Skip to content

EAN-13 generator

The retail product barcode. It holds a 13-digit GTIN issued by GS1.

Qreska does not issue EAN numbers

GTIN/EAN numbers are issued by GS1 (in Poland: GS1 Polska). Qreska only draws the code from a number you already have.

Code settings

Enter 12 digits and we will calculate the check digit, or all 13 digits.

2 digits, e.g. a magazine issue number, or 5 digits, e.g. a book price. Leave empty if you do not need it.

The narrowest bar of the code. Recommended 0.264 to 0.66 mm.

From 3 to 300 mm.

Blank margin around the code required by the standard. Keep it on.

Appearance

The human readable digits or characters, set in OCR-B.

Height of a digit, from 1 to 30 mm.

Hexadecimal, for example #000000.

Fills the quiet zone too.

Preview

Size with quiet zone: 37.29 × 25.28 mm. The on-screen preview is enlarged.

Download the code

PNG file: 452 × 306 px, 307.9 DPI. Each module gets whole pixels and the DPI is set so the printout has exactly the size in mm shown above.

What is EAN-13

EAN-13 is a barcode that holds a 13-digit GTIN-13 number. Shop tills, warehouses and marketplaces scan it. The last digit is a check digit calculated from the other twelve, so entering 12 digits is enough.

The nominal size (100%) uses a module X of 0.33 mm, which gives a code 37.29 mm wide including quiet zones. GS1 allows scaling from 80% to 200% of the nominal size. Smaller codes are harder to scan, and shortening the bars reduces readability.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I get an EAN number for my product?

GTIN numbers are issued by GS1 (in Poland: GS1 Polska). After joining, a company receives a prefix and creates numbers for its products from it. Qreska does not issue numbers; it only draws the code from a number you already have.

Can I make up an EAN number myself?

A code with any number can be drawn and scanned, but a number outside the range GS1 assigned to your company may belong to another product. For selling in shops and on marketplaces, use numbers from your own GS1 range.

What size should an EAN-13 be printed at?

The nominal size is X = 0.33 mm: 37.29 mm wide including quiet zones and 22.85 mm bar height. GS1 allows scaling from 80% (X = 0.264 mm) to 200% (X = 0.66 mm). On a thermal printer, pick X so that a module is a whole number of printer dots.

Why does the code need a blank margin?

This is the quiet zone: for EAN-13 at least 11 modules on the left and 7 on the right. It tells the scanner where the code starts and ends. Text, a frame or the label edge in this area can prevent reading.

Which file format should I download?

For printing, SVG or PDF is best, because they are vector graphics with exact dimensions in millimetres. PNG is useful in programs that do not accept vectors; Qreska stores the DPI in it so the printout has the right size.

Guides on this subject

Other generators