What is an EAN validator?

An EAN validator is a tool that checks whether a barcode number such as EAN‑13 or EAN‑8 is structurally valid. It verifies that the length is correct, all characters are digits, and the check digit matches the one computed by the official GS1 modulo‑10 algorithm. It does not confirm that the code is actually registered to a specific product in a GS1 database.

Which EAN formats does this tool support?

This validator supports EAN‑13, EAN‑8 and generic GTIN codes of length 8, 12, 13 or 14. It can also be used to validate UPC‑A (12 digits) and GTIN‑14, because they use the same modulo‑10 check digit algorithm as EAN‑13.

How is the EAN check digit calculated?

The EAN check digit is calculated using a weighted sum of the preceding digits. For EAN‑13, starting from the rightmost digit before the check digit, you multiply digits in odd positions by 3 and digits in even positions by 1, sum them, take the sum modulo 10, and subtract from 10. If the result is 10, the check digit is 0. EAN‑8 uses the same idea but with the weights applied in the opposite order.

Can this validator tell me which product an EAN belongs to?

No. This tool only checks the mathematical validity of the barcode and decodes structural information such as the country prefix. To look up a product by its EAN, you need a separate product database or a service such as GS1 Verified by GS1 or commercial lookup APIs.

What is the difference between EAN‑13 and UPC‑A?

EAN‑13 is a 13‑digit global article number used worldwide, while UPC‑A is a 12‑digit format historically used in North America. Mathematically they are compatible: a UPC‑A can be represented as an EAN‑13 by adding a leading zero. Both use the same modulo‑10 check digit algorithm, so this validator can check both.

EAN Validator

Validate EAN‑8, EAN‑13, UPC and GTIN barcodes, verify check digits, and decode basic prefix information.

EAN Barcode Validator

Enter barcode number

Supports EAN‑13, EAN‑8, UPC‑A (12 digits) and GTIN‑14. Non‑digit characters are ignored automatically.

Code type

Input	Normalized	Type	Status	Expected Check Digit	Details

How the EAN check digit works

EAN barcodes use a single check digit to detect common typing and scanning errors. The check digit is calculated from the other digits using a modulo‑10 algorithm defined by GS1.

EAN‑13 / GTIN‑13 formula

Steps:

Take the first 12 digits (exclude the check digit).
From right to left, multiply digits in odd positions by 3 and digits in even positions by 1.
Sum all the products.
Compute sum mod 10.
The check digit is (10 − (sum mod 10)) mod 10.

Example (EAN‑13: 4006381333931):
Digits without check digit: 4 0 0 6 3 8 1 3 3 3 9 3
Weights (right→left): 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1
Products: 12 0 0 6 9 8 3 3 9 3 27 3 → sum = 83
83 mod 10 = 3 → check digit = (10 − 3) mod 10 = 7 → expected check digit = 7

EAN‑8 formula

EAN‑8 uses the same idea but with the weights applied in the opposite order:

Take the first 7 digits.
From right to left, multiply digits in odd positions by 3 and digits in even positions by 1.
Then apply the same modulo‑10 rule to get the check digit.

Supported formats

EAN‑13 / GTIN‑13 – 13 digits, global retail standard.
EAN‑8 – 8 digits, used for very small packages.
UPC‑A – 12 digits, North American format (validated with the same algorithm).
GTIN‑14 – 14 digits, used for cases and logistics units.

Limitations

This validator checks only the mathematical validity and basic structure of the code. It does not query GS1 or any product database, and therefore cannot confirm:

whether the code is actually registered,
which company or product it belongs to,
whether it is being used correctly on packaging.

For authoritative information about ownership and product data, use official GS1 services such as Verified by GS1 or your local GS1 member organization.

FAQ

Can I validate multiple EANs at once?

Yes. Paste a list of codes separated by commas, spaces or new lines. The tool will normalize each entry, ignore non‑digit characters, and show a validation result for every code.

What errors can the EAN check digit detect?

The modulo‑10 algorithm reliably detects all single‑digit errors and most adjacent digit transpositions (e.g., typing 123456 instead of 123546). It cannot detect all possible multi‑digit permutations, so a valid check digit does not guarantee that the number is the intended one.

Why does my code show “invalid length”?

After removing non‑digit characters, the validator expects one of the supported lengths: 8, 12, 13 or 14 digits. If your code is shorter or longer, or if you accidentally omitted the leading zero of a UPC‑A when treating it as EAN‑13, you will see an invalid‑length message.

Is this validator suitable for production systems?

The algorithm implemented here follows the official GS1 specification and can be used as a reference. For mission‑critical applications (e‑commerce, warehouse management, POS), you should integrate validation directly into your backend or use a GS1‑certified library and, where required, connect to official GS1 data sources.