The table below outlines the most common types of barcodes. The information provided is purely as a guide only, and exact specifications can be obtained from your national EAN.UCC organization. Note that the images below are indicative only and the sizes are not relative.

Barcode Type

Description

General Format

Variations

13-digit barcode most commonly used in Europe and Australia for numbering retail products.

CC MMMMM PPPPP X

CC = 2-digit country code

MMMMM = 5-digit manufacturer number

PPPPP = 5-digit product number

X = 1-digit check digit

Minimum Height  = 21.00mm 

Country Code can be 3 digits

2-digit addendum

5 digit addendum

8-digit barcode only used on very small retail items, most commonly used in Europe and Australia.

CC PPPPP X

CC = 2-digit country code

PPPPP = 5-digit company/product number

X = 1-digit check digit

Minimum Height = 17.31mm

Country Code can be 3 digits

2-digit addendum

5 digit addendum

These barcodes are the most complex type of barcode, and are utilized for internal rather than retail use. They are intended to include both identification and supplementary information within one barcode. The EAN-128 is used to represent Serial Shipping Container Codes (AI=00).

Often 18 digits, however variable and dependent on content, eg:

(AI) NNNNNNNNNNNNNN(AI)NNNNN

(AI) = Application Identifier, describing the format and structure of the data that follows

N = numbers relating to AI

Example of AI’s:

(00) = Serial Shipping Container Code

(01) = EAN article number

(15) = Best before date

(10) = Batch number

Additional information that can be incorporated includes best-before dates, batch codes, packaging dates, locations, measurements, production dates, and so on. It can be specified from 4-digits up to 30-digits.

12-digit barcode most commonly used in the USA for numbering retail products.

MMMMMM PPPPP X

MMMMM = 6-digit manufacturer number

PPPPP = 5-digit product number

X = 1-digit check digit

2-digit addendum

5 digit addendum

8-digit barcode only used on very small retail items, most commonly in the USA.

MMMM PP X

MMMMM = 6-digit manufacturer number

PPPPP = 5-digit product number

X = 1-digit check digit

2-digit addendum

5 digit addendum

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) system is used throughout the world for numbering published books. The ISBN agency of your country is responsible for the issuing of numbers. An ISBN is represented as a 13-digit EAN barcode with the prefix 978 to indicate an ISBN.

978 BBBBBBBBB X

978 = code to indicate ISBN

BBBBBBBBB = 9-digit ISBN

X = 1-digit check digit

Minimum Height = 23.8mm

2-digit addendum

5 digit addendum

The International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) system is used throughout the world for numbering periodical publications. The National Library of your country is responsible for the issuing of numbers. An ISSN is represented as a 13-digit EAN barcode with the prefix 977 to indicate an ISSN.

977 SSSSSSSSS X

977 = 3-digit code to indicate ISSN

SSSSSSSSS = 9-digit ISSN

X = 1-digit check digit

Minimum Height = 27.3 mm

2-digit addendum

5 digit addendum

979 MMMMMMMMM X

979 = 3-digit code to indicate ISMN

MMMMMMMMM = 9-digit ISMN

X = 1-digit check digit

Minimum Height = 27.3 mm

2-digit addendum

5 digit addendum  

The interleaved 2 of 5 symbol (ITF) was developed for the use on outer cartons or cases containing a number of identical retail products. The barcode is 14-digits, the first being a logistical variant which identifies the different level of packaging of the same retail item. Also can be known as an EAN-14 or 'trade unit'.

L CC MMMMM PPPPP X

L = 1-digit logistical variant

CC = 2-digit country code

MMMMM = 5-digit manufacturer number

PPPPP = 5-digit product number

X = 1-digit check digit

Minimum Height = 41.60mm plus numbers below

Several bearer bar and H-gauge options

CODE	SYMBOL
0	UPC-A
1	UPC-A/2
2	UPC-A/5
3	UPC-E
4	UPC-E/2
5	UPC-E/5
6	EAN-13
7	EAN-13/2
8	EAN-13/5
9	EAN-8
10	EAN-8/2
11	EAN-8/5
12	VEL-8
13	UPC-AM
14	UPC-AMC
15	CODE39
16	CODABAR
17	I25
18	MSI
19	SICK
20	C3PC
21	TELEPEN
22	TELEPED
23	ISBN
24	ISBN/2
25	ISBN/5
26	BELL11
27	CASE14