What is the difference between a UPC and EAN?

In the world of retail sales there are primarily two barcode formats used, UPC and EAN. The UPC format (as shown below) is 12 digits while the EAN is 13. These two formats are predominantly used in their own regions, the UPC is used only in the US and Canada, while the EAN is used everywhere else globally.

The U.P.C. stands for Universal Product Code (aka: UPC-A) and E.A.N. stands for European Article Number (aka: EAN-13 or International Article Number).. The UPC was the original format for product barcodes in the 1970s. Later on, as demand in Europe, Asia and Australia grew country codes were added to the front of the barcode number increasing it to 13 digits. USA  and Canada have a country code of zero which is not printed under the barcode nor is it entered in US and Canadian Inventory Point of Sale systems.


If you look at the graphic above with the EAN barcode and UPC barcode side by side, you will see they are exactly the same. The width of the bars and the width of the spaces between the bars are exactly the same. The only major difference is the placement of the numbers below (human readable numbers) which are there only as a back-up in case the barcode doesn’t scan properly and the information has to be manually entered into the register, POS (point of sale system).

UPC Barcode & EAN Barcode Overlayed

The left image overlays the UPC and EAN graphics so you can see that the images are identical. The country code doesn’t appear beneath the barcode in a UPC since back then GS1 didn’t value the importance of USA  and Canada indicating a country code. GS1 felt that since the majority of products sold in both countries originate from importers, distributors or manufacturers in the USA or Canada, they could forego the leading zero in the human readable numbers.

If you are currently doing business in the United States and Canada exclusively, it is recommended to use UPC barcodes for your products. Many retailers, especially smaller retailers may be using older inventory systems that only allow them to enter only 12 digit UPC numbers and not a 13 digit string. If this changes in the future, you can convert your 12 digit UPC to a 13 digit EAN by adding the country code of 0 to the beginning.

This following information was originally authored by George Laurer, the inventor of the UPC barcode. It is a more technical/historical explanation.

The origin of EAN vs. U.P.C. confusion



*Note from George Laurer: I have used the name UCC throughout to avoid confusion although it evolved to this name over many years. In 1975 it was called UPCC (Uniform Product Code Council).





Different products with barcodes



Thank you for that in depth historical information Mr. Laurer!

Summary & Learn More

The UPC-A and EAN-13 barcode symbol (graphic) & numbers are technical the same but are used in two different geographical areas. If you have or own a UPC you also have an EAN to use in the rest of the world. Think of them like two sides of the same coin.




About UPC Numbers




About EAN Numbers



About GTIN