Which barcode is on your pack, and what size does it have to be?
Start with the cards: tap one to see its details. Then check the numbers in the calculator.
Read by the scanner at the checkout. UPC-A is its North American counterpart (US and Canada).
| EAN-13 | UPC-A | |
|---|---|---|
| X-dimension (min / target / max) | 0.264 / 0.330 / 0.660 mm | 0.264 / 0.330 / 0.660 mm |
| Bar height at target X | 22.85 mm | 22.85 mm |
| Minimum if shortened (40%) | 9.14 mm | 9.14 mm |
| Quiet zone left / right | 3.63 / 2.31 mm | 2.97 / 2.97 mm |
Not sure about your X-dimension? The calculator provides the values for your code and shows a dimensioned diagram with the measurements.
A GS1 QR Code can carry a GS1 Digital Link with the GTIN inside. It does not replace an EAN at the checkout if the retailer requires one.
| Retail | Distribution | |
|---|---|---|
| X-dimension (min / target / max) | 0.396 / 0.495 / 0.990 mm | 0.743 / 0.743 / 1.500 mm |
| Quiet zone on all sides | 4X = 1.98 mm | 4X = 2.97 mm |
Not sure about your X-dimension? The calculator provides the values for your code and shows a dimensioned diagram with the measurements.
Printed directly on the board, so it has bearer bars around it and a larger X-dimension: ink spreads on the substrate.
| X-dimension (min / target / max) | 0.495 / 0.495 / 1.016 mm |
|---|---|
| Bar height, not less than | 31.75 mm |
| Quiet zone left / right | 4.95 / 4.95 mm |
| Bearer bars | 4.83 mm |
Not sure about your X-dimension? The calculator provides the values for your code and shows a dimensioned diagram with the measurements.
Carries several data fields at once. In the human-readable interpretation, the Application Identifiers appear in brackets.
| Distribution | Logistics | |
|---|---|---|
| X-dimension (min / target / max) | 0.495 / 0.495 / 1.016 mm | 0.495 / 0.495 / 0.940 mm |
| Bar height, not less than | 31.75 mm | 31.75 mm |
| Quiet zone left / right | 4.95 / 4.95 mm | 4.95 / 4.95 mm |
Not sure about your X-dimension? The calculator provides the values for your code and shows a dimensioned diagram with the measurements.
A large amount of data in a small area. It is usually read by an image-based scanner, not a laser.
| Retail | Distribution | |
|---|---|---|
| X-dimension (min / target / max) | 0.396 / 0.495 / 0.990 mm | 0.743 / 0.743 / 1.500 mm |
| Quiet zone on all sides | 1X = 0.49 mm | 1X = 0.74 mm |
Not sure about your X-dimension? The calculator provides the values for your code and shows a dimensioned diagram with the measurements.
A GS1 member organization issues a GTIN-8 on request. The choice of a compact code is agreed with the data owner, not made for layout convenience.
| EAN-8 | UPC-E | |
|---|---|---|
| X-dimension (min / target / max) | 0.264 / 0.330 / 0.660 mm | 0.264 / 0.330 / 0.660 mm |
| Bar height at target X | 18.23 mm | 22.85 mm |
| Minimum if shortened (40%) | 7.29 mm | 9.14 mm |
| Quiet zone left / right | 2.31 / 2.31 mm | 2.97 / 2.31 mm |
Not sure about your X-dimension? The calculator provides the values for your code and shows a dimensioned diagram with the measurements.
Enter the X-dimension to get the quiet zones and bar height, with a dimensioned diagram of the code.
Identifier. A GTIN is the number of a trade item in the GS1 system. It is only a number. It becomes a barcode when it is written in a symbology.
Symbology. How data turns into bars or modules: EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 128, Data Matrix, QR Code. Each has its own rules for geometry and quiet zones.
Data structure. The fields written in the code. GS1 marks them with Application Identifiers (AI): (01) GTIN, (10) batch, (17) expiry date, (21) serial number. The brackets are for human reading and are not encoded.
Sources: GS1 General Specifications, Release 26.0 (gs1.org) · GSCN 26-144, bar height truncation for retail EAN/UPC, effective August 2026
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