EAN-13 barcode generator
Generate a series of internal EAN-13 codes for your store and print an A4 label sheet — or check a number you already have.
- Free
- No sign-up
- Runs in your browser
EAN-13 barcode generator
Where to get barcodes: GS1 or your own
| Your own codes 20–29 | GS1 code | |
|---|---|---|
| What for | warehouse, till, labels, your own online store | selling through retailers and some marketplaces |
| Who issues it | you — generate as many as you need | your country’s GS1 organization, with your company prefix |
| Here | generate a series and print labels | check and print only: you cannot generate such a number yourself |
Whether a marketplace requires a GS1 code — check its product listing requirements.
How an EAN-13 barcode works
- GS1 prefix3 digits: the organization that issued the code (20–29 — internal)
- Company numberthe company’s number in GS1
- Item referencethe product’s number within the company
- Check digitthe 13th digit, calculated from the first 12
How to check an EAN-13 check digit by hand
The last, 13th digit is the check digit. Take the first 12 digits, multiply the ones in odd positions by 1 and in even positions by 3, and add everything up. The check digit is what the sum needs to reach the next multiple of 10. For 629104150021 the sum is 57, three short of 60, so the full code is 6291041500213. The “I have a number” tab checks it automatically.
EAN-13, EAN-8 and UPC-A
EAN-13 is the main retail format outside North America. EAN-8 is shorter — 7 digits plus a check digit — for small packages; its weights are reversed: odd positions × 3, even × 1. In the US and Canada products usually carry a 12-digit UPC-A, which is the same number as an EAN-13 with a leading 0. The generator supports EAN-13 and EAN-8; for an online store catalog EAN-13 is enough.
Which country is a barcode from: what the first digits mean
The first three digits of an EAN-13 are the GS1 prefix. It shows which national GS1 organization issued the company number, not where the product was made: a German brand can make clothes in Turkey and label them with a 400–440 code.
Codes starting with 200–299 have no “country”: they are restricted-circulation numbers for internal store or warehouse use. That is what the “Generate a series” tab makes. 978 and 979 are books (ISBN in EAN-13 format).
| Prefix | Issued by |
|---|---|
| 001–019, 060–139 | GS1 US |
| 500–509 | GS1 UK |
| 400–440 | GS1 Germany |
| 300–379 | GS1 France |
| 590 | GS1 Poland |
| 800–839 | GS1 Italy |
| 840–849 | GS1 Spain |
| 870–879 | GS1 Netherlands |
| 690–699 | GS1 China |
| 978–979 | books (ISBN) |
| 200–299 | restricted circulation — internal codes; rules are set by the national GS1 organization |
Source: GS1, “GS1 Company Prefix”, checked 30 October 2026.
Common barcode mistakes
- Putting an internal 20–29 code on a product for a retailer or marketplace: the number is not unique outside your warehouse.
- Making up 13 digits without a valid check digit: scanners will not read the code.
- Reusing a manufacturer’s code for a different product: two products with one barcode get mixed up in stock and in feeds.
- Printing the barcode too small or stretched: some scanners cannot read it.
How to print a label sheet
“Print A4 sheet” opens the browser print dialog with a grid for standard self-adhesive label sheets: 3 × 8 — 24 labels 70 × 37 mm, or 4 × 10 — 40 labels 52.5 × 29.7 mm. To get a PDF, choose “Save as PDF” as the printer. Print at 100% scale. “Download CSV” gives the list of numbers for Excel or your inventory software.
Barcodes for the whole catalog
In Elbuz, a catalog formula with an EAN-13 generator adds valid codes with a check digit to every product without a barcode and leaves existing ones untouched. Labels with a barcode and QR code print from a template: from a product card or for selected products in the catalog — up to 500 products and 2,000 labels in one PDF.
A product catalog with attributes and barcodes — Elbuz PIM.
Did you know?
The first digits of a barcode do not tell you the country of manufacture: the prefix only shows which GS1 organization issued the number.
Source: GS1, “GS1 Company Prefix”, checked 30 October 2026Numbers starting with 200–299 are reserved for restricted circulation, such as internal store or warehouse codes.
Source: GS1, “GS1 Company Prefix”, checked 30 October 2026Books have their own “country prefix” — 978 and 979: it is the ISBN written in EAN-13 format.
Source: GS1, “GS1 Company Prefix”, checked 30 October 2026You can calculate an EAN-13 check digit without software: odd positions × 1, even × 3, and round the sum up to a multiple of 10.
Source: GS1, “How to calculate a check digit manually”, checked 30 October 2026
Frequently asked questions
How do I generate my own barcode?
On the “Generate a series” tab, pick a prefix from 20 to 29, a starting number and a quantity: the generator makes unique codes with the check digit. These codes are for your own warehouse and store; retail chains and some marketplaces need a GS1 number.
Can I create an EAN-13 barcode without GS1?
Yes, for internal use: prefixes 20–29 are reserved for restricted circulation — your warehouse, till and own online store. To sell through retailers you need a number from GS1.
How is the EAN-13 check digit calculated?
Take the first 12 digits. Multiply digits in odd positions by 1 and in even positions by 3, add everything up, and the check digit is what the sum needs to reach the next multiple of 10.
How do I get an official barcode for a product?
Join the GS1 organization in your country and get a company prefix: codes built on it are unique worldwide and accepted by retailers and marketplaces.
What do the first digits of a barcode mean?
They are the prefix of the GS1 organization that issued the number: 400–440 Germany, 590 Poland, 800–839 Italy, 001–019 and 060–139 the US, 20–29 internal store codes. The prefix shows where the code was registered, not where the product was made.
How many digits are in an EAN-13 barcode?
13: twelve digits of the number and a check digit. The short EAN-8 has 8: seven digits and a check digit. A 12-digit UPC-A becomes an EAN-13 by adding a leading 0.
How do I print barcodes on a label sheet?
Press “Print A4 sheet”: the browser print dialog opens with a grid for standard self-adhesive sheets — 3 × 8 (24 labels, 70 × 37 mm) or 4 × 10 (40 labels, 52.5 × 29.7 mm). Print at 100% scale; choose “Save as PDF” to get a file.
Can I use a generated barcode to sell on a marketplace?
Internal 20–29 codes are not unique outside your business, so marketplaces that require a GTIN will not accept them. Check the product listing requirements of each marketplace.