EAN-13 barcode generator
An EAN-13 barcode is 13 digits drawn as bars so a shop scanner can read them. Opo Codes draws the bars for a number you supply, adds the thirteenth check digit when you give 12, and exports the barcode for free in your browser. It does not issue official product numbers.
Open the generatorFree. Runs in your browser.
How to do it
- Open the generator. EAN-13 is already selected.
- Type the 12 digits and the check digit is added for you, or type all 13.
- If you typed 13 and the last digit is wrong, the generator shows the right one and offers to fix it.
- Look at the scan stamp, choose PNG, JPG, SVG or PDF and a resolution, then download.
How the check digit is worked out
The last digit of an EAN-13 is a check digit. It lets a scanner notice a misread. Take the first 12 digits. Add the digits in positions 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. Add the digits in positions 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12, and multiply that second sum by 3. Add the two results, then find what you must add to reach the next multiple of 10.
Worked example with 201234567890. Positions 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 hold 2, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, which add up to 27. Positions 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 hold 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 0, which add up to 20, and 20 times 3 is 60. The total is 87. The next multiple of 10 is 90, so the check digit is 3 and the full number is 2012345678903.
Where the number comes from
This tool encodes the number you give it. It does not issue official GS1 numbers. Numbers for products sold through shops come from GS1 membership, which gives you a company prefix that belongs only to you. Drawing an invented number that happens to be valid can clash with someone else's product.
GS1 sets aside the prefixes 20 to 29 for use inside a single shop. The example above starts with 20, so it is fine for your own shelf labels and stock counts, but never for goods sold elsewhere.
Export and extras
Download as PNG, JPG, SVG or PDF. For PNG and JPG you can pick 150, 300 or 600 DPI. SVG and PDF keep the bars sharp at any size, which is the safer choice for printing on packs.
You can add a 2 or 5 digit add-on next to the barcode, the kind used on magazines and books. UPC-A, EAN-8, Code 128 and many other formats are in the same generator if your buyer asks for something else.
Questions
Can I sell products with a barcode made here?
Only if the number is one you are entitled to use. Shops and marketplaces expect numbers from GS1 membership. This tool draws the bars for a number you supply; it does not register or sell numbers.
Do I have to type the check digit?
No. Type 12 digits and the check digit is added. If you type all 13 and the last one is wrong, the generator tells you the right digit.
How do I know the barcode will scan?
After drawing the bars the generator reads them back. A VERIFIED stamp means the scan came back with exactly the number you typed. Still scan one printed copy before a big print run.
What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
UPC-A is the 12-digit form used in North America. A UPC-A number is the same as an EAN-13 with a 0 in front. Both are in the generator.