The short answer
For a 12-digit number, UPC-A is the usual choice in the United States and Canada. For a 13-digit number, print EAN-13; check your retailer's requirements before choosing a format for a 12-digit number sold elsewhere.
Side by side
These two barcodes carry the same product number. The EAN-13 simply writes it with a leading zero. Retail systems can treat both as the same item, though a retailer may have its own format requirements.
| UPC-A | EAN-13 | |
|---|---|---|
| Digits | 12 | 13 |
| Number type | GTIN-12 | GTIN-13 |
| Where it is commonly used | United States, Canada | Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa, Oceania |
| Who issues the number | GS1 (usually GS1 US or GS1 Canada) | A GS1 member organization |
| Standard size at 100% | about 37.3 × 25.9 mm | about 37.3 × 25.9 mm |
| Allowed size range | 80% to 200% | 80% to 200% |
| Check digit | last digit, modulo 10 | last digit, modulo 10 |
How they relate
UPC came first. It was introduced in the United States in the 1970s. EAN (originally the European Article Number) extended it to 13 digits so that other countries could have their own number ranges. The extension was built so that every UPC-A is also a valid EAN-13 with a leading zero. That is why the bars look so similar: the EAN-13 pattern encodes the extra first digit in the way the left-hand digits are drawn, rather than adding more bars.
Today both belong to the same GS1 system. The underlying number is a GTIN; its length and the retailer's requirements help determine which symbol to print.
Reading the digits
UPC-A
The first digit is the number system (for example 0, 1, 6, 7, 8 for regular products). The GS1 company prefix includes the number system digit and is followed by the item reference and check digit. In 036000291452, the leading 0 is the number system digit and also the start of the company prefix. Where the prefix ends and the item reference begins depends on how long the prefix is, which you cannot tell from the barcode alone. The final 2 is the check digit.
EAN-13
The first three digits are a GS1 prefix that shows which GS1 organization the number range belongs to, such as 400 to 440 for GS1 Germany or 760 to 769 for GS1 Switzerland. It identifies the GS1 organization associated with that prefix range, not where the product was made. The GS1 company prefix includes the GS1 prefix; the item reference and check digit follow. Books use the special prefixes 978 and 979 (979-0 is for sheet music); see the ISBN barcode guide.
Which one should you print?
- Your GS1 number has 13 digits: print EAN-13. There is no UPC-A version unless it starts with 0.
- Your number has 12 digits and you sell in North America: print UPC-A. It is what buyers there expect to see.
- Your number has 12 digits and you sell worldwide: either works. UPC-A is still the most common choice for US-issued numbers.
- A retailer specifies a format: follow its artwork requirements.
If you have a UPC-A, you never need to buy a second number to print it as an EAN-13. Converting a UPC-A to EAN-13 is just a leading zero, and the check digit does not change.
Converting between them
UPC-A to EAN-13: put a 0 in front. 036000291452 becomes 0036000291452.
EAN-13 to UPC-A: only possible when the EAN-13 starts with 0. Remove it. 0036000291452 becomes 036000291452. An EAN-13 such as 4006381333931 has no UPC-A equivalent.
Because the leading zero adds nothing to the modulo-10 sum, the check digit is identical in both. You can confirm this with the check digit calculator.
Common mistakes
- Printing too small. Both formats are designed for 80% to 200% of the standard size. Below that, the symbol falls outside the stated size range and may be harder to scan. See the size guide.
- Cutting the bars short. Reducing height to fit a narrow label, called truncation, makes the barcode harder to scan from an angle. It may also fail a retailer's specifications.
- Covering the quiet zone. The blank space on each side is part of the symbol. Keep text, borders, and die cuts out of the quiet zones.
- Using a number you are not licensed to use. A reused number may scan, but it can be registered to another business or rejected by a retailer. The getting a barcode guide explains why.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an EAN-13 in the United States?
The GS1 US Sunrise 2005 initiative called for US and Canadian retailers to accept EAN-13 at checkout, and EAN-13 generally scans fine. Some buyers and older back-office systems still expect a 12-digit UPC, so ask the retailer if you are unsure.
Can I turn my UPC into an EAN?
Yes. Add a 0 in front of the 12-digit UPC-A number and you have the same GTIN written as 13 digits. The check digit stays the same. You do not need a new number.
Can I turn an EAN into a UPC?
Only if the EAN-13 starts with 0. Drop the leading zero and you have a valid UPC-A. An EAN-13 that starts with any other digit has no UPC-A form.
What is the difference between UPC and GTIN?
GTIN is the number itself. UPC-A and EAN-13 are the barcode symbols that carry a GTIN-12 and a GTIN-13 respectively.