EAN-13 Specifications
The following provides a guideline for the size of the barcode you should print on your product. This is very important if you require barcode verification. It is also a good guide for ensuring that your barcode scans correctly. If at all possible, you should keep your barcode size within these standards. If you go outside these standards, your barcodes might be accepted by some retailers and rejected 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 0.26 mm-0.66 mm). 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).
Human Readable Interpretation
The Human Readable Interpretation should be printed beneath the bar code 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, and alternative type fonts and character sizes are acceptable, provided the digits are clearly legible.
Dimensions (All measurements in millimetres)
| 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 barcode symbol excluding Quiet Zones
– Bar Height = height of bar excluding guard bar patterns
– Quiet Zone = Area of white space on either side of the bars
It is a good idea to allow for more quiet zone space than is strictly required in case of ink spread or printing inaccuracies
If you are unclear on any of the terms used here and they are not in our glossary, please contact us.
If you need to arrange barcode verification, this can be purchased here.
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