of an EAN-13 are the GS1 prefix, which indicates the GS1 member organisation that issued the company prefix - broadly corresponding to country. It does not indicate country of manufacture or origin. Prefix 978 indicates an ISBN barcode for a book.

Is my barcode data uploaded to a server?

No. All barcode generation runs in your browser. Your digits are never sent to any server.

Can this generate EAN-8 barcodes?

Not directly - this tool is specifically for EAN-13. For EAN-8 (used for small packaging), use the generic Barcode Generator which supports both EAN-13 and EAN-8 formats.

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