How to use it
- Enter the 12 or 13 digits from your GS1 member organisation.
- Leave size at 100% (13 mil) unless the pack is small. Never go below 80%.
- Download SVG or PDF for packaging artwork, or PNG for labels.
EAN-13 in one minute
EAN-13 is the retail barcode used in Europe, Asia, Latin America and most of the world. It holds a 13-digit GTIN: a GS1 prefix, your company number, an item reference and a check digit. The first two or three digits show which national GS1 office issued the number, not where the product was made.
It's the same width as a UPC-A (95 modules). The 13th digit isn't drawn as bars. It's encoded in the pattern of the first six digits. A UPC-A is really an EAN-13 that starts with 0, which is why scanners everywhere read both.
Do US stores accept EAN-13?
Yes. Since 2005 US retail systems have been required to read EAN-13, so a product with an EAN from GS1 Germany, GS1 UK or GS1 China can be sold in the US. Amazon also accepts EANs as long as they're registered to your brand in the GS1 database.
Quiet zones and the ">" mark
An EAN-13 needs a blank margin of at least 11 modules on the left and 7 on the right. We keep that space in every file and add the small > mark at the right edge so designers know not to crowd it.
Print tips
- Keep it between 80% and 200% (10.4–26 mil bars).
- Use black or dark blue bars on white. Avoid red, orange and yellow bars.
- Place it on a flat area. On curved packs like bottles and cans, turn it so the bars are vertical ("ladder" orientation) to reduce distortion.
Need many? Paste a column of EANs into the bulk generator and download them all as a ZIP.