- Compatible with latest EAN-13 barcoding specifications to ensure validity of printout barcode images
- Simple to generate professional EAN-13 barcode for GS1 data in Microsoft Excel within a few seconds
- Easily generate and integrate EAN-13, EAN-13+2 & EAN-13+5 barcode images in Microsoft Excel
- Insert EAN-13 barcode and adjust size, like module width, height, quiet zones, text margin, text fonts etc.
- Support linking EAN-13 barcode to cell and allow efficient EAN-13 barcode image to be updated
- Support Microsoft Excel 365 on Windows, Excel 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013 without using font, vba, macro formula, extra freeware download
- Support operating systems like Windows 11, Windows 10, 8, 7, XP, Windows Servers, etc
This guide is designed to help you easily generate, customize, and print EAN-13 barcodes (a standard 13-digit barcode used globally for product identification, similar to the barcodes you see on grocery store items) in Microsoft Excel.
We'll use the KeepAutomation Excel Barcode Generator Add-in (a tool that integrates with Excel to create barcodes directly in your worksheet, just like how a plugin adds new features to your browser) to simplify the process.
All steps are structured clearly, with professional terms explained in plain language, key operations highlighted, and potential pitfalls noted to ensure a smooth experience.
EAN-13 Barcode Introduction
EAN-13, also named as European Article Number 13, EAN/UCC-13, GS1-13 & GTIN-13, with variants EAN-13 Supplement 2 (a two-digit Add-On)
and EAN-13 Supplement 5 (a five-digit add-on), is a linear barcode which encodes 13 numeric-only data (0 to 9).
Generating a Single EAN-13 Barcodes
Go to the Add-ins tab on the Excel ribbon (this is the top menu bar in Excel, next to "Home" and "Insert").
In the KeepAutomation group (located on the far right of the Add-ins tab, marked with the KeepAutomation logo), click the Create Barcode button—this will open the barcode configuration panel on the right side of your Excel window.
In the configuration panel:
- Locate the Data textbox (labeled "Data" at the top of the panel) and enter the formula =LINK(B4) (this links the barcode to the data in cell B4, so if you update B4, the barcode will automatically update. Like how a mirror reflects changes to your appearance).
- Check the Resize Covered Cell checkbox (found directly below the Data textbox). This option lets Excel automatically adjust the width and height of the selected cell (C4) to fit the barcode perfectly.
- From the Barcode Type dropdown menu (labeled "Barcode Type" with a downward arrow), select EAN 13 (this tells the add-in to create the standard 13-digit product barcode).
- Click the Generate button (a green button with the word "Generate" at the bottom of the configuration panel) to create and insert the barcode into cell C4.
Note: If the barcode does not appear, double-check that you entered the formula correctly (ensure there are no typos, like missing the "=" sign) and that the Barcode Type is set to "EAN 13".
Customizing Your EAN-13 Barcode
After generating the barcode, you can customize its size, text style, and other settings to fit your needs. We'll cover the most common customizations below.
Resizing the EAN-13 Barcode (Width and Height)
- Hover your mouse over one of the corner handles until the cursor changes to a double-headed arrow.
- Click and drag the handle outward to enlarge the barcode or inward to shrink it. This lets you adjust the size to fit your worksheet layout.
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After resizing, click the barcode again. You'll notice the Image width and Image height fields (in the configuration panel, under the "Image Settings" section) update to show the new dimensions.
- Click the Update button (next to the Generate button in the configuration panel) to save the new size.
Check that the barcode is still clear and readable. Avoid making it too small, as this may cause scanning issues.
Ensure the resized barcode still fits within cell C4 (or your selected cell) without overlapping adjacent cells.
Customizing the Barcode Text (Font Style and Size)
The human-readable text (HRI, short for Human-Readable Interpretation. The numbers below the barcode) can be adjusted to improve readability.
- Go to the Barcode Size tab (one of the three tabs at the top of the configuration panel, next to "Basic Settings" and "1D Barcode").
- Uncheck the Auto resize barcode text checkbox (this unlocks the text customization options. You can think of it like unlocking a door to access a room).
- Under the Barcode Size tab, find the Text margin field (labeled "Text margin (px)") and set it to 24. This increases the space between the barcode bars and the text below, making it easier to read.
