When you're about to label your products, a question may arise: EAN-13 or EAN-8? Both are barcodes from the EAN standard managed by GS1, but they're used in different situations. Here's the comparison.
EAN-13: the standard
The EAN-13 has 13 digits and is the usual format for the vast majority of consumer products. It's what marketplaces ask for (Amazon, eBay, Google Shopping) and what you'll see on almost any supermarket product. If in doubt, what you need is an EAN-13.
EAN-8: the compact version
The EAN-8 has just 8 digits and was created for small products where a 13-digit code physically doesn't fit: gum, cosmetics, pens, sweets… By taking up less space, the code prints legibly even on tiny packaging.
Key differences
- Digits: EAN-13 uses 13; EAN-8 uses 8.
- Physical size: the EAN-8 takes up less room and is ideal for small packaging.
- Use: EAN-13 for most products and for selling online; EAN-8 only when size requires it.
- Capacity: the EAN-8 encodes less information, so it's reserved for justified cases.
Which should I choose?
Unless you sell physically very small products, the answer is almost always EAN-13. It's the international standard, compatible with all scanners and required by marketplaces. Reserve the EAN-8 for cases where label space is genuinely a problem.
Get your codes
At EAN CODA you get official EAN codes from the GS1 database, with no annual fees and by email in minutes. If you're not sure which you need, we'll advise you.