A Brief Historical Background of EAN & UPC
When barcodes were introduced in the United States back in the 1970s, the Universal Product Code (UPC) was the only type available. It led to a revolution in inventory management and the customer checkout process.
With the passage of time and the expansion of global trade, the need for an international barcode standard became essential. This led to the introduction of the European Article Number (EAN) in the late 70s, which was specially designed to target European markets. Over the years, EAN has developed to align with international standards and is now recognized as EAN-13.
Today, UPC and EAN barcodes are managed by GS1, a non-profit organization that handles worldwide barcode standardization.
What is a European Article Number?
A European Article Number (EAN) is a 13-digit barcode that includes a manufacturer’s code, product code, a check digit for error detection, and a country code. It is used worldwide, including in Europe, Asia, and most international markets outside of North America. It serves as a unique identifier for products to facilitate inventory management and price scanning at checkout.
Types of EAN
There are two types of EAN barcodes, as follows:
EAN-13
EAN-13 is the standard EAN barcode with 13 digits that we see in most of the products we use. Out of its 13 numerical digits, there are 12 digits and 1 check digit. It is globally used and readable by most international scanning systems. The extra digit in the barcode is used for country codes, which facilitates global trade.
EAN-8
EAN-8 is a compact version of EAN-13 and contains only 8 digits. Out of its 8 digits, there are 7 digits and 1 check digit. It is used in smaller products and packaging where placing an EAN-13 barcode is challenging.
What is a Universal Product Code?
The Universal Product Code (UPC) is a 12-digit barcode that includes a manufacturer’s code, a product code, and a check digit for error detection. It does not have a country code digit. It is mainly used in North America. Like EAN, it is also used as a unique identifier for products to facilitate inventory management and price scanning at checkout.
Types of UPC
UPC is also available in two types, as follows:
UPC-A
UPC-A is the standard 12-digit barcode used in the United States and Canada. It is used in retail inventory management and scanning, and contains a unique identifier for each product.
UPC-E
UPC-E is a compact version of UPC-A, which only contains 6 digits. It is typically seen in small packaging where it is not possible to apply a 12-digit UPC-A code.
EAN vs UPC: Key Differences
There are many differences between EAN vs UPC. The key ones are as follows:
Digit Count
The prominent difference between EAN and UPC is the number of digits. EAN barcodes are 13 digits long, while the UPC barcodes have 12 digits. The extra digit in EAN codes enables the inclusion of country-specific information in international trade. It can tell where the product is registered.
Origin
EAN barcodes were developed in Europe to standardize product identification across multiple countries. In contrast, UPC barcodes originated in North America and are used within the United States and Canada. This difference reflects their regional focus and the extent of their adoption.
Country Code
EAN barcodes include a country code at the beginning of the number sequence. This identifies the country of origin or registration. UPCs do not contain a country identifier and focus on product and manufacturer identification.
Leading Zero
UPC barcodes often use a leading zero when converted to the EAN format to maintain compatibility between the two barcode inventory systems. This leading zero acts as a placeholder and does not represent any country or product information. EAN barcodes do not require this leading zero.
Compatibility and Use Cases
EAN barcodes are accepted and recognized worldwide. They are used for products sold in Europe and other international markets. In contrast, UPC barcodes are used in North America for domestic trade within the U.S. and Canada.
The summary of all EAN vs UPC differences is compiled in the table below:
Feature | EAN | UPC |
Digit Count | 13 digits | 12 digits |
Origin | Europe | North America |
Country Code | Included | Not included |
Visual Aspect | Lengthy due to an extra digit | Slightly shorter |
Leading Zero | Not relevant | Relevant |
Global Acceptance | Recognized and used worldwide | Used in the U.S. and Canada |
Scanner Compatibility | Compatible with most international scanning devices | May encounter issues outside North America |
Conversion | Become a UPC by removing the country code | Become an EAN by adding a leading zero |
Applications | Used in Europe and global markets | Uses in domestic markets in the U.S. and Canada |
EAN vs UPC: Key Similarities
Aside from some notable differences, EAN and UPC share certain similarities. These include:
Structure
EAN and UPC are linear barcodes composed of alternating black bars and white spaces that encode numerical information. They include human-readable digits beneath the barcode for easy identification.
