Free EAN-13 Barcode Generator

Create EAN-13 retail barcodes from a 12 or 13 digit product number and download them as PNG. QRKit Tools calculates and validates the check digit for you. Free, no sign-up, and the barcode is static so it never expires.

EAN-13 number

5901234123457

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What is an EAN-13 barcode?

EAN-13 is the 13-digit barcode printed on consumer products worldwide. It is the international standard read by supermarket and retail point-of-sale systems.

The number has three parts: a GS1 company prefix that identifies the manufacturer, a product reference chosen by that company, and a final check digit that lets the scanner detect a misread.

EAN-13 encodes digits only. If your value contains letters or symbols, use Code 128 instead.

How the check digit works

Take the first 12 digits and multiply them alternately by 1 and 3, starting with 1. Add the twelve results together.

The check digit is the number that raises that total to the next multiple of ten. For a total of 57, the check digit is 3.

You never need to do this by hand here: enter 12 digits and QRKit Tools appends the correct digit. Enter all 13 and it verifies the one you typed, flagging a mismatch before you print anything.

Getting a real EAN-13 number

Numbers used on products sold through retailers must be assigned by GS1, the organisation that issues company prefixes. You cannot invent one and expect a shop to accept it.

QRKit Tools renders the barcode image for a number you already hold — it does not issue, register or reserve product numbers.

For internal catalogues, mockups, packaging comps and testing, any valid 13-digit number will scan fine.

Printing an EAN-13 that scans

Respect the quiet zone: EAN-13 needs clear space before the first bar and after the last one, which is why the guard bars extend below the digits.

Do not shrink it too far. The nominal EAN-13 size is about 37.29 mm x 25.93 mm, and retail scanners struggle below roughly 80% of that.

Print black bars on a white background, keep the human-readable digits underneath, and test the printed pack before committing to a production run.

Static barcodes, no account, no expiry

The number is encoded directly into the bar pattern, so the image is self-contained and keeps scanning forever, with no redirect and no tracking.

Nothing is stored on a server and there is no account to manage — generate the barcode and download it immediately.

Frequently asked questions

Is the EAN-13 generator free?

Yes. Generating and downloading EAN-13 barcodes on QRKit Tools is free, with no account and no watermark.

Do I need to calculate the EAN-13 check digit?

No. Enter the first 12 digits and QRKit Tools calculates the 13th check digit automatically. If you paste all 13, it validates the digit you supplied and warns you if it is wrong.

How is the EAN-13 check digit calculated?

Each of the first 12 digits is multiplied alternately by 1 and 3, the results are added together, and the check digit is whatever value brings that total up to the next multiple of ten.

Can I invent my own EAN-13 number?

Not for retail. Numbers sold through shops must be assigned to you by GS1, the organisation that issues company prefixes. QRKit Tools renders the barcode but does not issue product numbers. For internal or test use, any valid 13-digit number will scan.

What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?

UPC-A is the 12-digit North American format. EAN-13 is its 13-digit international superset — an EAN-13 that starts with a zero is the same number as a UPC-A. Most modern scanners read both.