EAN-8 barcode generator
The short retail barcode, for packaging that physically cannot carry a full EAN-13. Eight digits, check digit calculated as you type.
Generate a EAN-8 barcode
SVG shape mask (decorative)
Upload an SVG — the barcode is clipped to its shape. A horse SVG makes a horse-shaped barcode.
EAN-8 is the compressed member of the EAN family: a GS1-8 prefix, a short item reference and a check digit, eight digits in total. At nominal size it is 26.73 mm wide against EAN-13’s 37.29 mm, which is the entire reason it exists.
It is not a general-purpose alternative to EAN-13 and it is not cheaper. GS1 allocates EAN-8 numbers individually rather than as a block from your company prefix, and most member organisations will only issue one after you have shown that the packaging genuinely cannot accommodate an EAN-13 even at 80 % magnification. Think lipsticks, chewing gum, single-serve sachets, small tins.
Because the numbers are allocated one at a time, an EAN-8 carries no information about the manufacturer. A retailer’s system resolves it purely by lookup, exactly like an EAN-13.
What EAN-8 encodes
| Character set | Digits 0–9 only |
|---|---|
| Length | 7 digits (check digit computed) or a complete 8 |
| Check digit | Modulo 10, weights 3 and 1 alternating from the left |
| Dimensions | Linear (1D) |
| Nominal size | 26.73 × 21.64 mm at 100 % magnification |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 15420, GS1 General Specifications |
Where EAN-8 is actually used
Cosmetics
Lipsticks, nail varnish, sample tubes — cylindrical packs with very little flat surface.
Confectionery
Single chocolate bars, chewing gum and sweets in narrow wrappers.
Sachets and single servings
Coffee sticks, condiment sachets, single-dose medication.
Small hardware
Blister-packed screws, fuses and batteries where the card is barely wider than the symbol.
Rules this EAN-8 generator enforces
- Digits only, exactly 7 or 8 of them.
- Supply 7 digits and the check digit is appended; supply 8 and the one you gave is validated.
- An EAN-8 is not an EAN-13 with the zeros removed. The two are separate allocations and you cannot derive one from the other.
- Do not use EAN-8 simply because it looks tidier. Retailers and GS1 both expect EAN-13 wherever the pack has room for it.
Printing a EAN-8 symbol that scans
The same 80 % to 200 % magnification range applies as for EAN-13, measured from a 26.73 mm nominal width. On a curved surface such as a tube, orient the bars so the scan line crosses them across the flattest available arc — bars running around a tight curve are a routine cause of failed reads.
Keep the quiet zone even though the symbol is already small. EAN-8 requires seven modules of clear space on the left and seven on the right, and on a crowded sachet that margin is the first thing a designer deletes.
EAN-8 questions
When may I use EAN-8 instead of EAN-13?
When the packaging cannot physically carry an EAN-13 at 80 % magnification. GS1 member organisations allocate EAN-8 numbers on that basis and will normally ask you to justify the request.
Can I convert an EAN-13 into an EAN-8?
No. They are independent number ranges. An EAN-8 is issued to you as a complete number, not derived from your company prefix.
Does EAN-8 scan at a supermarket till?
Yes. Every point-of-sale scanner that reads EAN-13 also reads EAN-8; the retailer’s system simply looks the number up.