EAN-13 Generator — Free EAN Barcodes
Tip: you can leave out the last (check) digit — we calculate it for you.
PNG downloads at 1x–4x resolution.
Preview
PNG for documents & web, SVG for print & designers — always free, no watermark, no signup.
Enter your 12-digit EAN number above and the generator computes the 13th check digit, validates the full GTIN-13 and renders a retail-ready EAN-13 barcode instantly. Pasted a full 13 digits? The check digit is verified for you.
Downloads are free — PNG up to 4x for documents and marketplaces, SVG vector for packaging artwork. No account, no watermark, no limits.
What is an EAN-13 barcode?
EAN-13 (European Article Number, now “International Article Number”) is the retail barcode standard everywhere outside North America — and increasingly within it. It encodes a 13-digit GTIN-13: a GS1 prefix identifying the country organization that issued the number (not the product's origin — a common myth), the company and item reference, and a mod-10 check digit.
EAN-13 and UPC-A are technically the same symbology: a UPC-A is simply an EAN-13 with a leading zero. Every modern scanner worldwide reads both, and since 2005 US and Canadian retailers are required to accept EAN-13. If you sell internationally, EAN-13 is the one barcode that works at every checkout on earth.
Where EAN-13 is used
Like UPC, the number itself must be licensed from your national GS1 organization if you sell through retail. BarcodeOwl renders the barcode image; GS1 makes the number globally unique.
- Retail products across Europe, Asia, Australia, Latin America and Africa — supermarkets, pharmacies, DIY, fashion
- Marketplaces — Amazon (all marketplaces), eBay, Google Shopping and Allegro require a valid GTIN (EAN-13 outside North America)
- Books — the ISBN is an EAN-13 with a 978/979 prefix (Bookland); magazines use ISSN with a 977 prefix
- Japan — JAN codes are EAN-13 with 45/49 prefixes
- Private-label brands on Shopify, Etsy and WooCommerce that want marketplace distribution
EAN-13 specifications & dimensions
The leftmost digit isn't printed as bars at all — it's encoded in the variable parity pattern of the first six digits, which is how 13 digits fit into the same space as UPC-A's 12. You don't need to think about this; the encoder handles it.
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| Data capacity | 13 digits (12 data + 1 check digit) |
| Nominal (100%) size | 37.29 mm × 25.93 mm incl. text (1.469 × 1.02 in) |
| Allowed magnification | 80% to 200% of nominal |
| Quiet zones | 11 modules left (≈3.6 mm), 7 modules right (≈2.3 mm) |
| X-dimension | 0.33 mm at 100% magnification |
| Add-ons | Optional EAN-2 / EAN-5 supplements (price, issue number) |
| GS1 standard | GTIN-13, ISO/IEC 15420 |
The check digit, handled
Digit 13 is a mod-10 checksum: multiply alternating digits by 1 and 3, sum, round up to the next ten. Scanners recompute it on every read and reject mismatches silently — a wrong check digit means a product that simply won't scan at the till. Type 12 digits above and BarcodeOwl appends the correct 13th; paste all 13 and any mismatch is flagged before it reaches your packaging.
Printing EAN-13 barcodes
- Use the SVG for packaging artwork — infinitely scalable, no pixelation
- Print at 300 DPI+, stay within 80–200% magnification, never crop the quiet zones
- Black bars on white is safest; dark blue/green also scans — red bars never do (scanners see red as white)
- Mind the taller guard bars in the center and at the edges — they're intentional
- Test-scan the final print run, not just the screen
Frequently asked questions
Is this EAN-13 generator free?
Yes — unlimited EAN-13 barcodes, PNG and SVG downloads, no signup, no watermark. The barcode image is free; retail EAN numbers are licensed from your national GS1 organization.
What's the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
UPC-A is 12 digits and used in the US and Canada; EAN-13 is 13 digits and used everywhere else. Technically a UPC-A is an EAN-13 starting with 0, and all modern scanners read both. Selling internationally? Choose EAN-13.
Does the EAN prefix show where a product was made?
No — it shows which national GS1 organization issued the company prefix. A product made in China for a German brand carries a German (400–440) prefix. Country of manufacture is unrelated to the barcode.
How do I calculate the EAN-13 check digit?
You don't — enter your 12-digit number above and the 13th digit is computed and appended automatically. If you paste a full 13-digit code, the generator verifies the check digit and warns you about typos.
Can I use EAN-13 on Amazon?
Yes — Amazon accepts EAN-13 as the product ID on all marketplaces, and it's the standard outside amazon.com. The number must be GS1-issued to your brand; Amazon cross-checks the GS1 registry.
What is EAN-8 and when do I use it?
EAN-8 is a compact 8-digit variant for packages too small for EAN-13 (think lipstick or cigarette packs). Numbers are issued directly by GS1 — you can't derive them yourself. Pick EAN-8 in the symbology selector above.
Related barcode generators
- Free barcode generator (all symbologies) →
- UPC-A generator →Retail products in the US & Canada
- ISBN generator →Books — ISBN-13 with 978/979 prefix
- ITF-14 generator →Cartons & outer cases (GTIN-14)
- QR Code generator →URLs, Wi-Fi, marketing & mobile