EAN13 Barcode Image Specifications

Below are some guidelines for the dimensions of barcodes on your product. This information is especially important if you need a test report. It is also a good guideline to ensure good scannability. If possible, you should also leave the barcode size in the standard format. If you use the size outside these dimensions, your barcode will be accepted by some retailers, but not by others.

EAN-13 Dimensions with 100% Magnification:

Barcode width = 31.35mm

Left quiet zone (left blank margin) = 3.63mm

Right quiet zone (right blank margin) = 2.31mm

Total barcode width (including quiet zones) = 37.29mm

Barcode height (excluding the number) = 22.85mm

Barcode height (including the number) = 25.93mm

Allowable Magnification Range:

The specified magnification range for an EAN-13 Bar Code Symbol being scanned at retail point of sale is 80% – 200% (X-dimension 0.26mm-0.66mm). An acceptable minimum magnification of 75% (X-dimension 0.25mm) is applicable only to on demand (e.g. thermal) print processes. In this case, the bar height should never be truncated below the minimum needed height for an 80% magnification barcode symbol.

Where an item may also be scanned in a General Distribution Scanning environment (automated scanning), the acceptable magnification range for a General Distribution Environment is 150% to 200% (X-dimension 0.50mm – 0.66mm).

Buy a barcode package

EAN and GTIN are internationally valid standards for product identification – essential for anyone who wants to sell items in stationary retail or on e-commerce platforms. Both are 13-digit codes that are assigned only once worldwide, thus enabling unique identification. There is no difference between EAN and GTIN. Officially, the term GTIN replaced EAN in 2009.

Human Readable Interpretation

The “Human Readable Interpretation” is printed under the barcode symbol.

The recommended typeface for the Human Readable Interpretation is OCR-B at a height of 2.75mm at nominal size (100% magnification, X-dimension 0.33mm). This typeface is a recommendation only – alternative type fonts and character sizes are acceptable as long as the digits are clearly legible.

Dimensions (All measurements are in mm)

Magnification	X-dimension	Width	Bar height	Left Quiet Zone	Right Quiet Zone
0.80	0.26	25.08	18.28	2.90	1.85
0.85	0.28	26.65	19.42	3.09	1.96
0.90	0.30	28.22	20.57	3.27	2.08
0.95	0.31	29.78	21.71	3.45	2.19
1.00	0.33	31.35	22.85	3.63	2.31
1.05	0.35	32.92	23.99	3.81	2.43
1.10	0.36	34.49	25.14	3.99	2.54
1.15	0.38	36.05	26.28	4.17	2.66
1.20	0.40	37.62	27.42	4.36	2.77
1.25	0.41	39.19	28.56	4.54	2.89
1.30	0.43	40.76	29.71	4.72	3.00
1.35	0.45	42.32	30.85	4.90	3.12
1.40	0.46	43.89	31.99	5.08	3.23
1.45	0.48	45.46	33.13	5.26	3.35
1.50	0.50	47.03	34.28	5.45	3.47
1.55	0.51	48.59	35.42	5.63	3.58
1.60	0.53	50.16	36.56	5.81	3.70
1.65	0.54	51.73	37.70	5.99	3.81
1.70	0.56	53.30	38.85	6.17	3.93
1.75	0.58	54.86	39.99	6.35	4.04
1.80	0.59	56.43	41.13	6.53	4.16
1.85	0.61	58.00	42.27	6.72	4.27
1.90	0.63	59.57	43.42	6.90	4.39
1.95	0.64	61.13	44.56	7.08	4.50
2.00	0.66	62.70	45.70	7.26	4.62

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terms:

– Bar Width = width of bar code symbol (excluding Quiet Zones)

– Bar Height = height of bars (excluding guard bar patterns)

– Quiet Zone = Area of blank space (preferably white) on either side of the bars

It is advisable to have more quiet zone space than is strictly required to allow for possible ink spread and printing issues

 

If you don’t understand any of the terms above (and they are not part of our glossary), please contact us.

If you require a barcode verification report, you can order one here.

 

Standard Size EAN-13 Barcode (100% Magnification)

The standard size for an EAN-13 barcode image is approximately 38mm wide x 25mm high ( (the precise dimensions are listed in the chart above – see 1.00 magnification). You may want to download the example images below. When you order a “Barcode Package” from us you will receive barcode images in this size in 4 different formats (Png, Svg, Jpeg and PDF). If you want a different size, please request this when ordering.

Standard Size EAN-13 Barcode Image (JPEG)

Smallest Recommended Size for EAN-13 Barcode (80% Magnification) 

The smallest officially recommended size for an EAN-13 barcode image is approximately 30mm wide x 20mm high (the precise dimensions are listed in the chart above – see 0.80 magnification). In practice, some businesses make their barcodes shorter than this (e.g. 12mm or 15mm high) if their product label/packaging is small (this is common on cosmetics products). However it is very important that the width of the barcode remains at least 30mm wide, otherwise it will not scan properly. You may want to download the example images below.

80% Size EAN-13 Barcode Image (JPEG)