EAN-8 Barcode Generator
Make an EAN-8 barcode for a product that is too small for a full EAN-13. Type the 8 digit number, or the first 7 and the check digit is added, then download a PNG or SVG.
1. Barcode type and content
Check digit 4 added. Full number: 96385074
Type 7 digits and the check digit is added, or all 8 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-8 barcode?
EAN-8 is the short version of the EAN retail barcode. It holds 8 digits instead of 13, so the barcode is about 28% narrower. It is meant for products where there is no room for anything bigger.
The 8 digits are a GS1 prefix, an item number, and a check digit. Store scanners that read EAN-13 read EAN-8 too.
Why use our EAN-8 barcode generator
- ·Made for small space. Turn off the text or tighten the size settings to fit a narrow label, with warnings if the margin gets too thin to scan.
- ·Check digit help. Type 7 digits to have it added, or 8 to have it checked.
- ·Sharp at any size. The SVG scales down cleanly for tiny packaging.
- ·Free and private. No signup, and nothing leaves your browser.
How to make an EAN-8 barcode
- 1
Type the EAN-8 number
Enter the first 7 digits and the check digit is added, or all 8 digits to have the last one checked.
- 2
Check the result
The line under the box shows the full 8 digit number. Match it against the number from GS1.
- 3
Size it for the package
Set the bar width and height. On a tiny package, make the whole barcode smaller rather than cutting the bars short.
- 4
Download and test
Save the SVG for packaging artwork or the PNG for labels, then scan a printed sample at its real size.
How much space EAN-8 saves
Widths at standard (100%) size, where the thinnest bar is 0.33 mm. The total includes the blank quiet zones scanners need on each side.
| Barcode | Digits | Bars only | With quiet zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAN-13 | 13 | 31.4 mm | 37.3 mm |
| UPC-A | 12 | 31.4 mm | 37.3 mm |
| EAN-8 | 8 | 22.1 mm | 26.7 mm |
| UPC-E | 8 | 16.8 mm | 22.1 mm |
Before asking for an EAN-8, try an EAN-13 at a smaller size. Retail standards allow product barcodes down to 80% of standard size, which brings an EAN-13 to about 29.8 mm wide. If that still does not fit, EAN-8 is the right choice. In the US and Canada, another short option is UPC-E, if your UPC number qualifies.
When to use an EAN-8 barcode
GS1 issues EAN-8 numbers only for small products. GS1 Greece, for example, allows one when any of these is true:
- ·The whole printable area of the package is smaller than 80 cm².
- ·The largest label on the item is smaller than 40 cm².
- ·The product is a cylinder less than 30 mm across, such as a lipstick.
- ·Replacing a worn EAN-8 label when you already have the number.
EAN-8 barcode FAQ
- When should I use EAN-8 instead of EAN-13?
- Only when an EAN-13 barcode will not fit on the package. GS1 gives a lipstick and a box of matches as examples. For everything else, EAN-13 is the normal choice.
- Where do I get an EAN-8 number?
- From the GS1 office in your country. EAN-8 numbers are not built from your EAN-13 company prefix. GS1 issues them one at a time, and usually only when you can show that an EAN-13 will not fit.
- Can I make an EAN-8 by shortening my EAN-13?
- No. Cutting digits off an EAN-13 gives a different number that may belong to another product. An EAN-8 is a separate number with its own registration.
- How is the EAN-8 check digit worked out?
- The same way as for EAN-13: counting back from the check digit, the digits are multiplied by 3, 1, 3, 1, and so on, added up, and the check digit brings the total to the next multiple of 10. For 9638507, the check digit is 4.
- Is EAN-8 the same as UPC-E?
- No. Both have 8 digits, but they are different barcodes. A UPC-E is a shortened form of a 12 digit UPC-A, while an EAN-8 is its own number. Scanners tell them apart by their patterns.
- Is my number uploaded?
- No. The barcode is drawn in your browser, and nothing you type is sent to a server.