How to create an EAN-13 barcode
- Get your number from GS1. It starts with your company prefix, followed by the product reference you assign.
- Type the first 12 digits. The check digit appears automatically.
- Keep the human-readable digits switched on; retailers expect them under the bars.
- Download SVG and place it on your packaging at 100% size (about 37 × 26 mm) or larger.
How an EAN-13 number is built
- GS1 prefix (first 2–3 digits)
- Shows which GS1 office issued the number, for example 890 for India or 50 for the UK. It does not mean the product was made there.
- Company and item reference
- Assigned by GS1 and then by you. Each product variant (size, color, flavour) needs its own number.
- Check digit (13th)
- Calculated from the other 12 digits. A scanner rejects the barcode if it does not match.
Where EAN-13 is used
Retail packaging
Supermarkets and pharmacies across Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Online marketplaces
Amazon and others require a GTIN, which is often an EAN-13.
Stock control
Shops scan EAN-13 to track inventory as well as sales.
Rules and sizes
- Generating a barcode does not register a product number. Barcodes sold through retailers need numbers issued to your company by GS1 (or your country’s GS1 office).
- Nominal size is 37.29 × 25.93 mm. You can scale between 80% and 200%; do not cut the height.
- Leave a light margin of at least 3.6 mm on the left and 2.3 mm on the right.
Questions people ask
Can I make up my own EAN-13 number?
Technically you can encode any 12 digits, but stores and marketplaces check numbers against GS1’s database. Use a number you were issued.
What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
UPC-A is 12 digits and used mainly in North America. A UPC-A is the same as an EAN-13 with a leading 0.
Last updated 11 October 2026 by the QRizeo team.