Retail · server-powered
EAN-13 generator.
EAN-13 is the retail barcode scanned at checkouts worldwide: 13 digits where the last one is a check digit. Type 12 digits and we compute it, or paste all 13 and we verify it; a wrong check digit gets a plain-English error, never a broken barcode.
13 digits (12 plus a check digit, which we verify).
Standards-based quiet zones are always on. For production packaging, verify a printed sample with a barcode verifier.
Preview
Sample: type to make it yours- Renders on our servers, the one Plume tool that does.
- We keep the code type and content length, never what you encode.
- Free SVG vector + up to 600 DPI PNG, commercial use allowed.
- Full details in the privacy policy.
Valid EAN-13 input
Enter 12 or 13 digits. With 12 digits the tool computes the mod-10 check digit for you; with 13 it verifies the last digit and rejects the code if the math does not work out. Letters and punctuation are refused, while stray spaces or hyphens from a spreadsheet paste are cleaned up automatically. The renderer also accepts the add-ons used on books and periodicals: type the main number, a space, then the 2- or 5-digit supplement.
The full 13 digits form a GTIN-13: a GS1 prefix, a company number, an item reference, and the final check digit. The prefix identifies the GS1 member organization that issued the number, not the country where the product was made.
Working sample: 4006381333931 a real GTIN-13 whose closing digit 1 passes the mod-10 check
Where EAN-13 is used
- Product packaging for retail sale
- Book covers (alongside the ISBN)
- Price-lookup at POS systems
- Inventory in retail back offices
Common errors and how to fix them
- EAN-13 must be 12 or 13 digits
- Count your digits. The tool takes exactly 12 (check digit added for you) or 13 (check digit verified). A count of 8 means the code is actually an EAN-8, which has its own generator.
- Incorrect EAN-13 check digit provided
- The last digit fails the mod-10 test against the first 12. If you are unsure of the correct value, enter just the first 12 digits and the tool appends the right one.
- EAN-13 must contain only digits
- Remove letters and symbols. A common culprit is the letter O standing in for zero after manual retyping.
Size and printing
Retail print works in magnifications of a nominal size where one module is 0.330 mm wide and the bars stand 22.85 mm tall; GS1 allows 80 to 200 percent at point of sale, which puts the module between 0.264 mm and 0.66 mm, so the 0.33 mm and 0.5 mm choices in the Module width menu are the retail-safe ones. Avoid shortening the bars, since truncated EAN-13 symbols are harder for omnidirectional scanners to pick up. The "Where will it be used?" picker applies sensible defaults for retail packaging; for offset or flexo work export the vector SVG, and for raster workflows render PNG at 300 DPI or more (the tool goes up to 600).
EAN-13 questions
What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
Both belong to the same EAN/UPC symbology family and are read by the same equipment. UPC-A carries 12 digits and dominates North America; add a leading zero and you get the identical product number in EAN-13 form. Modern point-of-sale systems decode both without configuration.
Do I need GS1 to sell products with an EAN-13 barcode?
If the product goes to retail stores or major marketplaces, yes: the GTIN must be licensed through a GS1 member organization so it is unique worldwide. For internal labeling you can encode any number that passes the check digit.
Does the first digit of an EAN-13 tell me the country of origin?
No. The GS1 prefix identifies the organization that issued the number, so a code starting with 400 was issued by GS1 Germany even if the product was manufactured elsewhere.
Is this EAN-13 barcode generator really free?
Yes. You get 20 downloads per UTC day at no cost, including vector SVG, with no account required. Commercial use of the barcodes you generate is allowed.