What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?

EAN-13 uses 13 digits and is a global standard accepted in all countries. UPC-A uses 12 digits and is primarily a US/Canada standard. Structurally, a UPC-A barcode is equivalent to an EAN-13 with a leading zero (GTIN-12 vs GTIN-13). Since 2005, all US point-of-sale systems have been required to accept EAN-13, so most brands prefer EAN-13 for its universal coverage.

What do the first 3 digits of an EAN-13 mean?

The first 2–3 digits are the GS1 prefix assigned to a GS1 member organization (not necessarily the country where the product is made or sold). For example, digits starting with 690–699 are assigned to GS1 China, and digits starting with 0 are assigned to GS1 US. A company registered with GS1 US will always have barcodes starting with 0, regardless of where its products are manufactured.

Do I need to register with GS1 to get an EAN-13?

Yes, if you intend to sell through retail stores, Amazon, Walmart, or other major marketplaces. GS1 is the only organization authorized to issue EAN-13 company prefixes. You register with the GS1 member organization in your country, pay an annual fee, and receive a company prefix from which you can create your own EAN-13 numbers. For direct-to-consumer or internal use only, you do not need GS1 registration.

Can I generate an EAN-13 barcode if I only have 12 digits?

Yes. If you have a 12-digit GTIN-12 (UPC-A number), you can either use it directly in a UPC-A barcode, or add a leading zero to make it a 13-digit EAN-13. The check digit in either case is calculated automatically by the generator. Bulk Barcode Generator accepts both 12-digit and 13-digit inputs for EAN-13 — if you enter 12 digits, it prepends a zero and calculates the check digit automatically.

📊 Barcode Standards — EAN-13 Glossary

What Is EAN-13?

EAN-13 (European Article Number, now officially called International Article Number) is the global 13-digit retail barcode standard used across Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and increasingly North America — most US retailers have accepted EAN-13 since 2005. If your products need to reach supermarkets, convenience stores, or Amazon listings anywhere in the world, EAN-13 is the most universally accepted choice.

Generate EAN-13 Barcodes Free →

13-digit standard Global retail GS1-compatible Free generator

EAN-13 Defined

Full name: International Article Number (EAN) — originally European Article Number
Governing body: GS1 (the global barcode standards organization)
Digits: 13 digits total, including 1 check digit
Type: Linear (one-dimensional) barcode
Standard: ISO/IEC 15420
Year introduced: 1976, originally developed as a European complement to the 12-digit UPC-A system

EAN-13 is the default retail barcode for virtually every market outside the United States and Canada, and is now equally accepted in North America. If you need to sell a physical product through any major retailer or marketplace, EAN-13 is almost certainly required.

How an EAN-13 Number Is Structured

Every EAN-13 number follows the same four-part structure. Here is how it breaks down using the example 4006381333931:

Digits	Position	Meaning	Example
Digits 1–3	Country / GS1 prefix	GS1 member organization prefix (not a shipping-to country)	400 (Germany prefix)
Digits 4–7	Company prefix	Assigned by GS1 to the brand or manufacturer	6381
Digits 8–12	Product reference	Assigned by the company for each individual product	33393
Digit 13	Check digit	Calculated automatically using Modulo 10 algorithm	1

Important: The first 3 digits are not a "country of origin." They identify the GS1 member organization where the company is registered. A Chinese brand that registers with GS1 US will receive barcodes starting with 0 — not 690. Always verify which GS1 office issued the prefix before assuming product origin from the digits alone.

EAN-13 Check Digit — How It Works

The 13th digit is a check digit, calculated from the first 12 digits using the Modulo 10 (Luhn-variant) algorithm. The check digit lets scanners instantly detect any single-digit error or transposition in the barcode, reducing mis-scans at checkout.

You do not need to calculate this manually. Every barcode generator — including this tool — computes and appends the correct check digit automatically. Simply enter your first 12 digits and the tool handles the rest.

If you only have a 12-digit number from an older system or a manual numbering scheme, you have two options: treat it as a GTIN-12 and generate a UPC-A barcode, or prepend a leading zero to turn it into a 13-digit EAN-13 input. Either way, the generator will calculate the correct check digit for whichever format you choose.

