EAN-13 (most common retail barcode in UK/EU)
Use for: retail products scanned at checkout. US retailers can scan EAN-13 — it's widely recognised in the same retail environments.
What does this barcode do?
EAN-13 encodes a 13-digit GTIN and is the standard retail barcode in the UK, Europe, Australia, and most of the world. The first 2–3 digits indicate the GS1 prefix (country/region); the rest identify the product. At checkout, the scanner reads the barcode to look up the item in the retailer's system.
US retailers can scan EAN-13 — it's part of the same GS1 system as UPC-A. If your product has a 13-digit GTIN, use EAN-13 on the pack.
Safe print sizes
- •Recommended: 37 × 26 mm
- •Minimum (risky): 31 × 22 mm
- •Large / very scan-friendly: 50 × 35 mm
Half-height shortcut: Many brands keep the usual width but cut height to ~13 mm to save space. It can still scan if print is crisp, contrast is strong, and quiet zones are preserved. Test with a free phone scanner app before production.
Quiet zone (blank margin)
Aim for at least 3–4 mm left and right, and 2 mm top/bottom.
Tip
Avoid wrapping the barcode over edges/curves. Keep it on a flat area.
GTINs Explained — when to use EAN-13, UPC-A, ITF-14 and more.