Retail barcode comparison
EAN-8 vs EAN-13: What’s the Difference?
EAN-8 and EAN-13 belong to the same EAN/UPC family, but EAN-8 is not simply EAN-13 with five digits removed. They carry different GTIN lengths and have different allocation rules.
Updated September 13, 2026
EAN-13 carries a 13-digit GTIN-13 and is the normal choice for many retail products outside North America. EAN-8 carries an 8-digit GTIN-8 and exists for products whose packaging does not provide enough space for a standard EAN-13 or UPC-A symbol. You should not shorten an existing EAN-13 value to make an EAN-8; GTIN-8 is separately assigned through GS1 processes.
EAN-8 vs EAN-13 at a glance
GS1 lists EAN-8 and EAN-13 as members of the EAN/UPC family and maps them to GTIN-8 and GTIN-13 respectively. Both are retail point-of-sale carriers, but the underlying identifier length is different.
| Feature | EAN-8 | EAN-13 |
|---|---|---|
| GTIN carried | GTIN-8 | GTIN-13 |
| Digits in the symbol data | 8 | 13 |
| Typical reason to use it | Very limited packaging space | General retail product identification |
| Can you make it by shortening the other? | No | No |
| Retail point-of-sale family | EAN/UPC | EAN/UPC |
EAN-8 is for constrained packaging, not convenience
GS1 guidance treats GTIN-8 as an option for products whose packaging does not include enough available space for a normal EAN-13 or UPC-A symbol. Current GS1 General Specifications describe packaging-size constraints and tell companies to consider layout and print options before using GTIN-8.
That means EAN-8 should not be chosen merely because eight digits look simpler. The identifier must be assigned correctly for the product.
EAN-13 is the more common general retail format
GS1 describes GTIN-13, commonly called EAN, as a 13-digit format widely used outside North America. EAN-13 is therefore the normal retail choice when the product already has an assigned GTIN-13 and packaging can accommodate the symbol.
Do not truncate EAN-13 to make EAN-8
A GTIN identifies a specific trade item. Removing digits from a GTIN-13 does not create a legitimate GTIN-8 for that product. Likewise, a barcode generator should not invent a shorter identifier on your behalf.
BarcodeBatch follows that separation: EAN-8 requires exactly eight digits and EAN-13 exactly thirteen digits. It renders the value you supply and does not silently convert between them.
Which one should you use?
Use the GTIN already assigned to the product and the barcode carrier required by the retailer or trading partner. If you are assigning a new product identifier and packaging is extremely small, work through the applicable GS1 Member Organisation rather than shortening another GTIN yourself.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is EAN-8 just a shorter EAN-13?
No. EAN-8 carries a separately assigned GTIN-8. It is not created by deleting digits from a GTIN-13.
When should I use EAN-8?
GS1 positions GTIN-8/EAN-8 for products with very limited packaging space where a standard EAN-13 or UPC-A symbol cannot reasonably fit under the applicable rules.
Can a normal retail scanner read EAN-8?
EAN-8 is part of the GS1 EAN/UPC family designed for retail point-of-sale use. Actual deployment should still be tested with the target retailer and scanner setup.
Can BarcodeBatch convert my EAN-13 into EAN-8?
No. BarcodeBatch does not assign or transform GTINs. Use the exact identifier assigned to the product and select the matching barcode format.
Sources & standards
Technical claims in this guide are checked against primary or official documentation where available.