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What Is an EAN Code?

EAN (European Article Number, now officially called International Article Number) is a 13-digit product barcode standard used internationally. EAN-13 is the most common format. It identifies a specific product and is the international equivalent of the US UPC-A code. For e-commerce sellers, the practical difference is that EAN-13 is the format expected outside North America.

Real example

An EAN-13 like 5901234123457 breaks down into: country/region prefix (590 = Poland), company prefix, product reference, and check digit. When you add a leading zero to a 12-digit UPC, you get a valid EAN-13 — which is why the two formats are compatible on most scanners.

How an EAN Code is used in e-commerce

  • Amazon EU marketplaces (Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.co.uk) use EAN-13 as the standard product identifier.
  • European retail requires EAN-13 on product packaging.
  • International shipping labels frequently use EAN-13 for customs and warehouse scanning.
  • Shopify's barcode field accepts both UPC and EAN.

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Common questions

Related terms

UPC codeGTINUPC vs EANGS1