Pick up any product from any supermarket shelf in Europe, Asia, South America or Australia, and flip it over. You'll see a striped barcode with 13 digits underneath. That's an EAN-13. It's arguably the most widely used barcode in the world, and yet most people have no idea what those numbers actually mean.
This guide explains everything — what EAN-13 is, how it works, what the digits mean, and when you actually need one.
💡 One sentence: EAN-13 is a 13-digit barcode used globally to uniquely identify retail products. The barcode at the checkout counter is almost certainly an EAN-13.
🔲 Ready to generate one? Enter your 12 or 13-digit number — free, no signup.
Generate EAN-13 →What Does EAN Stand For?
EAN stands for European Article Number. The name is a bit misleading — it was created in Europe in 1977 as an extension of the American UPC system, but it quickly became a genuinely global standard. Today, you'll find EAN-13 barcodes on products sold in over 100 countries.
The organization that manages EAN-13 is GS1, a global non-profit with member organizations in over 110 countries. When a company wants to use EAN-13 barcodes officially, they register with their local GS1 organization and receive a unique Company Prefix.
What the 13 Digits Actually Mean
An EAN-13 barcode isn't just 13 random numbers. Each digit (or group of digits) carries specific information:
1. GS1 Prefix (First 2–3 digits)
The first digits identify the GS1 member organization that issued the barcode — not the country where the product was made or where it's sold. Turkey is 869, Germany is 400–440, France is 300–379, the USA is 000–019.
A common misconception: a barcode starting with 869 doesn't mean the product is from Turkey. It means the barcode was registered with GS1 Turkey. A Turkish company's products are perfectly accepted in Germany, the US, or anywhere else.
2. Company Prefix (Variable length)
The next digits identify the specific company. This is assigned by the GS1 organization when a company registers. The length varies — companies with many products get shorter prefixes so they can create more unique product codes.
3. Product Reference (Variable length)
The product reference is assigned by the company itself. Each unique product gets a unique number. A 500ml bottle and a 1-litre bottle of the same product would have different product reference numbers — they're different products.
4. Check Digit (Last digit)
The 13th digit is calculated automatically from the first 12. Here's how it works:
- Multiply digits in odd positions (1, 3, 5...) by 1
- Multiply digits in even positions (2, 4, 6...) by 3
- Sum all results
- Subtract from next multiple of 10
Scanners recalculate this digit every time they scan. If the check digit doesn't match, the scanner knows the barcode was misread and tries again. This prevents checkout errors from a single dirty or damaged line in the barcode.
GS1 Country Prefixes — Quick Reference
| Country / Region | GS1 Prefix |
|---|---|
| United States & Canada | 000–019, 030–039, 060–139 |
| France | 300–379 |
| Germany | 400–440 |
| Japan | 450–459, 490–499 |
| Russia | 460–469 |
| Taiwan | 471 |
| United Kingdom | 500–509 |
| Poland | 590 |
| Netherlands | 870–879 |
| Saudi Arabia | 628 |
| UAE | 629 |
| Turkey | 869 |
| South Korea | 880 |
| China | 690–699 |
| Australia | 930–939 |
EAN-13 vs UPC-A — What's the Relationship?
UPC-A is a 12-digit barcode used primarily in North America. It predates EAN-13 — EAN-13 was actually designed to be backward-compatible with UPC-A.
Here's the key relationship: a UPC-A barcode is a valid EAN-13 with a leading zero. The barcode 012345678905 (UPC-A) is the same as 0012345678905 (EAN-13). Most modern scanners worldwide can read both formats interchangeably.
In practice: if you're selling only in the US, UPC-A is traditional. If you're selling anywhere else in the world, or on Amazon internationally, EAN-13 is the safer choice.
When Do You Need an EAN-13?
This is where it gets practical. There's a big difference between what you legally must have and what retailers require:
You don't need GS1 registration for:
- Internal inventory tracking at your own warehouse
- Testing label designs before going to market
- Products sold exclusively on your own website
- Handmade or craft items sold at markets or Etsy
You do need GS1 registration for:
- Selling on Amazon — they verify GTINs against the GS1 database
- Supplying products to supermarkets or retail chains
- Any platform or retailer that requires verified GTIN
- International distribution through wholesalers
⚠️ Don't buy barcodes from cheap resellers. Sites selling "10 barcodes for $5" are reselling codes registered to other companies. Amazon and major retailers check the GS1 database — if the barcode isn't registered to your company, your listing can be removed.
How to Get an EAN-13 Barcode
Two steps — registration and image generation:
Step 1: Register with GS1 (for commercial use)
Find your local GS1 organization at gs1.org, register your company, and pay the annual membership fee. You'll receive a Company Prefix. Fees vary by country — typically €100–300/year for small businesses.
Step 2: Generate the barcode image (free)
Once you have your EAN-13 number, generating the actual barcode image is free. Enter your 12 or 13-digit number at barkodkarekod.com — the check digit is calculated automatically, and you can download as PNG or SVG instantly.
✅ SVG for print: Always download as SVG for any print use. SVG is a vector format that scales to any size without pixelation — your barcode will be crisp at 1cm or 10cm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does EAN stand for?
European Article Number. Despite the name, it's a global standard used in over 100 countries worldwide.
What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC?
EAN-13 has 13 digits and is used globally. UPC-A has 12 digits and is used primarily in North America. A UPC-A with a leading zero is a valid EAN-13.
How do I get an EAN-13 barcode?
Register with your country's GS1 organization for commercial retail use. Then generate the barcode image free at barkodkarekod.com. For internal use, you can generate a free EAN-13 directly.
What is the check digit?
The 13th digit, calculated from the first 12. Scanners use it to verify the read was correct. The generator calculates it automatically.
Can I use EAN-13 in the United States?
Yes. Modern US scanners read EAN-13. Amazon accepts both EAN-13 and UPC-A in the US.
Generate Your EAN-13 Barcode Free
Enter 12 or 13 digits — check digit calculated automatically. Download PNG or SVG.
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