Functionality
EAN and UPC are used to identify products in retail. They are used for inventory management and quick checkouts.
Variations
Both EAN and UPC offer compact barcode versions. EAN-8 uses only 8 digits, while UPDF-E uses only 6 digits. They are used in small packages.
Error Detection
Both barcode types include a check digit at the end. The scanner uses it to verify the accuracy of the scanned data. If the check digit does not match the calculation, the scan is flagged as an error.
Global Recognition
The EAN and UPC systems are both managed by GS1, a non-profit organization that oversees worldwide barcode standardization.
Numeric Character Set
EAN and UPC barcodes both encode numeric digits (0-9). A unique pattern of bars and spaces represents each digit.
When to Use EAN vs UPC Barcodes
EAN and UPC use depend on your business locality.
- If you operate a business in Europe or an international market outside North America, you need EAN barcodes.
- If you are operating outside Europe by exporting products to the U.S., you need UPC barcodes.
- If you are doing business across the world, you need both barcodes.
Fortunately, when using official GS1 barcodes, EAN and UPC codes can be used interchangeably. This compatibility was established through GS1’s 2005 GTIN Sunrise initiative, which enabled EAN barcodes to be recognized in regions that used UPC.
How to use EANs or UPCs?
Now that we have clarified the differences between EAN vs UPC, let’s move on to the next question: how to use these barcodes.
You need to get official barcodes from GS1 to use for your products. You cannot create barcodes on your own. Here are the simple steps to use EANs or UPCs:
- Visit your country’s GS1 organization website, such as GS1 US or GS1 UK, etc.
- Select whether you require a Company Prefix for multiple products or a single Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) for an individual item.
- Decide if you require EAN, UPC, or both barcode types.
- After your purchase, GS1 will provide you with a unique GTIN for your products.
- Log in to your GS1 account and assign the GTIN to a specific product, entering details like the product name, size, and description.
- Once assigned, your product officially receives its GTIN, which is then used to generate the correct barcode.
- If your GTIN is 12 digits, it’s formatted for UPC barcodes; if it’s 13 digits, it’s ready for EAN barcodes.
- To convert a UPC to an EAN, simply add a zero at the start (e.g., 098765432109 becomes 0098765432109); to convert an EAN to a UPC, remove the leading zero.
- Use the barcode generation tools in your GS1 account to create high-resolution barcodes for printing and packaging.
This way, you can easily create and use EAN and UPC barcodes.
Note: If your EAN does not have a leading zero, you will need to register a separate GTIN to obtain a UPC for the same product. Therefore, it is wise to consider your company’s future requirements before registering your GTIN.
Inventory Barcode System for Smooth Handling of Barcodes
Understanding the EAN vs UPC barcode differences and how to create them is one thing, but you also need to assign, track, and manage them effectively. That’s where the C2W Inventory comes into action. You can streamline your inventory management with C2W Inventory’s adaptable barcode system.
C2W Inventory is a powerful inventory management software that provides a feature-rich interface to manage inventory. It is designed for businesses that demand flexibility and accuracy in their inventory operations.
C2W Inventory supports both UPC and EAN barcodes. It provides an intuitive way to generate and print barcode labels and sheets. Whether you scan a UPC or EAN barcode or enter the item number manually, it accurately identifies and tracks every product for real-time stock updates. This ensures precise inventory control for operational efficiency and maintains correct stock levels.
C2W Inventory offers numerous additional features, including multi-warehouse management, automated reorder alerts, a mobile SmartScan system, sales order management, bills of materials, integration with essential business tools/platforms, and more. Get your hands on C2W Inventory and streamline your inventory management.
Wrapping Up
EAN and UPC are two popular barcodes we see in many products around us. On one hand, EAN dominates the European and international markets with 13-digit barcodes. On the other hand, UPC dominates North America with 12-digit barcodes. However, both are used to track and manage inventory. Therefore, choose them wisely based on your business model to have efficient inventory control and smooth operations.
