When should I use EAN-8 instead of EAN-13?

Only when there is not enough label area for an EAN-13 at the minimum permitted size. EAN-8 numbers are a scarcer resource and GS1 issues them on that basis.

Can I shorten my existing EAN-13 to an EAN-8?

No. EAN-8 numbers are issued separately by GS1; you cannot truncate a 13-digit GTIN into a valid 8-digit one.

How many digits do I enter?

Seven, and the check digit is calculated for you. If you paste all eight, the check digit you supplied is validated.

Will EAN-8 scan at supermarket checkouts?

Yes. EAN-8 is part of the GS1 retail family and every modern point-of-sale scanner reads it.

When should I use EAN-8 instead of EAN-13?

Only when the printable area genuinely cannot take an EAN-13 at 80% magnification — think confectionery, cosmetics samples and small tins.

Is EAN-8 accepted everywhere EAN-13 is?

In modern retail, yes. Scanners decode both, though a few legacy in-house systems assume 13 digits.

Can I generate an EAN-8 from my company prefix?

No. GS1 allocates EAN-8 numbers individually because the shorter format has no room for a full company prefix.

What is the smallest EAN-8 that still scans?

Around 21.38 mm wide at 80% magnification. Below that, expect read failures at busy checkouts.

Does EAN-8 hold less product information?

It identifies the item just as uniquely; it simply carries no company prefix structure, so the number itself tells you less.

Barcode generator / EAN-8

EAN-8 Barcode Generator

Generate EAN-8 barcodes free online for small retail packaging. Enter 7 or 8 digits and download a print-ready PNG or SVG. No account, no watermark.

Barcode data

7 digits (check digit added automatically) or a full 8-digit EAN-8.

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-8 used for?

EAN-8 is the short retail barcode, used when a package is physically too small to carry a full EAN-13: cosmetics, confectionery, cigarettes, small cans, and sachets. It carries eight digits instead of thirteen, so the symbol takes noticeably less width on the label.

GS1 issues EAN-8 numbers separately and sparingly, precisely because the shorter number space is limited. Only request one when a full EAN-13 genuinely cannot fit at the minimum print size — otherwise stick with EAN-13.

Small retail packaging
Cosmetics and confectionery
Sachets, tins and single-serve packs

EAN-8 specification

Character set	Digits 0-9 only
Length	8 digits (7 + calculated check digit)
Check digit	Modulo-10, calculated automatically
Nominal size	26.73 x 21.31 mm at 100% magnification
Quiet zone	7 modules either side
Allocation	Issued individually by GS1, not from your company prefix
Best for	Small packs where EAN-13 will not fit

How to generate a EAN-8 barcode

1
Enter the 7 digits GS1 allocated for the item, or all 8 if you know the check digit.
2
Confirm the product really is too small for EAN-13 — retailers prefer the 13-digit symbol wherever it fits.
3
Keep the symbol at or above 80% magnification.
4
Download SVG for the packaging artwork.
5
Test-scan on the curved surface the code will actually sit on.

Troubleshooting scan failures

You only have a 13-digit number

EAN-8 numbers are allocated separately by GS1; you cannot shorten an EAN-13 into one.

Curved packaging causes misreads

Orient the bars parallel to the curve so the scanner crosses them on a flat plane, and avoid wrapping the symbol around a tight radius.

Symbol too small to scan

Do not go below 80% magnification. If space is that tight, a truncated height is a better compromise than shrinking the width.

Check digit mismatch

Enter only 7 digits and let the tool calculate the eighth.

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