EAN-13 Specifications

EAN13-barcode-example-4

The following provides a guideline for the size you should print the barcode 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, some retailers might accept your barcodes and reject them by others.

EAN-13 Dimensions with 100% Magnification:

ean13-dimensions

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 scanned at the retail point of sale is 80% – 200% (X-dimension 0.26mm-0.66mm). An acceptable minimum magnification of 75% (X-dimension 0.25mm) applies 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.

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 the height of 2.75mm at the 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 good to allow for more quiet zone space than strictly required in ink spread or printing inaccuracies.

 

If you are unclear on any of our terms used here and are not in our glossary, please contact us.

If you need to arrange barcode verification, this can be purchased here.

 

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