Free Tool
EAN-8 Barcode Generator
Enter 7 digits and the check digit is added, or enter all 8 and it is verified. Download the short barcode as a PNG or SVG, free and with no signup.
Private by design: the barcode is built in your browser. What you type is never uploaded or stored.
About this barcode
The short barcode for small packs
EAN-8 is the compact sibling of EAN-13. It holds eight digits, seven plus a check digit, and takes roughly half the width, which makes it useful when a full-size barcode will not fit on a package.
Typical places are small items such as lip balm, chewing gum, single sweets and sample sachets. The numbering is tightly controlled: EAN-8 numbers are allocated by GS1 and normally only for packs too small to carry an EAN-13.
If your pack has room, EAN-13 is the usual choice and is easier to get registered.
Where it is used
Where EAN-8 is used
Very small packaging. Tubes, sticks, sachets and small boxes where thirteen digits will not fit.
Single-serve products. Individual confectionery and sample sizes sold at a till.
Cosmetics and personal care. Mini and travel sizes with a tiny label area.
Packaging design. Mock-ups that need a realistic barcode in the right proportion.
Scanner testing. Checking that a point-of-sale system reads the short format.
Internal labels. For codes that never leave your business, Code 39 accepts letters as well as digits.
How to use it
Three simple steps
1. Enter the digits
Type 7 digits and the check digit is added. Type 8 and the last one is verified.
2. Look at the proportions
The barcode is short, so choose a bar width that suits the label while keeping the bars at 2 pixels or more.
3. Download and test
Save a PNG or SVG and scan a printed copy. Short barcodes leave little room for error, so a real scan matters.
The details
Seven digits plus a check digit
The eighth digit is a check digit worked out from the first seven. Starting from the right of those seven digits, each is multiplied alternately by 3 and 1, the products are added up, and the check digit brings the total to a multiple of ten. For 9638507 the check digit is 4, giving 96385074. The generator does this for you, and if you type eight digits it checks the last one and says what it should be when it is wrong.
An EAN-8 is physically smaller than an EAN-13, but that does not mean you can shrink it freely. The bars must stay wide enough to print cleanly, and the blank margin on each side must be kept. If the result is still too large for your label, the format may not be the right one for that pack.
As with every retail format, a valid barcode is not the same as a registered number. This tool draws the barcode but cannot assign a number to a product.
The number under the bars
Pick the font for the digits
The eight digits under the bars are what a person reads if the scan fails. Choose a face for them from the ProFont library using the font box. The PNG uses it, and the SVG uses a standard font so it looks the same wherever it is opened.
Number font ideas
Pick a font for the number
On a very small pack the digits have to stay legible, so choose a narrow, clear face. Three to try:
Guides worth reading
Type guides to go with your barcode
For the small print on small packaging, these guides help:
Questions
EAN-8 barcode FAQ
When should I use EAN-8 instead of EAN-13?
When the package is too small for a full-size barcode. Otherwise EAN-13 is the usual choice.
How is the check digit calculated?
Each of the first seven digits is weighted alternately 3 and 1 from the right, the weighted digits are summed, and the check digit brings the sum to a multiple of ten.
Can I make up my own EAN-8 number?
You can draw a barcode from any valid number, but numbers for products sold through shops should be issued by GS1 to avoid clashing with someone else’s.
Why does the barcode look so small?
EAN-8 has fewer digits than EAN-13, so it needs about half the width. You can still increase the bar width to make it larger.
Can it include letters?
No. EAN-8 holds digits only. For letters, use Code 128 or Code 39.
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