What is EAN-13?
EAN-13 (European Article Number) is the 13-digit barcode used on retail products worldwide. It encodes a 12-digit number plus a check digit and is the standard barcode you see on almost every packaged product in stores.
Common Uses for EAN-13
- Retail product packaging and labels
- E-commerce product listings (Amazon, eBay)
- Supermarket checkout scanning
- ISBN book barcodes (Bookland EAN)
EAN-13 vs UPC-A
EAN-13 is 13 digits and used worldwide; UPC-A is 12 digits and used in the United States and Canada. A UPC-A number can be converted to EAN-13 by adding a leading 0, and most scanners read both. If you sell only in North America, UPC-A is standard; for global retail or European marketplaces like Amazon EU, use EAN-13.
EAN-13 Check Digit Calculation
The 13th digit of an EAN-13 is a check digit calculated from the first 12 digits, used to catch scanning errors. The formula alternates weights of 1 and 3: multiply each of the 12 digits by its weight, sum them, then the check digit is the number that makes the total a multiple of 10. This tool calculates the check digit automatically, so any number you enter is output as a valid EAN-13.
How to Get an EAN Number
EAN-13 numbers are allocated under the GS1 system. To sell through retail you need a legitimate GS1 company prefix - you can join GS1 directly or buy single EAN codes from an authorized reseller (many Amazon sellers use these for FBA). Note that a barcode image alone is not a valid product number; the underlying EAN must be unique and registered to your product.
EAN-13 Country Prefixes Explained
The first three digits of an EAN-13 are the GS1 prefix, and each prefix range is assigned to a national GS1 office - 400-440 to Germany, 560 to Portugal, 690-699 to China, and so on. What surprises many sellers: the prefix says where the owning company registered, not where the product was made, and big brands register in one country but manufacture worldwide. Retailers scan the whole 13 digits against their product database, so the prefix never affects shelf compatibility.
EAN-13 Add-On Codes (Price and Newsstand)
Some EAN-13 labels carry a small supplementary barcode to the right of the main code: a 2-digit or 5-digit add-on. Magazines and newspapers encode the issue number in a 2-digit add-on; books and grocery items may carry a 5-digit price add-on (90000 means no price printed). The add-on is optional and most products do not use one - check your retailer's or distributor's specification before adding it to label artwork.
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