Free Tool
EAN-13 Barcode Generator
Enter 12 digits and the check digit is added, or enter all 13 and it is verified. Download the 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 barcode on most products
EAN-13 is the barcode printed on most retail products around the world. It holds thirteen digits: twelve that identify the product and a final check digit that lets a scanner catch a misread. The same digits appear in print under the bars.
Books use it too. An ISBN-13 is an EAN-13 whose first digits are 978 or 979. The structure is the same, so this generator can make the barcode for a book once you have its ISBN.
In North America, the same bars are usually described as UPC-A, which is an EAN-13 with a leading zero.
Where it is used
Where EAN-13 is used
Retail packaging. Food, cosmetics, electronics, toys and clothing carry an EAN-13 for the checkout.
Books. The back cover barcode of a book is its ISBN as an EAN-13.
Online marketplaces. Product listings often ask for the barcode number, and labels use the printed code.
Mock-ups and design work. Packaging designers place a barcode in artwork before the final number is issued.
Training and testing. Scanner setup, stock software and teaching examples need valid sample barcodes.
Labels for internal use. If the codes never leave your own business, Code 128 lets you choose any text.
How to use it
Three simple steps
1. Enter the digits
Type 12 digits and the check digit is calculated. Spaces and hyphens are ignored, so you can paste 5 901234 123457.
2. Check the message
The preview tells you which check digit was added, or explains exactly what is wrong if a number you typed is not valid.
3. Download and test
Save the PNG or SVG, print it at the size you plan to use, and scan it before it goes anywhere near a production run.
The details
How the check digit works
The thirteenth digit is calculated from the first twelve. Starting from the left, the digits are multiplied alternately by 1 and 3, the results are added up, and the check digit is whatever brings the total up to the next multiple of ten. The tool does this for you, and it verifies a thirteen-digit number too. A wrong check digit is never silently fixed. You are told what it should be, so you can see whether you mistyped the number.
The first digits of an EAN-13 are a GS1 prefix. They are administered by GS1 offices and do not by themselves show where a product was made. The company prefix and item number that follow are issued to a business. Because of that, this tool is for drawing a valid barcode, not for issuing numbers. Products sold through retailers need numbers registered with GS1, and a number you invent could clash with one that belongs to someone else.
Bars matter as much as digits. Leave the blank margin on each side, because scanners need it to find where the code begins. This generator sets that margin from your bar width automatically.
The number under the bars
Choose the typeface for the digits
The digits under an EAN-13 are for people, such as a cashier typing a number when a scan fails. Search the font box and pick a clear face from the ProFont fonts. The PNG uses your font, and the SVG uses a standard font so the file renders the same on any device.
Number font ideas
Pick a font for the number
EAN numbers are printed in a clean sans serif under the bars. Three to try:
Guides worth reading
Type guides to go with your barcode
Barcodes sit on packaging, so the rest of the type matters too. See:
Questions
EAN-13 barcode FAQ
Do I enter 12 or 13 digits?
Either. With 12 digits the check digit is added. With 13, the last digit is checked and you get a clear message if it is wrong.
Can I sell products with a barcode from this page?
The barcode itself is valid, but retailers expect numbers issued by GS1. Using an unregistered number can conflict with a number that belongs to another business.
Can I make a book barcode?
Yes. An ISBN-13 is an EAN-13. Enter the thirteen digits, with or without hyphens.
What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
UPC-A has twelve digits and is common in North America. It is read as an EAN-13 with a leading zero, and scanners handle both.
Why must the quiet margin stay blank?
The empty space on both sides tells the scanner where the code starts and stops. Printing artwork up against the bars can make it unreadable.
More barcode formats
Make a different kind of barcode
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Explore ProFont
Find the right font for anything
Search more than 2,000 fonts, see them in use and read the type guides.