EAN-13 vs UPC-A: Which Product Barcode Do You Need?
Compare EAN-13 and UPC-A barcodes side by side. Learn when to use each format, how they relate to each other, and which one your product needs for retail sales.
If you're putting a product on retail shelves, you need either a UPC-A or an EAN-13 barcode. They're the two dominant product identification barcodes in global retail. But which one do you actually need? The short answer depends on geography, but the practical reality is more nuanced.
The Basics
UPC-A (Universal Product Code) encodes 12 digits and is the standard for retail products in North America (United States and Canada). Created in 1973, it was the first retail barcode format and remains ubiquitous across American grocery stores, pharmacies, and mass merchandisers.
EAN-13 (European Article Number) encodes 13 digits and is the international standard used outside North America and increasingly alongside UPC-A within North America. Developed in 1977 by extending the UPC system to accommodate international country codes.
How They Relate
UPC-A is a subset of EAN-13. Every UPC-A code can be expressed as an EAN-13 by adding a leading zero:
| UPC-A (12 digits) | EAN-13 (13 digits) |
|---|---|
036000291452 | 0036000291452 |
This isn't coincidence — EAN-13 was deliberately designed as an extension of UPC-A to maintain backward compatibility. The GS1 system treats them as interchangeable at the data level.
When a North American retail scanner reads a UPC-A barcode, the system stores it as a 12-digit number. When a scanner outside North America reads the same barcode, it converts it to 13 digits with a leading zero. The same product is identified correctly either way.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | UPC-A | EAN-13 |
|---|---|---|
| Digits encoded | 12 | 13 |
| Geographic origin | North America | International |
| GS1 prefix | Country code 00-13 (US/Canada) | Country code varies by country |
| Barcode width | ~37.3mm at nominal | ~37.3mm at nominal |
| Barcode height | ~25.9mm at nominal | ~25.9mm at nominal |
| Scanner support | Universal | Universal |
| First digit display | Number system digit | Country prefix (first digit) |
| Number system | First digit = product type | First 2-3 digits = country prefix |
| Check digit | Modulo 10 | Modulo 10 (same algorithm) |
Visually, UPC-A and EAN-13 look similar. The physical barcode dimensions are nearly identical. The primary visual difference: UPC-A displays the first and last digits outside the bar pattern (flanking the bars), while EAN-13 shows the first digit to the left of the bars and the remaining 12 digits below.
Which One Do You Need?
You Need UPC-A If:
- Your company is based in the US or Canada and you register with GS1 US
- Your products are sold primarily in North American retail (Walmart, Target, Kroger, Costco, etc.)
- Your GS1 prefix starts with 00-13 (the North American range)
When you register with GS1 US, you receive a company prefix that naturally produces UPC-A codes. Your barcodes work in North America natively and convert to EAN-13 with a leading zero for international recognition.
You Need EAN-13 If:
- Your company is based outside North America and you register with a local GS1 organization
- Your products are sold internationally or primarily outside the US/Canada
- Your GS1 prefix starts with 30-97 (or other non-US ranges)
When you register with GS1 in any country other than the US or Canada, you receive a 13-digit prefix that produces EAN-13 codes. Your barcodes work internationally and are also read correctly by North American scanners.
Both Work Globally
Here's the key point: it doesn't matter which format you start with for global compatibility. UPC-A codes work everywhere because scanners convert them to EAN-13. EAN-13 codes work in North America because modern US scanners handle 13-digit codes natively.
The choice comes down to where you register with GS1, not where you sell.
Technical Encoding Differences
While the data systems are compatible, the barcode encoding has subtle differences.
UPC-A encoding: The first digit (number system digit) is encoded in the parity pattern of the left-side digits, similar to how EAN-13 encodes its first digit. The remaining 11 digits are encoded directly as bar patterns. Guard patterns mark the start, middle, and end.
EAN-13 encoding: The 13th digit (the leading one) is encoded in the parity pattern of the left-side digits. The encoding table is an extension of UPC-A's parity system. When the leading digit is 0, the parity pattern exactly matches UPC-A encoding — which is why UPC-A is a subset of EAN-13.
Both formats use the same modulo 10 check digit algorithm. The check digit for a UPC-A code and its EAN-13 equivalent (with leading zero) are identical.
Both formats have the same physical specifications at nominal size: approximately 37.3mm wide and 25.9mm tall. Both support the same scaling range (80% to 200% of nominal).
Common Questions
Can I convert my UPC-A to EAN-13 (or vice versa)?
UPC-A to EAN-13: Add a leading zero. 036000291452 becomes 0036000291452. The check digit stays the same.
EAN-13 to UPC-A: Only possible if the EAN-13 starts with 0. Remove the leading zero. 0036000291452 becomes 036000291452. If the EAN-13 starts with any other digit, it cannot be expressed as a UPC-A code.
Do I need to register both?
No. One GS1 registration covers you globally. A UPC-A prefix from GS1 US works internationally as EAN-13 with a leading zero. An EAN-13 prefix from any other GS1 organization works in North America as-is.
What about Amazon?
Amazon accepts both UPC-A and EAN-13 as valid GTINs for product listings. When you enter a 12-digit UPC, Amazon's system internally stores it as a 13-digit GTIN with a leading zero. Either format works for Amazon listings globally.
Do retailers prefer one over the other?
North American retailers accept both. International retailers accept both. There's no preference — both encode the same GS1 product identification data and scan identically at checkout.
What about UPC-E and EAN-8?
These are compressed versions for small packaging:
- UPC-E compresses qualifying UPC-A codes from 12 to 6 visible digits
- EAN-8 is an independent 8-digit code for small international products
Both serve the same purpose — fitting a barcode on products too small for standard formats — within their respective systems.
Generating Your Barcodes
Once you have your GS1 company prefix and assigned product numbers:
- Generate EAN-13 barcodes — enter your 13-digit code
- Generate UPC-A barcodes — enter your 12-digit code
Both generators handle check digit calculation, proper encoding, and output in SVG, PNG, and PDF formats suitable for packaging design and printing.
The Future: Both Formats Converging
GS1's Sunrise 2027 initiative is preparing retail for 2D barcodes (GS1 QR Codes and GS1 Data Matrix) at point of sale. Both 2D formats encode a 14-digit GTIN (GTIN-14), which encompasses both UPC-A (padded with leading zeros) and EAN-13 (padded with one leading zero).
When the industry eventually transitions to 2D barcodes, the UPC-A vs. EAN-13 distinction becomes irrelevant — both map to the same GTIN-14 format inside a QR code or Data Matrix symbol. The barcode format you choose today still matters for physical packaging, but the underlying product identification data has already converged.