Question 1

What is an EAN-13 barcode?

Accepted Answer

EAN-13 (European Article Number, 13 digits) is the global standard barcode for retail products. It's used on virtually every consumer-packaged good sold outside North America, and is also recognized by North American POS systems.

Question 2

Do I need a GS1 prefix to generate a valid EAN-13?

Accepted Answer

For products you'll sell through retailers, yes — the first 3 digits should be a GS1 country/region prefix. For internal use, asset tracking, or proof-of-concept, any 12-digit number will generate a scannable EAN-13. This tool doesn't enforce GS1 rules; it just renders whatever digits you provide.

Question 3

What does the 13th digit do?

Accepted Answer

The 13th digit is a check digit calculated from the first 12. If you enter exactly 12 digits, JsBarcode computes the check digit automatically. If you enter all 13, it validates that the last one matches what should be calculated.

Question 4

Will this barcode scan at a real cash register?

Accepted Answer

Yes — EAN-13 barcodes generated here are spec-compliant and scan with any standard POS or handheld scanner. Print at 100% scale (don't resize) and keep at least 3.6 mm of white space (the quiet zone) on each side for best results.

Question 5

Can I use the same EAN-13 for multiple products?

Accepted Answer

No — each retail SKU needs a unique EAN-13. If you're selling through retailers, purchase a GS1 prefix and allocate codes from it. For internal-only barcodes (warehouse labels, asset tags), you can use any numbering scheme as long as each is unique within your system.

Question 6

What format does the download come in?

Accepted Answer

PNG (raster, for screens) or SVG (vector, for print). For packaging artwork, SVG is recommended because it scales to any size without losing quality.

EAN-13 Barcode Generator

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