The Short Answer
Use UPC-A if you are selling in the US or Canada. Use EAN-13 if you are selling in Europe, Australia, or any market outside North America. If you're selling globally — including on Amazon — EAN-13 is the safer choice because it is accepted everywhere UPC-A is, plus most international markets.
What's the Actual Difference?
UPC-A uses 12 digits. EAN-13 uses 13 digits. That's the most visible difference, but the relationship is deeper: a UPC-A barcode is simply an EAN-13 with a leading zero prepended. The barcode 012345678905 (UPC-A) is the same product as 0012345678905 (EAN-13). Modern point-of-sale scanners and virtually every major retailer's system accept both formats without any conversion needed.
| Feature | UPC-A | EAN-13 |
|---|---|---|
| Digit count | 12 digits | 13 digits |
| Primary market | US & Canada | International (worldwide) |
| Administered by | GS1 US | GS1 (global) |
| Required for US retail | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes (accepted) |
| Required for EU retail | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Amazon FBA (US) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Amazon FBA (EU/international) | ✗ Limited | ✓ Yes |
| UPC-A is subset of EAN-13 | — | ✓ Yes (add leading zero) |
Which Do US Retailers Require?
Walmart, Target, Kroger, CVS, and virtually all major US retailers require a valid UPC-A (or EAN-13) that is registered with GS1 US. The key word is registered — the barcode number must be officially linked to your company through a GS1 company prefix. Retailers cross-reference barcodes against GS1 databases, and unregistered numbers cause listing rejections.
What About Amazon FBA?
Amazon accepts both UPC-A and EAN-13, but the requirements depend on your marketplace. For Amazon.com (US), UPC-A is standard. For Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, or any European marketplace, EAN-13 is required. If you sell on multiple Amazon marketplaces, register an EAN-13 — it works everywhere.
Note: Amazon also uses FNSKU (Fulfillment Network SKU) labels for warehouse-level tracking. FNSKU labels use Code 128 barcodes, not UPC-A or EAN-13. You generate UPC-A/EAN-13 for your product listing; you use FNSKU for the physical label that goes on the item in the FBA warehouse.
Do I Need to Buy My Barcode from GS1?
Yes — for retail use. GS1 is the official issuer of company prefixes and GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers). You cannot simply invent a 12- or 13-digit number and use it in retail without GS1 registration. Doing so risks barcode conflicts with other products and will get your listings rejected by major retailers.
For internal use — warehouse bin labels, internal SKU tracking, or non-retail applications — you don't need GS1 registration. In those cases, use Code 128 instead, which requires no registration at all.
How to Generate EAN-13 or UPC-A Labels
Once you have your GTINs, generating the actual barcode images is straightforward. Bulk Barcode Generator lets you paste a list of product codes or upload a CSV/Excel file and download print-ready labels in seconds — PDF for Avery sheets, high-resolution PNG, or SVG. The check digit is calculated automatically.
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Paste your GTINs or upload a CSV and download print-ready labels — free, no signup, no row limit.
Generate EAN-13 or UPC-A Labels FreeSummary
- Need to sell in the US only → UPC-A works fine
- Need to sell internationally or on Amazon non-US → Use EAN-13
- Both require GS1 registration for retail use
- For internal inventory (no retail scanning) → Use Code 128, no registration needed
- UPC-A = EAN-13 with a leading zero; modern scanners read both