EAN-13 barcode generator
EAN-13 represents 13 numeric digits, including a check digit at the end. It is a widely used retail barcode for a GTIN-13. The bars carry the identifier; a retailer's database supplies the associated product information.
Use the product's properly assigned number. Generating bars does not create a product registration or establish ownership of a GTIN.
Check-digit checklist (EAN-13)
- Digits only; preserve leading zeroes (keep spreadsheet columns as text).
- Weights 1 and 3 alternate from the left across the first 12 digits.
- Choose the final digit so the total is divisible by ten (same GS1 modulo-10 family as UPC).
- Reject an incorrect supplied check digit; never silently replace it.
What the prefix does not tell you
A GS1 prefix is not reliable evidence of where a product was manufactured. The prefix relates to GS1 allocation, not a “made in” claim. Do not infer product origin from the first digits of a barcode.
For details on identifier allocation and EAN/UPC symbols, consult the GS1 General Specifications, particularly sections 1.2, 1.3 and 5.2.
EAN-13, UPC-A and ISBN
If a receiving system requests UPC-A, check the product's assigned identifier rather than cutting a digit from its EAN-13 value. A leading-zero representation of a GTIN-12 is a specific compatibility case, not a general conversion rule for every EAN.
A valid ISBN-13 can also be represented with EAN-13 bars, but the ISBN must first be assigned through the ISBN system. Use the ISBN barcode page for books. For a new ordinary retail UPC/EAN identifier, obtain the number through GS1; this generator supplies the image, not the allocation.
Method and transparency
Last updated: 6 November 2026. Local technical preview only.