Difference Between UPC and EAN Barcodes – Which to Use on Your Product
Our standard barcode packages include both UPC-A (Universal Product Code) and EAN-13 (International Article Number) variants. The numbers we sell originate from the Uniform Code Council (now GS1-US), and the UPC-A version is prefixed with either a “7”, “6” or “8”, as EAN-13 this is “06”, “07” or “08” This allows the barcodes to be read as either:
- UPC-A (12 digits): by dropping the leading zero.
- EAN-13 (13 digits): by including the leading zero.
Example:
- UPC-A version (leading zero dropped): 712356987156
- EAN-13 version (leading zero included): 0712356987156
Key Differences Between EAN-13 and UPC-A
- The EAN-13 (13 digits) is a superset of UPC-A (12 digits). The barcode symbology and vertical bars are identical between the two standards.
- Both formats carry the same numerical and visual information and are globally recognized by scanners.
- The primary distinction is historical:
- UPC-A is primarily used in the United States and Canada.
- EAN-13 is predominantly used in other regions.
- Since around 2005, both formats can been read interchangeably by modern scanners, ensuring global compatibility.
Scanning and Retail Systems
- Some retailers’ scanners may be configured to drop or include the leading zero:
- If using the EAN-13 version, scanners dropping the leading zero will read it as a 12-digit UPC-A code.
- If using the UPC-A version, scanners including the leading zero will interpret it as a 13-digit EAN-13 code.
- Either way, your product will scan and be identified correctly at the point of sale.
Recommendation
If your primary market is The USA we suggest using the EAN-13 version. However, both formats are valid globally and can be used interchangeably.
Ready to purchase EAN-13 and UPC-A barcodes? Buy Barcodes here.