EAN-8 Barcode Generator
EAN-8 is the compact retail barcode for a GTIN-8: four digits on each side of the center guard, with the final digit protecting the first seven. Enter 7 digits and this tool computes the check digit; enter all 8 and it verifies the digit you supplied. A structurally valid number is not automatically allocated or licensed — the GS1 note below explains that boundary.
When EAN-8 is the right retail barcode
EAN-8 solves a physical-space problem. It identifies a very small consumer product when a correctly sized EAN-13 cannot fit on the package or label. GS1 Ireland describes the symbol as the carrier for eight-digit GTINs allocated to very small retail products, and itsGTIN-8 guidance explains that allocation is product-specific. EAN-8 does not encode letters, prices, URLs, or an arbitrary shortened product number. For internal identifiers, useCode 128 instead.
How eight digits fit into 67 barcode modules
The bars occupy 67 modules: a three-module start guard, four left-side digits at seven modules each, a five-module center guard, four right-side digits at seven modules each, and a three-module end guard. Unlike EAN-13, EAN-8 has no leading digit encoded indirectly through a parity pattern — all eight digits appear in the two four-digit halves.
Blank quiet zones are part of the symbol. The GS1 retail specification requires at least seven modules on both sides, so the complete minimum width is 67 + 7 + 7 = 81 modules. Artwork, borders, or nearby text must not enter those blank areas.
How the EAN-8 check digit works
Starting from the rightmost of the seven data digits, multiply digits alternately by 3 and 1. Add the products; the check digit is the value from 0 to 9 that brings the sum to the next multiple of ten. The complete eight-digit number is then verified the same way.
Published worked example — data digits 7351353:
Check digit: 7 → complete EAN-8: 73513537
The result is computed at build time by the same tested function used in the generator. The source vector is the EAN-8 example in theInternational Article Number reference.
A matching check digit catches common transcription errors, but it does not consult a GS1 registry. Use the check digit calculator to work through the weights for other GTIN lengths or a pasted column.
More EAN-8 check-digit examples
These additional results are computed at build time, including the leading-zero case. They demonstrate the arithmetic only; the numbers are not claimed as allocated product GTINs.
| Seven data digits | Computed check digit | Complete EAN-8 |
|---|---|---|
7351353 | 7 | 73513537 (published vector) |
0000000 | 0 | 00000000 |
1234567 | 0 | 12345670 |
5512345 | 7 | 55123457 |
9638507 | 4 | 96385074 |
0421000 | 9 | 04210009 |
GS1 print dimensions and quiet zones
The values below come from theGS1 Ireland EAN-8 specification and the GS1 Sweden size guide. They describe retail point-of-sale use; a final package still needs a physical test scan.
| Property | At 100% magnification | Allowed (80–200%) |
|---|---|---|
| Module width (X-dimension) | 0.330 mm | 0.264–0.660 mm |
| Overall nominal symbol | 26.73 × 21.31 mm | 21.38 × 17.05 to 53.46 × 42.62 mm |
| Bar height | 18.23 mm | 14.58–36.46 mm |
| Left quiet zone | 7 modules (2.31 mm) | always ≥ 7 × module width |
| Right quiet zone | 7 modules (2.31 mm) | always ≥ 7 × module width |
The nominal width closes exactly: 81 modules including the quiet zones × 0.330 mm = 26.73 mm. Scale the SVG proportionally rather than stretching one axis, keep its white margins, print at 100% scale, and scan the final substrate with the hardware that will read it in use.
Verified before download
The tool first accepts exactly seven or eight digits. It computes a missing check digit or verifies the supplied one using this site's own GTIN arithmetic, then passes only the complete eight-digit payload to pinned JsBarcode. The displayed SVG is rasterized and decoded with independent ZXing code; a mismatch or unreadable render is withheld. PNG pixels are decoded again before download. These checks protect the generated files, not the future print — see the accuracy and methodology page for the full boundary.
EAN-8 compared with EAN-13 and UPC-E
Use EAN-13 for the normal worldwide retail case and EAN-8 only when the package is too small for a compliant EAN-13. UPC-E is another compact symbol, derived under UPC numbering rules and commonly associated with North American use; it is not an alternate drawing of a GTIN-8. The number assigned to the product determines the symbol. If you are choosing a code for data that never goes through retail checkout, neither compact retail format is usually appropriate.
EAN-8 FAQ
What is an EAN-8 barcode used for?
EAN-8 carries an eight-digit GTIN on very small retail products whose package or available print area cannot accommodate a standard EAN-13 symbol. It is a point-of-sale barcode, not a general-purpose code for arbitrary text.
Do I enter 7 digits or 8?
Either. Enter seven data digits and the tool computes and appends the eighth check digit. Enter all eight and it verifies the final digit, reporting a mismatch rather than silently changing your number.
Can I shorten my EAN-13 number into an EAN-8?
No. A GTIN-8 is separately allocated for a specific small product by a GS1 member organization. Removing digits from a GTIN-13, even if you compute a new check digit, creates a different number and does not give you the right to use it.
What size should I print an EAN-8?
At nominal size the X-dimension is 0.330 mm, the bar height is 18.23 mm, and each quiet zone is at least seven modules (2.31 mm). GS1 permits 80% to 200% magnification for the retail specification; scale width and height together and test the final print.
Is EAN-8 the same as UPC-E?
No. Both make compact retail symbols, but they use different numbering and encoding rules. Use the symbology assigned for your number and trading environment rather than converting by appearance.
Does a valid check digit mean the number belongs to me?
No. A correct check digit proves only that the eight digits are internally consistent. It does not prove GS1 allocation, ownership, uniqueness, or permission to sell a product under that GTIN.
Are the SVG, PNG, and PDF downloads free and private?
Yes. Validation, rendering, independent pixel decoding, and download all happen in your browser. There is no account, watermark, or upload of the number you enter.
Verify before production: structural validity is not allocation, and a decoded source file is not a certified print. Use a GS1-allocated GTIN-8 and test the final printed symbol with your own scanner.