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Barcode generator

Media and files

How do I make a barcode?

EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, Code 128 and Finnish bank barcodes, ready to download.

12 digits, or 13 with the check digit

mm

0.33 mm prints EAN-13 at its standard size

EAN-13

4006381333931

Check digit 1 added

4006381333931
Download

On paper

Width × height
37.3 × 33 mm

Making the image doesn't register a product number: numbers for products sold in shops come from GS1.

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EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, Code 128 and Finnish bank barcodes, ready to download.

How to use

  1. Choose the barcode type: EAN-13 for most shop products, EAN-8 for small packages, UPC-A for North America, Code 128 for any text, or the Finnish bank barcode for an invoice.
  2. Type the number or text. For EAN and UPC you can leave out the last digit: the check digit is added for you, and a typed one is checked.
  3. Download the barcode as PNG or SVG. Print it at 100 % and test it with a phone or scanner before printing many.

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How it works

A barcode stores digits or text as a row of dark bars and light spaces of a few set widths. A scanner measures the widths and turns them back into the same characters. Light margins on both sides tell the scanner where the code starts and ends.

EAN and UPC numbers end in a check digit that catches typing mistakes. Multiply the digits from the right alternately by 3 and 1, add them up, and the check digit is what brings the sum to the next multiple of 10. For 400638133393 the weighted sum is 89, so the check digit is 1 and the full EAN-13 is 4006381333931 (GS1 General Specifications). Code 128 has its own check character and packs pairs of digits into one symbol, so long numbers stay short (ISO/IEC 15417).

The Finnish bank barcode is a 54-digit virtual barcode that holds the payee's IBAN, the amount, the reference number and the due date, printed as Code 128. It follows Finance Finland's bank barcode guide (Pankkiviivakoodi-opas); a banking app reads it to fill in a payment.

A made-up EAN may already belong to someone else's product, which is why shops ask for GS1-issued numbers. Size matters too: EAN-13 is designed for bars 0.33 mm wide, and a code printed much smaller may not scan.

Worked example

What EAN-13 number is made from 400638133393?

  1. The calculated check digit is 1.
  2. Append it to the original digits: 4006381333931.

The complete EAN-13 number is 4006381333931. This example does not assign a product number.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell products with a barcode made here?

Only with a number you own. Shops expect GS1-issued product numbers; join GS1 in your country to get a company prefix, then make the barcode for your number here.

What's the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?

UPC-A is the 12-digit North American version. Every UPC-A is an EAN-13 with a leading zero, and scanners worldwide read both.

Why was a digit added to my number?

EAN and UPC numbers end in a check digit. If you type the number without it, it's calculated and added. If you type it, it's verified, and a wrong one is shown with the right digit.

Which size should I print?

Use 0.33 mm for EAN-13 at its standard size. GS1 allows about 80 % to 200 % of that in retail. Larger codes scan more easily; very small ones may fail.

Are my bank details saved anywhere?

No. The barcode is made on your device. The account, reference, amount and date are kept out of the page address and out of copied links unless you include them.

Should I choose PNG or SVG?

SVG stays sharp at any size and prints at the chosen bar width. PNG is an image at about 300 dpi for documents and labels; don't scale it up.

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