EAN-13 vs UPC-A: Key Differences

EAN-13 and UPC-A are closely related — UPC-A is technically a subset of EAN-13. Here is how they compare side by side:

	EAN-13	UPC-A
Digits	13	12
Geographical scope	Global	US & Canada primarily
US retail acceptance	✓ (since 2005, all US POS accept EAN-13)	✓
Amazon	✓ Accepted	✓ Accepted
GTIN type	GTIN-13	GTIN-12
Relationship	EAN-13 = “0” + UPC-A (for US items)	UPC-A is a subset of EAN-13
Best for	International or global sales	US-only brands (historical preference)

Since 2005, every US point-of-sale system is required to support EAN-13 scanning. In practice, a GTIN-12 (UPC-A) padded with a leading zero becomes a valid GTIN-13 (EAN-13). If you already have UPC-A barcodes, simply prepend a zero and you have a valid EAN-13 — no new registration required.

When Do You Need an EAN-13?

Not every product needs an EAN-13. Here is a practical guide to when you do and do not need one:

✅

You need EAN-13 when…

Selling through European, Asian, or Australian retailers
Creating product listings on Amazon (any marketplace accepts UPC or EAN)
Expanding into international sales channels from any country
Manufacturers want a single barcode standard across all global markets

❌

You can skip EAN-13 when…

Selling only through your own direct-to-consumer website or storefront
Running internal warehouse or inventory tracking (use Code 128 instead)
B2B wholesale where both parties agree on a custom coding scheme

How to Get an EAN-13 Number

EAN-13 numbers must be issued through the GS1 system. There are two paths:

Official route (recommended) Register with your country’s GS1 member organization. You receive a company prefix and can generate as many EAN-13 numbers as your product range requires.

China China Article Numbering Center — ancc.org.cn

United States GS1 US — gs1us.org (starting at approximately $250/year for a company prefix)

UK & Europe GS1 UK and the respective national GS1 member organizations across Europe

Warning: do not buy second-hand barcodes. EAN-13 codes sold on eBay, Etsy, or by non-GS1 resellers are unauthorized. Amazon, Walmart, and most major retailers actively cross-check barcodes against the GS1 database. A barcode not registered under your company’s prefix can result in listing rejection or account suspension. Always obtain your EAN-13 numbers directly from GS1.

How to Generate an EAN-13 Barcode

Once you have your 13-digit EAN-13 number (GS1 prefix + company prefix + product reference + check digit), generating a print-ready barcode takes seconds:

Single barcode

Open the generator, select EAN-13 as the symbology, enter your 12 or 13-digit number (the tool auto-calculates the check digit), then download as PNG or PDF.

Bulk from CSV

Prepare a CSV with one EAN-13 number per row. Upload it, select EAN-13, then download a ZIP of individual PNGs or a multi-page label PDF ready for Avery sheets or a thermal printer.

Print

Open the PDF, choose your label stock (Avery 5160, 4×6 thermal, or any standard label sheet), and print. Barcodes are sized to GS1 specifications automatically — no manual scaling needed.

Have your EAN-13 numbers ready? Paste them into Bulk Barcode Generator, select EAN-13, and download print-ready PDF or PNG barcodes in seconds. Free, no signup, no row limit — all processing happens locally in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?: EAN-13 uses 13 digits and is a global standard accepted in all countries. UPC-A uses 12 digits and is primarily a US/Canada standard. Structurally, a UPC-A barcode is equivalent to an EAN-13 with a leading zero (GTIN-12 vs GTIN-13). Since 2005, all US point-of-sale systems have been required to accept EAN-13, so most brands prefer EAN-13 for its universal coverage.
What do the first 3 digits of an EAN-13 mean?: The first 2–3 digits are the GS1 prefix assigned to a GS1 member organization — not necessarily the country where the product is made or sold. For example, digits starting with 690–699 are assigned to GS1 China, and digits starting with 0 are assigned to GS1 US. A company registered with GS1 US will always have barcodes starting with 0, regardless of where its products are manufactured.
Do I need to register with GS1 to get an EAN-13?: Yes, if you intend to sell through retail stores, Amazon, Walmart, or other major marketplaces. GS1 is the only organization authorized to issue EAN-13 company prefixes. You register with the GS1 member organization in your country, pay an annual fee, and receive a company prefix from which you can create your own EAN-13 numbers. For direct-to-consumer or internal use only, you do not need GS1 registration.
Can I generate an EAN-13 barcode if I only have 12 digits?: Yes. If you have a 12-digit GTIN-12 (UPC-A number), you can either use it directly in a UPC-A barcode, or add a leading zero to make it a 13-digit EAN-13. The check digit in either case is calculated automatically by the generator. Bulk Barcode Generator accepts both 12-digit and 13-digit inputs for EAN-13 — if you enter 12 digits, it prepends a zero and calculates the check digit automatically.