This free EAN barcode generator creates EAN-13 and EAN-8 barcodes for international retail products. Used across Europe, Asia, and 100+ countries worldwide. Download as SVG or PNG.
EAN (European Article Number) barcodes are governed by the ISO/IEC 15420 standard and managed globally by GS1. EAN-13 encodes 13 digits — a 2- or 3-digit GS1 country prefix, a company code, an item reference, and a modulo-10 check digit. EAN-8 encodes 8 digits using the same modulo-10 check digit algorithm, reserving the compressed structure for products whose packaging is physically too small to carry EAN-13 at minimum GS1 magnification. Both formats use the same bar-space encoding scheme as UPC-A (7 modules per character, two guard bars and a centre guard), which is why all modern barcode scanners read EAN and UPC interchangeably. Every UPC-A barcode is mathematically identical to an EAN-13 with a leading zero, a relationship formalised by GS1 in the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) system that merged both symbologies under a common 14-digit envelope in 2005.
An EAN (European Article Number) barcode is a 13-digit or 8-digit linear barcode used as the international standard for product identification in retail commerce across Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and Oceania -- essentially every market outside North America where UPC is the primary standard. The EAN-13 format encodes a 13-digit Global Trade Item Number (GTIN-13) that uniquely identifies a product in the global GS1 system and is recognized by every point-of-sale scanner, inventory management system, and marketplace platform worldwide. EAN-8 is a compact version that encodes 8 digits, designed for products with very small packaging where a full EAN-13 barcode cannot physically fit at minimum magnification. This EAN barcode generator creates both EAN-13 and EAN-8 barcodes that comply with GS1 standards and the ISO/IEC 15420 specification, ensuring they scan correctly with all commercial barcode readers.
The EAN system was developed in 1977 as a superset of UPC, and this EAN barcode generator supports both the original EAN-13 and compact EAN-8 formats. Every UPC-A barcode is technically a valid EAN-13 with a leading zero. Today, EAN-13 is the dominant retail barcode format globally, required by retailers across Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and Oceania.
EAN-8 is a shorter 8-digit version designed for products too small to carry a full EAN-13 barcode. It encodes the country code and product identifier in a more compact format.
EAN-13 vs UPC-A
EAN-13 and UPC-A are both GS1-managed retail barcode formats that identify products at point-of-sale, but they differ in digit count, geographic origin, and international acceptance. EAN-13 uses 13 digits and is the worldwide standard accepted by every retailer in Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and Oceania. UPC-A uses 12 digits and was originally the North American standard -- technically, every UPC-A barcode is an EAN-13 with a leading zero, which is why modern scanners read both formats interchangeably. If you sell products only in the United States and Canada, a UPC-A number from GS1 US is sufficient. If you sell internationally or plan to expand to global marketplaces, an EAN-13 number from your local GS1 member organization provides universal compatibility. Both formats require a GS1 Company Prefix and are registered in the same global GTIN database that retailers and marketplaces verify against.
Feature
EAN-13
UPC-A
Digits
13
12
Region
Worldwide
USA & Canada (primarily)
Compatibility
Reads on UPC scanners
Is a subset of EAN-13
Issuing body
GS1 (global)
GS1 US
If you sell products internationally, use this EAN barcode generator to create EAN-13 labels. For the North American market only, UPC-A is sufficient (but EAN-13 also works everywhere).
Related Formats
Related barcode formats for EAN workflows are useful when sellers also need shipping, inventory, marketing, or batch-production labels beyond standard retail checkout. UPC-A is the 12-digit North American retail standard that is functionally identical to EAN-13 with a leading zero -- choose UPC-A if your products are sold exclusively in the United States and Canada. Code 128 is the standard alphanumeric barcode for shipping labels, warehouse bin tags, and logistics tracking where you need to encode letters and numbers together in a compact linear format. For businesses managing large product catalogs, the bulk barcode generator accepts pasted CSV rows of EAN-13 or EAN-8 numbers and outputs individual barcode images in a single batch for printing, labeling, and catalog setup, eliminating the need to generate barcodes one at a time.
UPC-A -- North American retail standard (12 digits)
Code 128 -- For shipping labels and logistics (alphanumeric)
Data Matrix -- Compact 2D for pharmaceutical unit doses and small parts where an EAN-13 will not fit, including FDA DSCSA and EU FMD serialization.
QR Code -- Scan-to-URL complement to the retail EAN for product inserts, multilingual instructions, and warranty registration.
Bulk Generator -- Create hundreds of EAN barcodes from a CSV
All Formats -- 50+ barcode types in one generator. Use this EAN barcode generator for international retail labels.
EAN Barcode FAQ
EAN barcodes are the international standard for retail product identification in every market outside North America, covering Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, Oceania, and the Middle East. This EAN barcode generator FAQ covers the most frequently asked questions about the differences between the full 13-digit EAN-13 format used on standard consumer products and the compact 8-digit EAN-8 format designed for very small packages, the technical compatibility between EAN-13 and UPC-A barcodes at point-of-sale scanners in the United States and Canada, how to obtain official EAN/GTIN numbers through your local GS1 member organization (GS1 UK, GS1 Germany, GS1 Japan, or any of the 116 country-specific GS1 offices worldwide), and the practical steps for creating standards-compliant retail product barcodes for international commerce. Whether you are expanding existing product sales into international markets, launching new products for global distribution, or setting up retail partnerships in a new country, these answers explain the registration process, format selection, and technical requirements.
EAN-13 is the full 13-digit international retail barcode used on most consumer products sold outside North America. EAN-8 is a compact 8-digit version designed for very small products -- such as chewing gum packs, lip balm tubes, and individual candy pieces -- where a standard EAN-13 barcode cannot physically fit at the minimum required print magnification. Both formats are issued through GS1 member organizations and registered in the global GTIN database that retailers verify against.
Yes. All modern retail point-of-sale scanners worldwide can read both EAN-13 and UPC-A barcodes interchangeably. Technically, a UPC-A barcode is an EAN-13 with a leading zero, so the two formats are fully compatible. Any product with an EAN-13 barcode will scan correctly at checkout in the United States, Canada, and every other country. The same applies in reverse -- US-issued UPC-A barcodes scan without issues at European and Asian retail terminals.
EAN/GTIN numbers are issued by GS1 member organizations in your country -- for example, GS1 UK for the United Kingdom, GS1 Germany for Germany, or GS1 Japan for Japan. Visit gs1.org to find your local GS1 office and apply for a GS1 Company Prefix, which gives you the authority to assign unique EAN-13 numbers to each of your products. Pricing varies by country and the number of products you need to register. Once assigned, your EAN numbers are globally unique and recognized by every retailer and marketplace worldwide.