What's the difference between UPC-A and EAN-13?

UPC-A uses 12 digits and is the standard in the US and Canada. EAN-13 uses 13 digits and is the international standard used across most of the rest of the world. A UPC-A code is technically a special case of EAN-13 with a leading zero, which is why EAN-13 scanners can read UPC-A codes without any special handling.

How is the check digit calculated?

The standard mod-10 algorithm sums the digits with alternating weights (each digit in an even position multiplied by 1, each in an odd position multiplied by 3, using a specific 0-indexed convention), then calculates what final digit would make the total a multiple of 10 — this tool applies that exact standard algorithm automatically.

Can I use any 12-digit number for EAN-13, or does it need to be officially assigned?

This tool generates a technically valid, correctly encoded barcode from any 12 digits you enter — but for an actual retail product sold through real point-of-sale systems, the leading digits need to come from an officially assigned GS1 manufacturer prefix, not an arbitrary number, to avoid colliding with another company's product code.

Will this barcode scan correctly at a real checkout register?

The barcode follows the correct EAN-13/UPC-A encoding standard and includes a correctly calculated check digit, so it will scan and decode accurately as that exact numeric code — whether it's recognized as an actual product in a specific store's system depends on whether that code is registered in their inventory database, which is separate from the barcode's technical validity.

Why does UPC-A require exactly 11 digits of input instead of 12?

UPC-A's full code is 12 digits total, with the last digit being the calculated check digit — so 11 digits of actual product data plus 1 calculated check digit makes the complete 12-digit code, matching how this tool asks for exactly the digits you need to supply.

Free Online UPC/EAN Generator

Generate a UPC-A or EAN-13 Product Barcode

Need to use UPC/EAN Generator right now?

UPC-A and EAN-13 are the standard barcode formats printed on virtually every retail product worldwide — UPC-A (12 digits) is the standard in the US and Canada, while EAN-13 (13 digits) is the international standard used across most of the rest of the world. This tool generates a real, correctly encoded barcode in either format, entirely in your browser.

No sign-upNo uploads 100% free

First 12 digits (check digit calculated automatically)

The check digit (last digit) is calculated automatically using the standard EAN/UPC mod-10 algorithm — you only need to enter the product digits.

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Features

Runs entirely in your browser
Privacy-first — your data is never uploaded
Real-time, instant results
100% free, no sign-up required
Works on desktop, tablet, and mobile
No installation needed

Who uses this tool?

Small businessesEvent organizersMarketersRetailers

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About UPC/EAN Generator

The last digit of both formats is a check digit, calculated automatically from the preceding digits using the standard mod-10 checksum algorithm — this is what allows a scanner to detect a misread digit, since an incorrect check digit immediately signals a scanning or data error. You only need to enter the product digits; the check digit is computed correctly for you.

UPC-A is technically encoded here as EAN-13 with a leading zero — this is the standard, universally compatible approach, since every EAN-13 scanner (which is virtually all modern point-of-sale hardware) correctly reads a leading-zero EAN-13 as the equivalent UPC-A code.

The bar pattern itself follows the precise EAN/UPC encoding standard — each digit's specific bar-and-space pattern, plus the guard patterns marking the start, center, and end of the code — verified in this tool's implementation against real, independently known reference barcode values to confirm correctness.

How it works

Choose EAN-13 or UPC-A. 13-digit international format, or 12-digit US/Canada format.
Enter the product digits. 12 digits for EAN-13, 11 for UPC-A — the check digit is calculated for you.
Download the barcode as PNG. Ready to print on packaging or a product label.

Examples

EAN-13 example

Input

400638133393 (12 digits entered)

Output

4006381333931 (check digit 1 calculated automatically)

UPC-A example