1. home
  2. barcode learning centre
  3. ean-13 barcodes

EAN Barcodes

Understand how to create compliant EAN barcodes for retail point of sale. Our EAN-13 guide explains everything you need to know about EAN-13 barcodes.

What is an EAN-13 barcode?

The EAN-13 barcode is the most widely used retail barcode globally – ideal for consumer products scanned at checkout or sold online. It can also be used on trade units like cartons or cases. The EAN-13 encodes a GTIN-13.

Key features of an EAN-13 barcode

  • Encodes a GTIN-13 (13-digit Global Trade Item Number)
  • Designed for retail point-of-sale (POS) scanning
  • Does not support additional attributes like use-by dates or application identifiers
  • Readable by omni-directional scanners at checkout
  • EAN stands for European Article Number
  • First introduced in 1973 as part of the original EAN/UPC barcode family

Benefits of EAN-13

  • Universally recognised for retail POS and e‑commerce platforms (e.g. Amazon, eBay), thanks to global GS1 standards
  • Speeds up checkout and stock control by using barcode scans instead of manual entry
  • It doesn’t matter whether it is scanned upside down, making it ideal for busy supermarket checkouts
  • Can be used for both retail and trade units sold in store

Understanding EAN-13 specifications

  • Encodes a GTIN-13, which includes:
    • Company prefix
    • Item reference
    • Check digit (automatically calculated for error detection)
  • Size requirements:
    • Minimum magnification:
      • 80%–100% for retail POS
      • 150%–200% for general distribution
      • Standard (100%) size: 38 mm wide X 25 mm high
  • Minimum bar heights may apply depending on NZ retailer requirements
  • Quiet Zones (blank space) are required on both the left and right sides of the barcode
  • The Human Readable Interpretation (HRI) must be printed beneath the barcode, showing all 13 digits encoded

Common scenarios for using EAN-13 barcodes

  • Selling at retail POS
  • Selling trade items directly to consumers
  • Selling online
Selling at retail POS

EAN-13 is the most widely used barcode for retail point-of-sale. It enables fast and accurate scanning of individual consumer items in supermarkets, department stores, and other retail environments.

Selling trade items directly to consumers

If you sell trade items (like cartons or multipacks) directly to consumers, you’ll need an EAN-13 barcode on each consumer unit, in addition to the ITF-14 barcode on the outer carton. For example, individual bottles of beer require an EAN-13, even if they’re sold in slabs.

Selling online

EAN-13 barcodes are commonly used on eCommerce platforms like Amazon, eBay and Google. While not mandatory (yet), including a GTIN in the form of an EAN-13 barcode is strongly recommended to improve product visibility, trust and inventory accuracy online.

EAN-13 Barcode Implementation Checklist

  • Printing on retail units (consumer items)
    • Do not truncate (shorten) bar height unless absolutely necessary due to limited packaging space
    • Include Quiet Zones on both the left and right sides of the barcode
    • Target size is 100%, but GS1 standards allow magnification between 80% and 200%
    • Use upright “picket fence” orientation unless limited by packaging design (e.g. bottles)
    • On curved surfaces (e.g. bottles), rotate barcode to “ladder” orientation to prevent wrapping or distortion
    • Position barcode at least 10 mm away from any seam, flap, crease, corner or edge
  • Printing on trade units (e.g. cartons, shippers)
    • Minimum magnification: 150% (narrowest bar width ≥ 0.495 mm)
    • At least one barcode is required; two are recommended if pre-printed directly onto cartons
    • Ensure it’s not possible to scan internal product barcodes through the outer packaging Barcode and Quiet Zones must be no closer than 19 mm to the vertical edge of the carton
    • The base of the barcode should be approximately 32 mm above the carton’s base
  • Final checks before production
    • Verify the barcode matches the correct product
    • Ensure the barcode is clearly visible and properly positioned
    • Confirm the barcode is fully scannable and free from defects
    • Make sure the barcode can be easily located by scanning systems

FAQs

When should I use an EAN-8 versus an EAN-13 barcode?

EAN-8 barcodes are reserved for very small product packaging where there isn’t enough space for a full-sized barcode.

However, when space allows, most major retailers (including Woolworths) prefer or require an EAN-13 barcode to ensure consistency and scan reliability.

What is the difference between UPC barcodes and EAN barcodes?

UPC barcodes are used primarily in the United States and Canada, while EAN barcodes are the global standard in regions like Australia and New Zealand.

  • UPC-A encodes a GTIN-12
  • EAN-13 encodes a GTIN-13

The main distinction is the country prefix: North American UPC barcodes begin with a “0” that is not displayed or included in databases, whereas other countries embed a unique country code within the GTIN.

What’s the allowed magnification range for an EAN-13?

EAN-13 barcodes must fall within certain size (magnification) ranges depending on their use:

  • Retail point-of-sale (POS):
    80% – 200% magnification
    (X-dimension: 0.26 mm – 0.66 mm)
    Note: X-dimensions down to 0.249 mm are acceptable for thermal and laser on-demand printing.
  • General Distribution (automated scanning):
    150% – 200% magnification
    (X-dimension: 0.50 mm – 0.66 mm)

Quiet Zones and bar height requirements will vary depending on the X-dimension selected.

How big should an EAN-13 barcode be?

At 100% magnification, a standard EAN-13 barcode measures 37.29 mm wide by 25.93 mm high, including Quiet Zones. GS1 standards and retailer requirements allow barcode sizes to range between 80% and 200%, depending on how and where the barcode will be used.

Do I need a GTIN-13 to sell on Amazon or eBay?

In most cases, yes — online marketplaces still require valid GTINs and barcodes for product listings:

  • Amazon: Although your item receives a unique ASIN, Amazon recommends using GS1-issued GTINs for global product recognition and to avoid listing restrictions.
  • eBay: GTINs and barcodes are required for many product categories and can boost search ranking and discoverability.

If you ever plan to sell your products in retail stores, having your GTIN-13s in place now helps avoid future relabelling and compliance issues.