What is the difference between UPC-A and EAN-13 Barcodes?

Both UPC-A Barcodes and EAN-13 Barcodes are used in retail stores worldwide, however the 12 digit UPC-A codes are most common in the USA and Canada whereas the EAN-13 Barcodes are most common in all other countries. As far as the actual encoding goes, these barcodes are very similar, in fact a UPC-A Barcode can be encoded as an EAN-13 barcode by adding a ’0′ to the front. In this case the image or bars of the barcode will be exactly the same as the UPC-A barcode. Barcode scanners can generally pick up both types of codes easily however it is recommended if your product is going into the USA only (or mainly) that you get a UPC-A Barcode. If your product is selling in any other countries, an EAN-13 barcode is best. Either version can be purchased here.

 

Please see our Difference Between UPC-A and EAN-13 Page for more details.

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