Enter 12 digits — we calculate the check digit and draw a print-ready EAN-13 barcode you can download as PNG, JPG or SVG.
Enter 12 digits — the 13th check digit is calculated automatically.
Need another format? Use the full barcode generator for UPC-A, QR Code, Code 128, ITF-14 and more.
EAN-13 (European Article Number, 13 digits) is the retail barcode standard used across Europe and most of the world — the equivalent of UPC-A in North America. It encodes a 13-digit GTIN: a GS1 prefix, a company prefix, an item reference, and a final check digit.
The last digit is not chosen — it is computed from the other twelve using an alternating weight of 1 and 3. Scanners recalculate it on every read, so a single mistyped digit is rejected instead of scanning as the wrong product. Our generator handles this automatically: you enter 12 digits and get a valid 13-digit code. Want to see the maths, or verify a full number? Try the barcode verifier.
Three things decide whether an EAN-13 reads reliably at a checkout: size, contrast and quiet zones. Keep the barcode within the GS1 range of 80%–200% of nominal (37.29 × 25.93 mm at 100%), print dark bars on a light background, and leave clear margins on the left and right. Export as SVG whenever your printer or label software supports it, so the bars stay crisp at any size.
If you sell mainly in the United States or Canada, you may need UPC-A (12 digits) instead. Very small packages sometimes use EAN-8. For cartons and pallets, logistics teams use ITF-14 or GS1-128. You can create all of these from the full generator, and print them onto labels in bulk from an Excel or CSV catalog with the label editor.
No — for retail sale, EAN-13 numbers are assigned by GS1 through registration in your country. EAN Studio draws the barcode image from a number you already have; it does not sell you the number. For testing or internal use, you can generate any valid number.
The 13th digit is calculated from the first twelve using a weighted sum (alternating ×1 and ×3), so scanners can catch typing errors. Our generator calculates it for you automatically — you only enter 12 digits.
Choose SVG for professional printing and label production — it is vector-based and scales without quality loss. PNG or JPG work well for digital use and home printing.
The GS1 specification allows 80% to 200% of the nominal size, which is 37.29 × 25.93 mm at 100%. Barcodes printed smaller than that often fail to scan.
Yes. EAN-13 is one of the core free formats — no sign-up — downloadable as PNG, JPG or SVG. Paid plans add extra barcode types, the label editor and bulk printing.
Yes, as long as the number is valid and the barcode is printed with the right size, contrast and quiet-zone margins. You can confirm with our free barcode verifier before printing.