Is an EAN-13 the same as a GTIN-13?

Yes. GTIN-13 is the modern GS1 term for the number, and EAN-13 is the barcode symbology that encodes it. The digits are identical.

Can I convert a UPC to an EAN-13?

Add a leading zero to a 12-digit UPC-A and you have the equivalent EAN-13. Paste the 13-digit result into this generator to render it.

Why does my EAN-13 fail to generate?

EAN-13 accepts digits only, and the length must be 12 (auto check digit) or 13. Spaces, hyphens, and letters will be rejected.

Can I print these at any size?

Download the SVG rather than the PNG for print. SVG is vector, so it scales to any label size without the bar edges blurring, which is what causes most scan failures.

What do the first digits of an EAN-13 mean?

They are the GS1 prefix of the member organisation that issued the number, not a country of manufacture. 50 is UK-issued, 40-44 German-issued, 93 Australian-issued.

Can I make an ISBN barcode here?

Yes. A modern ISBN-13 already starts 978 or 979, so enter it as a 13-digit EAN. The five-digit price add-on is a separate symbol this tool does not render.

Do EAN-13 barcodes work in the United States?

Yes. US retail scanners have read EAN-13 since the 2005 Sunrise change, though some legacy in-house systems still expect a 12-digit UPC.

Can two products share one EAN?

No. Each sellable variant needs its own GTIN, and marketplaces reject duplicate listings that reuse a number.

How do I verify the check digit is right?

Enter only the first 12 digits. If the 13th digit the tool renders differs from the one you had, your original number was wrong.

Barcode generator / EAN-13

EAN-13 Barcode Generator

Create EAN-13 barcodes online for free. Enter 12 or 13 digits and download a print-ready barcode as PNG or SVG. No watermark, no signup required.

Barcode data

12 digits (check digit added automatically) or a full 13-digit EAN.

Bar height80px

Show number under barcode

PNG resolution Pro

Preview

No watermark, no signup, unlimited PNG downloads. Rendered in your browser — the value you type never leaves your device. Vector SVG and high-resolution PNG are included with Pro.

What is EAN-13 used for?

EAN-13 is the 13-digit international retail barcode, sometimes called an International Article Number. The first two or three digits form the GS1 country prefix, which is why an EAN starting 50 reads as UK-registered and 40-44 as German-registered — although the prefix indicates where the number was issued, not where the product was manufactured.

Use EAN-13 when you sell outside North America, list on European or Australian marketplaces, or supply a retailer whose systems expect a 13-digit GTIN. Enter 12 digits and this generator calculates the final check digit for you.

European, UK & APAC retail
Book and magazine ISBN/ISSN barcodes
International distribution

EAN-13 specification

Character set	Digits 0-9 only
Length	13 digits (12 + calculated check digit)
Check digit	Modulo-10, calculated automatically
Nominal size	37.29 x 25.91 mm at 100% magnification
Size range	80% to 200% magnification
Quiet zone	11 modules left, 7 modules right
Also known as	GTIN-13, International Article Number

How to generate a EAN-13 barcode

1
Enter the first 12 digits of your GS1 number, or all 13 if the check digit is already known.
2
Confirm the leading prefix matches the GS1 member organisation that issued your number.
3
Adjust bar height if the symbol has to fit a narrow panel, keeping the full width intact.
4
Download SVG for packaging artwork, PNG for internal use.
5
Test-scan a printed proof at the exact final size before the print run.

Troubleshooting scan failures

Generation fails with a length error

EAN-13 needs exactly 12 or 13 digits. Book barcodes converted from an ISBN must include the 978 or 979 prefix.

Your UPC does not fit

Add a leading zero to a 12-digit UPC-A and it becomes the equivalent 13-digit EAN.

Scanner reads only intermittently

Check the quiet zones. Designers routinely butt artwork right up to the bars, and the left margin on EAN-13 needs 11 clear modules.

Symbol looks stretched

Never scale width and height independently. Resize proportionally, or the module width no longer matches the printed ratios.

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