How to get an EAN code for your product.
An EAN-13 is the 13-digit number under the barcode on almost every product sold in Europe. Marketplaces use it to identify your product, shops scan it at the till. Getting one takes four steps.
Count your variants
Every version a customer can choose needs its own code: each size, colour, flavour, volume or pack size. A T-shirt in 2 colours and 5 sizes needs 10 codes. A bundle of products sold together needs one more code of its own.
Decide where you'll sell
Amazon, Allegro and big retail chains check that codes are registered to your brand in GS1. eBay, Kaufland, Otto, Zalando, Etsy and Shopify accept any valid code. Check the store-by-store guide.
Get the numbers
Join GS1 in your country if you need codes registered to your brand. Otherwise buy codes from a reseller: you pay once and get them the same day. Compare costs in GS1 or reseller.
Add them to listings and packaging
Enter each number in the GTIN, EAN or barcode field of the matching variant. To print, use the barcode images you receive or make one with our free barcode generator.
EAN, UPC, GTIN: what's the difference
| Name | Digits | Where it's used |
|---|---|---|
| GTIN | 8, 12, 13 or 14 | The general name for all of them. Marketplaces often label the field "GTIN". |
| EAN-13 (GTIN-13) | 13 | Standard in Europe and most of the world. |
| UPC-A (GTIN-12) | 12 | Standard in the US and Canada. Add a 0 in front and it becomes a valid EAN-13. |
| GTIN-14 | 14 | Cartons and cases in logistics, not single items. |
Printing the barcode
- Standard size is 37.29 × 25.93 mm. You can scale it between 80% and 200%.
- Dark bars on a light background. Black on white scans best; red bars don't scan.
- Keep a clear margin around the bars: 11 thin-bar widths on the left and 7 on the right.
- Don't cut the bars shorter to save space. Test-scan a printed sample with a phone app before a full print run.
Questions
Can I make up my own EAN code?
No. A made-up number may already belong to another product, and marketplaces reject codes that aren't in a valid GS1 range. A barcode generator draws the image, but the number itself has to come from GS1 or a reseller.
Do I need a company to get an EAN code?
GS1 usually asks for a registered business. Resellers sell to sole traders and individuals too.
How long does it take?
GS1 membership takes from a few days to a few weeks. Bought codes arrive by email the same day.
Does the country prefix matter?
No. The first digits show which GS1 office issued the number, not where the product is made or sold.