Kostenloser EAN-13 Barcode Generator

Was ist ein EAN-13 Barcode?

EAN-13 stands for European Article Number — a 13-digit barcode that has become the global standard for product identification. Despite the "European" in the name, you'll find EAN-13 barcodes on products in Japan, Brazil, Australia, Turkey, the US and virtually every country with retail shelves.

The barcode on a cereal box, a bottle of shampoo, or a book? Almost certainly an EAN-13. It's been the standard since 1977 and is becoming more important over time — e-commerce platforms like Amazon now require verified EAN-13 codes to list products.

The Structure of an EAN-13 Number

An EAN-13 number has four components:

• GS1 Prefix (2–3 digits): Identifies the country's GS1 organization. Turkey is 869, Germany is 400–440, the US is 000–019.
• Company Prefix: Assigned by your local GS1 when you register. Identifies your business.
• Product Reference: You assign this — a unique number for each product.
• Check Digit: Calculated automatically. Scanners use it to verify the read was correct.

Kostenloser EAN-13 vs. GS1-registriert — Was brauchen Sie?

Honestly, it depends entirely on where you're selling. A free EAN-13 generated here works perfectly for:

• Internal inventory tracking at your warehouse
• Testing label designs before committing to GS1 registration
• Direct-to-consumer sales on your own website
• Handmade or craft products sold at markets or Etsy
• Small batches where you control the entire supply chain

You need an officially registered EAN-13 (via GS1) when:

• Selling on Amazon — they verify GTINs against the GS1 database
• Supplying supermarkets, pharmacies or retail chains
• Listing on any platform that requires GTIN verification
• Selling internationally through distributors

EAN-13 vs. Other Barcode Formats

Druckanforderungen for EAN-13

Minimum Size

GS1 recommends minimum 26.26mm wide × 18.28mm tall. In practice, no smaller than 20mm wide for most printing conditions.

Resolution

Minimum 300 DPI for label printing. Use the SVG download — it's resolution-independent and prints sharp at any size.

Quiet Zone

Leave a clear white border of at least 3.63mm on each side. Crowding the barcode with text or graphics causes scan failures.

Colors

Black bars on white background is the gold standard. If your packaging uses a colored background, ensure strong contrast between bars and background. Inverse barcodes (light on dark) generally don't scan well.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

What is an EAN-13 barcode?

A 13-digit global standard for retail product identification — the barcode on almost every retail product worldwide since 1977.

Do I need GS1 registration?

For internal use and direct sales — no. For Amazon or major retailers that verify GTINs — yes. Once registered, generate the image here for free.

EAN-13 vs UPC-A — what's the difference?

EAN-13 has 13 digits and is used globally. UPC-A has 12 digits and is primarily used in North America. A UPC-A with a leading zero is a valid EAN-13.

Can I download as SVG?

Yes. SVG is recommended for print — it scales to any size without pixelation. Use PNG for digital previews.

What is the check digit?

The 13th digit, calculated automatically from the first 12. Scanners use it to verify the read was correct. The generator above calculates it for you.

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