EAN / UPC (Retail) Generator
Product codes scanned at checkout. Real retail use needs a GS1 company prefix.
EAN-13
What is EAN-13?EAN / UPC (Retail) › EAN-13
To sell in retail stores you need a GS1 company prefix. Get one from GS1
EAN and UPC barcodes are scanned at checkout in shops and supermarkets around the world. Each one holds a GTIN, a unique product number, and the store looks up the price in its own system. Products sold in stores need numbers from GS1; the barcode is just the printed form of that number.
Use EAN-13 for most products outside the US and Canada, and UPC-A for those two markets; checkout scanners read both. Choose EAN-8 or UPC-E only when the pack is too small for the full code. Add-ons are for magazines (2 digits) and book prices (5 digits).
12 barcode types in EAN / UPC (Retail)
Which EAN / UPC (Retail) barcode should I use?
| Barcode type | Allowed data | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| EAN-13 | 12 digits (+ auto check digit) | Retail products worldwide |
| EAN-8 | 7 digits (+ auto check digit) | Small retail packages |
| UPC-A | 11 digits (+ auto check digit) | Retail products USA/Canada |
| UPC-E | 7 digits starting 0/1 (+ check) | Small US retail packages |
| EAN-13 + 2-digit add-on | EAN-13 + 2 digits | Magazines (issue number) |
| EAN-13 + 5-digit add-on | EAN-13 + 5 digits | Books (price add-on) |
| EAN-2 add-on (standalone) | 2 digits | Periodicals |
| EAN-5 add-on (standalone) | 5 digits | Book prices |
| EAN-13 Composite | EAN-13 | GS1 AI data | Fresh food, variable data |
| EAN-8 Composite | EAN-8 | GS1 AI data | Small pack + batch data |
| UPC-A Composite | UPC-A | GS1 AI data | Retail + extra data |
| UPC-E Composite | UPC-E | GS1 AI data | Retail + best before |
How to Create a Barcode in 3 Steps
Choose a barcode type
Select a category on the left (e.g. Linear Codes), then the exact type like Code-128.
Enter data & customise
Type your data — we check it live and add check digits. Adjust size, font and colors.
Download or print
Get PNG, JPG, SVG, PDF or EPS, or print a full sheet of labels in one click.
Why Use QRCodeChamp Barcode Generator
125+ barcode types
Every linear, 2D, GS1, postal, healthcare and payment code.
Live validation
Friendly errors with one-click fixes and automatic check digits.
Print-ready PDF
Exact mm sizes, label sheets (Avery, A4, 4×6 thermal).
Bulk barcodes
Paste a list or generate number sequences.
Choose the Type of Barcode You Need
Not sure which barcode to use? Start with what you need it for — we’ll pick the right type.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use EAN-13 or UPC-A for products sold in stores, Code-128 for shipping and inventory, GS1-128 or SSCC for pallets, ISBN for books and Data Matrix or QR codes when you need to store more data in a small space.
Yes. Every barcode you create here is free to download and use commercially, without a watermark or an account.
To sell products in retail stores you need a GS1 company prefix, so your EAN or UPC numbers are unique worldwide. For in-store or internal use you can create codes without one.
A typical EAN-13 is about 37 × 26 mm (100%). Keep bars at least 0.19 mm wide for most scanners, leave the quiet zone around the code empty and print dark bars on a light background.
Yes. Tick “One barcode per line”, paste a list or use Bulk / Sequence to create a numbered series, then download a ZIP, a multi-page PDF or a label sheet.