EAN-13 vs EAN-8: Which Product Barcode Do You Need?

EAN-13 is the standard barcode for retail products worldwide. EAN-8 is its compact sibling — same scanning technology, smaller footprint, designed for products too small to carry a full-size barcode. The choice between them is almost always straightforward: use EAN-13 unless your packaging physically cannot fit it. Here's why, and how to handle the cases where EAN-8 is the right call.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Physical Size: The Only Reason EAN-8 Exists

EAN-8 was created for one purpose: fitting a scannable retail barcode on packages too small for EAN-13. The size difference matters:

At nominal magnification (100%):

• EAN-13: 37.29mm wide × 25.93mm tall (including quiet zones and human-readable digits)
• EAN-8: 26.73mm wide × 21.64mm tall

At minimum allowed magnification (80%):

• EAN-13: 29.83mm wide × 20.74mm tall
• EAN-8: 21.38mm wide × 17.31mm tall

That 8.5mm width reduction at minimum size is significant on a lipstick tube, a single-serve yogurt cup, a chewing gum pack, or a small cosmetics container. If 30mm of flat, printable surface isn't available, EAN-13 doesn't fit and EAN-8 is the answer.

When EAN-13 Fits (Almost Always)

The minimum EAN-13 at 80% magnification is about 30mm × 21mm. That fits on:

• Any standard retail box or bag
• Most bottles and jars (on the flat label area)
• Blister packs and card-backed packaging
• Books and media
• Canned goods

If your packaging has 30mm of available flat width, use EAN-13. Don't use EAN-8 by choice — it's harder to obtain and provides less product identification data.

When You Need EAN-8

GS1 guidelines say EAN-8 is appropriate when total packaging surface area is under 80cm² or the available width for a barcode is under 25mm. Typical products:

• Lip balm and lipstick tubes
• Individual candy bars and chewing gum
• Small cosmetic items (mascara, sample sizes)
• Single-portion condiment packets
• Small batteries
• Individual tea bags or sachets (when individually sold)

Number Structure Differences

EAN-13 Number Anatomy

  [GS1 Prefix]  [Company Prefix]  [Product Code]  [Check]
      3 digits     4-8 digits       1-5 digits      1 digit
  Example:  590  +  12345  +  00012  +  8

Your GS1 Company Prefix identifies your company. You assign product codes within your prefix. One prefix covers all your products — 10, 100, or thousands depending on the prefix length you purchased.

EAN-8 Number Anatomy

  [GS1 Prefix]  [Item Reference]  [Check]
     2-3 digits     4-5 digits      1 digit
  Example:  50  +  12345  +  7

There's no company prefix. Each EAN-8 number is allocated individually by your GS1 organization. The number doesn't identify your company — it only identifies the specific product. This means:

• You can't assign new EAN-8 numbers yourself
• Each new product requires a new allocation from GS1
• There's no inherent link between your EAN-13 and EAN-8 numbers

What This Means in Practice

If you have 50 products and 3 of them are too small for EAN-13:

• Register a GS1 Company Prefix → assign EAN-13 numbers to 47 products
• Apply separately for 3 individual EAN-8 allocations
• Your systems need to handle both number types

Encoding Differences

Both formats use the same bar/space encoding concepts, but with different structures:

EAN-13 Encoding

EAN-13 uses an elegant trick: the first digit isn't encoded in bars at all. Instead, it's embedded in the parity pattern used to encode digits 2-7. The left half uses two encoding sets (L and G patterns) whose combination determines the first digit. The right half uses R patterns.

This is why EAN-13 barcodes look like they only have 12 digits in the bar pattern — the 13th digit (the leading country code digit) is encoded as a parity selection.

EAN-8 Encoding

EAN-8 is simpler. All 8 digits are encoded directly in bars:

• First 4 digits: L encoding (left half)
• Last 4 digits: R encoding (right half)

No parity tricks. The entire number is explicit in the bar pattern.

Scanner Implications

Scanners distinguish EAN-13 from EAN-8 by the total number of modules:

• EAN-13: 95 modules wide
• EAN-8: 67 modules wide

Recognition is instant and automatic. Both formats use the same guard bar patterns (101 for start/end, 01010 for center), so the scanner identifies the format by width before decoding begins.

Registration and Cost

For GS1 registration details, see our guide on how to get a barcode for your product.

Conversion and Compatibility

EAN-8 to EAN-13 Conversion

EAN-8 numbers can be expressed as 13-digit GTINs by padding with leading zeros:

This 13-digit representation is used in databases and supply chain systems that standardize on the 14-digit GTIN format (padded to 14 digits with one more leading zero). The physical barcode remains EAN-8.

Scanning Interoperability

Both formats are read by every retail scanner worldwide. The scanner output may differ by configuration:

• Some scanners output EAN-8 as 8 digits, EAN-13 as 13 digits
• Some scanners zero-pad EAN-8 to 13 digits automatically
• POS systems typically handle both formats — check your system's documentation

Printing and Placement

EAN-13 Placement Rules

• Place on the back of the package, lower right quadrant preferred
• Bars should run parallel to the package base (ladder orientation) on cylindrical packages to prevent scanning over the curvature
• Maintain quiet zones: at least 3.63mm on each side at nominal magnification

EAN-8 Placement Rules

Same rules as EAN-13, with one practical difference: EAN-8 barcodes are often placed on the narrowest available flat surface, sometimes on the bottom of very small products. Because the barcode is smaller, placement on curved surfaces is more forgiving — but a flat surface is always better for scanning reliability.

For print quality standards, see our barcode quality verification guide.

Decision Flowchart

1. Is your packaging surface area under 80cm²?

   • No → Use EAN-13
   • Yes → Continue

2. Is the available flat width for a barcode under 25mm?

   • No → EAN-13 at 80% magnification may still fit. Measure carefully
   • Yes → EAN-8 is appropriate

3. Apply for EAN-8 allocation from your GS1 organization

In practice, fewer than 5% of retail products use EAN-8. If you're unsure, start with EAN-13. Your GS1 organization can advise if EAN-8 is justified for specific products.

Generate Your Barcodes

Create barcodes in either format with our free generators:

• EAN-13 Generator — enter 12 digits (check digit calculated automatically)
• EAN-8 Generator — enter 7 digits (check digit calculated automatically)

Download as SVG for packaging design, PNG for label printing, or PDF for print shop submissions.

Related Guides

• EAN-13 Complete Guide — full technical reference for EAN-13
• EAN-8 Complete Guide — full technical reference for EAN-8
• EAN-13 vs UPC-A — comparing international and North American retail formats
• How to Get a Barcode for Your Product — GS1 registration walkthrough
• UPC-A vs UPC-E — the North American equivalent of this EAN size comparison
• Choosing the Right Barcode Type — decision guide across all formats