EAN vs UPC: What's the Difference?

The Short Answer

A UPC-A barcode is an EAN-13 barcode with a leading zero. That's it. They use the same encoding, the same scanning technology, and the same check digit algorithm. Any scanner that reads one can read the other.

Historical Context

UPC (Universal Product Code) came first, developed in the US in 1973-1974 with 12 digits. When the rest of the world needed barcodes, the EAN (European Article Number) system was created in 1977 with 13 digits to accommodate more countries. The extra digit at the front enables country prefixes beyond what 12 digits could handle.

In Practice

• North America — Products historically used UPC-A (12 digits). Retailers can scan both.
• Rest of world — Products use EAN-13 (13 digits).
• E-commerce — Amazon, eBay, and most platforms accept both formats interchangeably.

GTIN: The Unified Standard

Today, GS1 uses the term GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) as the umbrella term. A GTIN-13 is an EAN-13. A GTIN-12 is a UPC-A. A GTIN-14 is used for carton-level identification. They're all part of the same numbering system.

Which Should You Use?

If you're selling only in the US/Canada, a 12-digit UPC-A works fine. If you're selling internationally (or plan to), use 13-digit EAN-13 from the start. Either way, register with GS1 for legitimate, unique codes.