How to create a barcode
- 1.
Choose the barcode type
EAN-13 for retail products, Code 128 for text and logistics, ITF-14 for shipping cartons.
- 2.
Enter the data
For EAN-13 enter 12 digits and the check digit is added; with 13 digits it is verified.
- 3.
Adjust the look
Set bar height, module width, margin, human-readable text and colours.
- 4.
Download
Download SVG (vector) or PNG at 4× or 8×. In list mode, download all codes as ZIP.
How the EAN-13 check digit works
The 13th digit of an EAN-13 is a check digit that lets the scanner detect a misread. To calculate it, multiply the first 12 digits alternately by 3 and 1 starting from the right, add the products and take (10 − sum mod 10) mod 10.
Example: for 590123412345 the weighted sum is 5·3 + 4 + 3·3 + 2 + 1·3 + 4 + 3·3 + 2 + 1·3 + 0 + 9·3 + 5 = 83. The next multiple of 10 is 90, so the check digit is 7 and the full code is 5901234123457. The same rule (weights 3 and 1 from the right) applies to EAN-8, UPC-A and ITF-14 (GTIN-14).
Where do EAN and UPC numbers come from?
The generator draws a barcode for any number, but numbers for products sold in shops and marketplaces must be licensed from your national GS1 organisation (GS1 US, GS1 UK, GS1 Germany…). The company receives a prefix and numbers its products within that range; membership is paid.
- The prefix is not the country of origin. 00-13 is GS1 US/Canada, 400-440 GS1 Germany, 50 GS1 UK, 590 GS1 Poland - it shows which office issued the number, not where the product was made.
- Numbers bought from resellers are often rejected by retailers and marketplaces such as Amazon, which check the number owner in the GS1 database.
- Prefixes 200-299 are for internal use only (variable-weight goods, loyalty cards).
- 978/979 are books (ISBN) and 977 periodicals (ISSN).
Which barcode type to choose
| Type | Data | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| EAN-13 | 13 digits | retail products worldwide |
| EAN-8 | 8 digits | very small packages |
| UPC-A | 12 digits | retail in the USA and Canada |
| Code 128 | ASCII text, up to 80 characters here | invoices, warehouse locations, serial numbers, shipping labels |
| Code 39 | A-Z, 0-9, space, - . $ / + % | older industrial and inventory systems |
| ITF-14 | 14 digits | outer shipping cartons, printed on corrugated board |
A 1D barcode identifies an item but carries little data. For links, contact details or longer text, use the QR code generator. Through GS1 “Sunrise 2027”, retailers are preparing checkout scanners to also read 2D codes, but EAN-13 remains in use.
Printing tips
- Size: the nominal EAN-13 is about 37.3 × 25.9 mm with a 0.33 mm module; scaling from 80% to 200% is allowed. Do not cut the bar height.
- Quiet zone: leave blank margins - at least 11 modules on the left and 7 on the right of an EAN-13.
- File format: print the SVG (vector) or a PNG at 4× - with a 2 px module that gives about 8 px per bar, sharp at 300 DPI. The tool shows the PNG size in mm at 300 DPI.
- Colours: dark bars on a light background. Red bars or a dark background are invisible to many scanners; the tool warns about inverted or low-contrast colours.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make up my own EAN number?
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How do I check whether an EAN code is valid?
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SVG or PNG for printing?
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Can a barcode contain accented letters?
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How do I generate many barcodes at once?
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Does the prefix show where a product was made?
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Is it free?
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