Free EAN-13 barcode generator

The retail barcode used worldwide. Enter 12 or 13 digits; we add or check the last one.

Barcode type

EAN number

13 digits, or 12 and we add the check digit.

Add-on (optional)

The small extra barcode on books and magazines: 5 digits for a price (51299 = US$12.99), 2 for an issue number.

Width (mm)

100% of standard size (37.29 mm). Retail allows 80–200%.

Bar height (mm)

Show the number under the bars

Bars

Background

Transparent background (PNG, SVG, PDF)

We draw the barcode; the number itself must be yours. Shops and Amazon check retail numbers against the GS1 register, so get them from GS1 and avoid resold “free UPC” numbers.

An EAN-13 barcode encodes the 13-digit product number used on retail packaging in most of the world. Enter your number above: we add or check the check digit, size it to the retail standard (about 37 mm wide at 100%) and scan it before you download. PNG and JPG are free.

How to make an EAN-13 barcode

Enter your 13-digit EAN, or 12 digits and we add the check digit.
Keep the standard size, or scale it between 80% and 200% to fit your packaging.
Turn off the number under the bars only if your design prints it elsewhere; most retailers want it.
Download a PNG at print resolution, or vector files for packaging (paid plan).

Getting EAN-13 barcodes right on packaging

Colour: dark bars (black, dark blue, dark green) on white or a light colour. Avoid red bars and light-on-dark printing.
Position: on a flat area, away from folds, seams and the edge of a curved can or bottle.
Margins: leave the blank space on both sides clear of text and graphics.
Proof: scan a printed proof before the full run; screens hide problems that paper shows.

Books use a special EAN-13 built from the ISBN: use the ISBN generator. Small packs can use the shorter EAN-8.

Questions people ask

Where do EAN numbers come from?

From your country’s GS1 office, which licenses a company prefix and the numbers built from it. Retailers and marketplaces check EANs against the GS1 register.

Do I need to enter the last digit?

No. Enter 12 digits and we calculate the check digit; enter 13 and we check it, so a typo is caught before you print.

What do the first digits mean?

The first two or three digits are the GS1 prefix of the office that issued the number (for example 400–440 for Germany). They show where the number was issued, not where the product was made.

Can I add a price add-on, like on books and magazines?

Yes. Type 2 or 5 digits in the add-on field and the small extra barcode prints to the right of the main one. Magazines use 2 digits for the issue number; books use 5 for the price.