EAN-13 is the 13-digit international retail barcode used worldwide. It contains a 2-3 digit prefix (the region of the issuing organization), the company number, the product number, and a final check digit. It scans on virtually every retail system and marketplace on earth.
What EAN-13 Is
EAN-13 (International Article Number, originally European Article Number) is the global standard retail barcode. It is the format you will see on most products sold across Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world outside the few markets that prefer the 12-digit UPC. It encodes 13 digits and is read by virtually every point-of-sale scanner in existence.
For online sellers, EAN-13 is fully accepted on Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and other marketplaces, which makes it the natural choice for anyone selling internationally.
EAN-13 Structure
The 13 digits are organized into meaningful parts, ending with a check digit that keeps the whole code honest.
| Part | Digits | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | 2-3 | Region of the issuing body |
| Company number | varies | Identifies the brand |
| Product number | varies | Identifies the item |
| Check digit | 1 | Validates the code |
About the Prefix
The first two or three digits are a prefix that indicates which regional organization issued the number range. It is a common myth that this prefix shows the country where a product was manufactured — it does not. It only reflects where the barcode was registered, not where the goods were made. A product made in one country can easily carry a barcode prefix from another.
How the Check Digit Works
The 13th digit is calculated from the first 12 using an alternating weighting of ×1 and ×3 across the digits, then subtracting the total from the next multiple of ten. Scanners recompute this on every read, so a single mistyped digit produces a mismatch and the scan fails.
You do not need to do the math by hand — our barcode validator performs the exact calculation so you can confirm any EAN-13 is well-formed before you use it.
EAN-13 vs UPC-A
A UPC-A is 12 digits and is essentially an EAN-13 with a leading zero, so modern scanners read both interchangeably. The practical guidance is simple: use EAN-13 if you sell internationally, and a UPC if you sell mainly in North America. Either is accepted on the big marketplaces. For a deeper comparison, read our EAN vs UPC guide.
When You Need an EAN-13
You need an EAN-13 (or UPC) whenever you list a physical product on a marketplace that requires a GTIN, sell into international retail, or want your products to appear correctly in Google Shopping. Each product variant needs its own unique EAN-13.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EAN-13 the same as a GTIN?
EAN-13 is one type of GTIN (specifically GTIN-13). UPC, ISBN, and ITF-14 are other GTIN formats. When a marketplace asks for a GTIN, an EAN-13 satisfies it.
Does the EAN prefix show the country of origin?
No. The prefix shows where the barcode was registered, not where the product was manufactured.
Can I use an EAN-13 on Amazon US?
Yes. Amazon accepts EAN-13 as a valid product identifier in most categories, just like a UPC.
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