EAN-13 barcode in vector
Enter the product number and get a barcode in SVG, PDF or EPS that a print shop can place on a package or label without redrawing.
Enter 12 digits and the tool will calculate the thirteenth, the check digit. Or enter all 13 and it will verify them. The first three digits show the country where the number was registered.
The nominal EAN-13 size is 37.29 × 25.93 mm. The allowed scale is 80 to 200 %. The light margins on both sides are part of the file: do not crop them.
The tool draws a barcode from a number you already have. Numbers for retail are issued by your national GS1 organisation. A package with the code in your brand style is designed by us.
How it works
- Enter the numberOne code or a list: EAN-13, UPC-A, EAN-8 or Code 128.
- Choose the sizeScale from 80 to 200 %, bar height, colour, digits under the code.
- Download the fileSVG, PDF or EPS for packaging and labels, PNG for documents.
The code is just one element of a label. The logo, colours, ingredients, markings and the way it all comes together is a designer’s job. We will design a label or package in your brand style and prepare it for print.
Discuss packaging →- Logo and brand identity
- Label, sticker, box
- Barcode and markings in the right places
- Files a print shop accepts without corrections
Why a barcode should be vector
A barcode on a package is a set of lines with exact widths. If you paste an image from the internet or a screenshot into the layout, the lines blur in print and the scanner at the till cannot read the code. A vector file keeps the width of every line at any size, which is why print shops ask for SVG, PDF or EPS.
What EAN-13 and EAN-8 are
EAN-13 is the standard retail product barcode: 13 digits, the last of which is a check digit. It is calculated from the first twelve so that a scanner can detect a reading error. EAN-8 is the short 8-digit version for very small packages. The tool calculates the check digit for you or verifies the one you entered.
Local and international codes
The first three digits of an EAN-13 are the prefix of the GS1 organisation where the number was registered: 482 – Ukraine, 590 – Poland, 400–440 – Germany, 690–699 – China. The tool shows the country by prefix for any code. The prefix means where the number was registered, not where the product was made. For the USA and Canada there is the 12-digit UPC-A format, and for warehouses and logistics there is Code 128, which encodes letters and digits.
Many codes at once
If you have dozens of products, you do not need to make each code separately. Paste a list of numbers – one per line or a column from a spreadsheet – or upload a TXT or CSV file. The tool checks every number, skips lines with errors and gives you a PDF with all codes laid out on an A4 or A3 sheet at real size, or an archive with each code as a separate vector file.
Where to get a barcode number
Numbers for products sold in shops and on marketplaces are issued by your national GS1 organisation: a company receives its own prefix and assigns numbers to its products. The generator does not issue numbers – it draws a code from a number you already have. For internal use in your own shop, numbers that start with the digit 2 are used.
Size, colour and placement
The nominal EAN-13 size is 37.29 × 25.93 mm; the allowed scale is 80 to 200 %. The bars must be dark on a light background: black, dark blue, dark green. Scanners cannot see red, orange or yellow bars. The code needs light margins on both sides – they are already included in the file. Do not place the code on a fold, seam or corner of the package.
Frequently asked questions
Is the barcode generator free?
Yes. No sign-up, no watermarks and no limit on the number of codes.
Does the tool issue barcode numbers?
No. It draws a code from your number. Numbers for retail are issued by your national GS1 organisation.
What is a check digit?
The last digit of the code, calculated from the previous ones. Enter 12 digits and the tool will calculate the thirteenth.
What is the minimum barcode size?
80 % of the nominal size: about 29.8 × 20.7 mm for EAN-13. The code must not be made smaller.
What colour can a barcode be?
Dark bars on a light background: black, dark blue, dark green, dark brown. Red and orange bars cannot be scanned.
Which format should I send to the print shop?
Vector: PDF, EPS or SVG. PNG is only suitable for screens and documents.
How do I make many barcodes at once?
Switch to “Many codes on a sheet”, paste a list of numbers or upload a TXT or CSV file and save a PDF with all codes on one sheet.
What do the first digits of a barcode mean?
The prefix of the GS1 organisation where the number was registered: for example, 482 is Ukraine. It is not necessarily the country of manufacture.
How is UPC-A different from EAN-13?
UPC-A has 12 digits and is used in the USA and Canada. EAN-13 has 13 digits and is the standard in Europe. Scanners read both.
Other free tools
