You just got 30 new cosmetics SKUs and the distributor wants the EAN-13 for each one by Monday. All you have in the spreadsheet is twelve digits per product, and nobody at the office can work out the last digit by hand.
How to use EAN-13 Barcode step by step
1. Paste the 12 digits of your product
One line per item. If you already have all 13 digits, the tool checks that the last one is correct.
2. Check the live preview
Every code shows with its readable number underneath; anything that breaks the format is flagged with the exact line.
3. Download and print
Grab the PNG files in a ZIP or the PDF sheet in Letter or A4 and scan a test label before you print the whole run.
The Step Count: Traditional Friction vs. KorexTools
Working out the check digit by hand or in a spreadsheet (4 fragile steps)
- Add the odd-position and even-position digits separately.
- Multiply the even group by three and add both groups.
- Subtract the total from the next multiple of ten.
- Repeat for every SKU and hope you never slip.
With the EAN-13 Generator on KorexTools (3 steps)
- Paste the twelve-digit references, one per line.
- Check that each preview shows thirteen readable digits.
- Download the PNG ZIP or the PDF and send it to the distributor.
EAN-13 decoded: what the thirteen digits mean when a till beeps
EAN-13 is the barcode printed on most grocery and retail products outside North America. Its thirteen digits split into a GS1 prefix that points to a country or issuing office (745 for Panama, 750 for Mexico, 770 for Colombia, 789 for Brazil), the company number, the item reference and a final digit that lets the scanner reject a misread. That last digit is never chosen by hand: it comes from a weighted sum of the first twelve.
Give the generator your twelve digits and it computes the check digit, then draws the 95-module symbol with its side margins. Paste a list and every line becomes its own label; entries with letters or the wrong length get flagged so you can repair them without losing the rest. Everything runs in your browser, so your catalogue numbers never reach a server.
When EAN-13 is the right pick
- •Choose it when the product will be sold through shops, pharmacies or marketplaces that ask for a GTIN.
- •For tracking stock inside your own storeroom, CODE-128 is more forgiving because it accepts letters.
- •Selling in the US or Canada? Look at the UPC-A page too, the local flavour of the same idea.
EAN-13 against other label formats
| Format | What it encodes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| EAN-13 | 13 numeric digits with check | Products sold to the public |
| CODE-128 | Letters, numbers and symbols | Internal stock and shipping |
| EAN-8 | 8 numeric digits | Very small packaging |
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- ⚠️Adding a stray leading zero and shifting the whole code without noticing.
- ⚠️Printing in ink-saver mode, which thins the bars and breaks scanning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the tool ask for 12 digits when EAN-13 has 13?
Because the thirteenth is a check digit and it is calculated for you. If you paste all 13, the tool verifies the last digit and warns you when it does not match.
Can I make up the numbers for my product?
For internal use you can, but selling through chains or marketplaces needs the numbers GS1 assigns in your country. This page only draws the label from the digits you supply.
What is the smallest size I should print?
The nominal symbol is about 37 mm wide in bars; shrinking it to 80 % usually still works, but scan a test label before printing a big run.
What I would do if I were in your shoes
«Before printing a thousand labels, scan one printed copy with the same reader your shop uses: if it beeps on the first try, size and ink are fine.» — DataKorex Engineering Team.