EAN-13 Barcode Generator
Make an EAN-13 barcode for a product or a book cover. Type the 13 digit number, or 12 digits and the check digit is added for you. ISBN-13 numbers work with or without hyphens.
1. Barcode type and content
Check digit 7 added. Full number: 5901234123457
Type 12 digits and the check digit is added, or all 13 digits to have it checked.
2. Size and text
Width of the thinnest bar. Raise it for a larger, sharper PNG.
3. Colors
Loading the barcode maker…
Print a test copy and scan it before you print a full batch.
What is an EAN-13 barcode?
EAN-13 is the 13 digit barcode used on retail products in most of the world outside the United States and Canada. EAN first stood for European Article Number. It is now called the International Article Number, and GS1 refers to the number itself as a GTIN-13.
Books use the same barcode, with the book's ISBN-13 as the 13 digits.
Why use our EAN-13 barcode generator
- ·Works for books too. Paste an ISBN-13 with hyphens and it is cleaned up for you.
- ·Check digit help. Leave it off and it is added, or type it and a wrong one is flagged with the right value.
- ·Cover-ready SVG. Drop the vector file into your cover or packaging design at any size.
- ·Free and private. No account, no watermark, and nothing is uploaded.
How to make an EAN-13 barcode
- 1
Type the EAN-13 number
Enter the first 12 digits and the check digit is added, or all 13 digits to have the last one checked. An ISBN-13 with hyphens works as typed.
- 2
Confirm the check digit
The line under the box shows whether the check digit was added or matched. If it does not match, a digit is probably mistyped.
- 3
Adjust the size and text
Raise the bar width for a larger PNG and keep the digits shown under the bars, as shops and customers expect them.
- 4
Download the EAN-13 barcode
Use the SVG for packaging or book cover artwork, or the PNG for labels. Print a test copy and scan it.
What the first digits of an EAN-13 mean
The first two or three digits are the GS1 prefix. They tell you which GS1 office issued the number, which is not always the country where the product was made. A few common ranges:
| Starts with | Issued by or used for |
|---|---|
| 001 to 019, 030 to 039, 060 to 139 | GS1 US. A UPC-A number shows up here with a 0 in front |
| 200 to 299 | Restricted numbers, for use only within one region and not on products sold widely |
| 300 to 379 | GS1 France |
| 400 to 440 | GS1 Germany |
| 450 to 459, 490 to 499 | GS1 Japan |
| 500 to 509 | GS1 UK |
| 690 to 699 | GS1 China |
| 754 to 755 | GS1 Canada |
| 890 | GS1 India |
| 977 | Magazines and other serials (ISSN) |
| 978 to 979 | Books (ISBN) |
How to make an ISBN barcode for a book
An ISBN-13 is already an EAN-13 number, so the barcode on a book cover is an ordinary EAN-13 barcode. Type your ISBN-13 into the tool above, hyphens included if you like, and download the SVG for your cover file.
If you only have an older 10 digit ISBN, convert it first. Drop its last digit, put 978 in front, and type the 12 digits. The tool adds the new check digit, which is often different from the old one. For example, ISBN 0-306-40615-2 becomes 978-0-306-40615-7.
Books sold in the US may also carry a small 5 digit price add-on to the right of the main barcode. This tool does not draw the add-on, so ask your printer or distributor whether you need one.
Why the first EAN-13 digit sits outside the bars
An EAN-13 barcode has the same width as a 12 digit UPC-A: two groups of six digits between three sets of guard bars. The 13th digit, the first one, has no bars of its own. Instead, each of the six digits on the left is drawn in one of two patterns, and the mix of patterns spells out the first digit. That is why it is printed on its own to the left of the bars, and why a UPC-A reads as an EAN-13 starting with 0.
Who uses EAN-13 barcodes
- ·Brands selling in shops outside North America. Make barcode artwork from the EAN-13 numbers your local GS1 office issued to your company.
- ·Self-published authors. Make the back cover barcode from your ISBN-13 when your printer or distributor does not supply one.
- ·Small magazine publishers. Make a barcode from the 977 number built from your ISSN for copies sold in shops.
- ·Exporters. Put a barcode on goods for stores in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere where EAN-13 is the norm.
EAN-13 barcode FAQ
- Is EAN-13 the same as a UPC?
- They are close relatives. A 12 digit UPC-A is the same number as a 13 digit EAN-13 that starts with 0, and scanners worldwide read both. EAN-13 has one more digit, which gives room for numbers issued outside the US and Canada.
- Does the EAN-13 prefix show the country a product was made in?
- No. The first digits show which GS1 office issued the number to the brand, not where the product was made. A company registered in Germany can make its products anywhere and still use a 400 to 440 prefix.
- How do I make an ISBN barcode for a book?
- Type your ISBN-13 into the box. Hyphens are fine, since they are removed. The barcode the tool makes is the same EAN-13 barcode printed on book covers, and the check digit is checked for you.
- How do I turn an ISBN-10 into an EAN-13 barcode?
- Remove the last digit of the ISBN-10, put 978 in front of the remaining 9 digits, and type those 12 digits into the tool. It works out the new check digit. For example, ISBN 0-306-40615-2 becomes 978030640615, and the tool adds a 7 to make 9780306406157.
- Can I use an EAN-13 barcode in the US?
- Usually. Since January 2005, GS1 US has expected retailers in the US and Canada to scan EAN-13. GS1 notes that some small shops there still can only handle 12 digit UPC numbers, so check with the stores you sell to.
- What size should an EAN-13 barcode be?
- At standard (100%) size, an EAN-13 is 37.29 mm wide including its blank margins, with the thinnest bar 0.33 mm wide. GS1 allows 80% to 200% of that size for products sold in stores, and says not to cut the bars shorter.
- What does the little number to the right of a book barcode mean?
- It is a separate 5 digit add-on, often the price. In the US, 5 followed by the price in cents means US dollars, so 52495 is $24.95, and 90000 means no price is given. This tool makes the main EAN-13 barcode only, not the add-on.
- Is my number uploaded?
- No. The barcode is drawn in your browser, and the numbers you type are not sent anywhere.