What is an EAN barcode?

An EAN (European Article Number), usually EAN-13, is the 13-digit retail barcode standard used across most of the world outside North America. The number it encodes is a GTIN, the standardised identifier retailers recognise.

Is this EAN generator free?

Yes, completely free, no signup and no watermark. Barcodes are generated in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device.

Can I sell products with an EAN I generate here?

This tool renders any valid 12 to 13 digit number into a scannable EAN-13 barcode. To sell retail products through major retailers or marketplaces, you usually need a genuine EAN based on a GS1-issued company prefix so it is globally unique. This tool draws the barcode; it does not register the number with GS1.

What is the difference between EAN and UPC?

EAN-13 is the 13-digit standard used in most of the world; UPC-A is the 12-digit version used in the US and Canada. Both encode a GTIN and both scan on the same retail equipment.

How do I track stock against these EANs?

The barcode is step one. To track sales, stock and reordering against it, you need inventory software. VNDLY links each product to its barcode and lets you scan it with your phone to receive, count and fulfil orders, no extra scanner hardware needed.

Free Tool by VNDLY

EAN Barcode Generator

Create scannable EAN-13 barcodes for retail products and stock labels. Enter your 12 to 13 digit number, preview it, and download as PNG or SVG. Free, no signup.

Barcode type

Value

Retail products (Europe). Exactly 12, 13 digits.

Resolution (higher = sharper print & bigger download)

Show value under code

100% free · no signup · generated in your browser (your data never leaves your device).

Generating barcodes for products you sell?

A barcode is only useful if you can track what it's attached to. VNDLY auto-assigns barcodes to every product, then tracks stock, sales, purchasing and reorders across all your channels, scan with your phone, no extra hardware.

Try VNDLY free See the scanner app

EAN-13 barcodes for retail inventory

EAN-13 is the 13-digit barcode you see on almost every consumer product outside North America. If you sell physical goods through retailers or marketplaces in Europe and most other regions, a valid EAN is usually expected, because it gives each product a standardised, globally recognised identifier.

For genuine retail listings you will want EAN numbers built on a GS1-issued company prefix so each is unique worldwide. This generator turns any valid number into a clean, scannable barcode for labels and packaging. It does not register numbers with GS1.

After products carry EANs, the useful part is tracking stock against them. VNDLY links each product to its barcode so you can scan with your phone to receive purchase orders, run counts and fulfil sales in one place.

All barcode formats What is a GTIN?Barcode inventory software

Which barcode do I need?

Start from what the label has to do, not from the barcode name. Internal labels can use any format you like; retail products must carry the format the store's scanner expects.

You need to label	Use	Why
Internal SKU labels, bin and shelf labels	Code 128	Encodes letters, digits and dashes, so any SKU works. Dense and read by every scanner and phone app.
A product sold in US or Canadian stores	UPC-A	The 12-digit retail standard. The number must come from a GS1 company prefix; the generator only draws it.
A product sold in Europe or worldwide	EAN-13	The 13-digit retail standard used everywhere outside North America. Also GS1-issued.
Shipping cartons and pallets	ITF-14	Wraps the EAN or UPC of the product inside with a packaging level digit. Prints well on corrugated cardboard.
Tiny parts, electronics, medical items	Data Matrix	A 2D code that fits a serial or lot number on a few millimetres of label.
Links, batch info, anything a phone should open	QR code	Holds far more data than a 1D code and needs no scanner hardware at all.
Legacy industrial, automotive or government systems	Code 39	Older and less dense than Code 128, but still required by some existing systems and specifications.

Definitions: barcode, UPC, GTIN. Background reading: barcode types and how they work.

Frequently asked questions

What is an EAN barcode?: An EAN (European Article Number), usually EAN-13, is the 13-digit retail barcode standard used across most of the world outside North America. The number it encodes is a GTIN, the standardised identifier retailers recognise.
Is this EAN generator free?: Yes, completely free, no signup and no watermark. Barcodes are generated in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device.
Can I sell products with an EAN I generate here?: This tool renders any valid 12 to 13 digit number into a scannable EAN-13 barcode. To sell retail products through major retailers or marketplaces, you usually need a genuine EAN based on a GS1-issued company prefix so it is globally unique. This tool draws the barcode; it does not register the number with GS1.
What is the difference between EAN and UPC?: EAN-13 is the 13-digit standard used in most of the world; UPC-A is the 12-digit version used in the US and Canada. Both encode a GTIN and both scan on the same retail equipment.
How do I track stock against these EANs?: The barcode is step one. To track sales, stock and reordering against it, you need inventory software. VNDLY links each product to its barcode and lets you scan it with your phone to receive, count and fulfil orders, no extra scanner hardware needed.