- Switch to the 1D Barcode tab (next to the Barcode Size tab).
- Find the Font size dropdown menu (labeled "Font size") and select 16. This makes the text larger. You can also choose a different font style (e.g., Arial, Calibri) from the Font dropdown menu if needed.
- Click the Update button to apply the changes.
Check that the text is clear, not overlapping with the barcode, and matches the data in cell B4.
You can adjust the Text margin or Font size further if the text is still hard to read.
Hide EAN-13 barcode text label in Excel
Uncheck the property "Display barcode text" to hide the EAN-13 barcode text label in Excel.
Printing High-Resolution EAN-13 Barcodes
For professional printing (e.g., on product labels), you may want to use high-resolution barcode images. Here's how to configure this:
Select the barcode image in your worksheet.
- In the barcode configuration panel, find the DPI field (labeled "DPI" under the Image Settings section. DPI stands for Dots Per Inch, a measure of image sharpness; higher DPI means clearer prints).
- Set the DPI value to 1200. This is a recommended high-resolution setting for most printers. You can also use a value equal to or higher than your printer's maximum DPI (check your printer's manual for this information).
- Click the Update button to regenerate the barcode at the new resolution.
Note: Higher DPI values may increase the file size of your Excel workbook, but this is a small trade-off for better print quality.
If the barcode looks blurry, increase the DPI value (e.g., to 1500) and try again.
Customize printed EAN-13 barcode colors in Excel
Use property "Fore" and "Back" to customize painted EAN-13 barcode module color and background color in Excel.
Generating Batch EAN-13 Barcodes
If you have multiple product codes (e.g. a list in column B), you can generate multiple barcodes at once using the template method. This saves time compared to creating each barcode individually.
Select the template EAN-13 barcode (cell C4) by clicking on it.
You'll see a message in the barcode configuration panel: "Copy from: Cell [C4] EAN13"—this confirms the template is selected.
To generate a single additional barcode:
- Select the cell where you want the next EAN-13 barcode (e.g., cell C5, next to B5).
- Click the Duplicate button (located in the configuration panel, below the Generate button. Marked with a "copy" icon).
- A new barcode will be inserted into cell C5, linked to the data in B5 and using the same settings as the template.
- To generate multiple barcodes at once:
- Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.
- Click the first cell (e.g., C6) and drag your mouse to select the range of cells where you want barcodes (e.g., C6 to C7).
- Release the Shift key.
- Click the Duplicate All button (next to the Duplicate button, marked with a "copy all" icon).
- New barcodes will be inserted into all selected cells, each linked to the corresponding data in column B.
Note: Ensure the cells you select for batch generation are empty. Existing data or images may be overwritten.
EAN-13 Data Code Encoding in Excel
EAN-13 supported characters and data length
EAN-13 barcode can encode numeric data from 0 through 9.
EAN-13 code includes 12 digits of GS1 data message along with a trailing check digit, for a total of 13 digits of bar code data.
EAN-13 may be accompanies by an add-on symbol (2 digits or 5 digits)
Using Excel barcode generator add-in, you can generate EAN-13 barcodes in Microsoft Excel document, by choose barcode type "EAN-13", "EAN-13 +2" or "EAN-13 +5"
EAN-13 code structure
An EAN-13 bar code is divided into four groups:
- The number system
- The manufacturer code
- The product code
- The check digit
The EAN-13 number system consists of two or three digits which identify the country (or economic region) numbering authority.
The manufacturer code is a unique code assigned to each manufacturer by the numbering authority indicated by the number system code. All products produced by a given company will use the same manufacturer code.
The product code is a unique code assigned by the manufacturer. Unlike the manufacturer code, which must be assigned by the UCC, the manufacturer is free to assign product codes to each of their products without consulting any other organization.
In Excel document, you simply input the first 12 digits EAN 13 code or 13 digits EAN 13 code with check digit. The barcode generator software will automatically create EAN-13 barcode images based on your EAN13 code.
EAN 13 check digit calculator in excel
The check digit is an additional digit used to verify that a bar code has been scanned correctly.
The checksum digit is based on a modulo 10 calculation based on the weighted sum of the values of each of the digits in the number system, manufacturer code, and product code.
Using EAN-13 barcode generator in Excel, you can input 12 digits data with or without the last checksum digit. The barcode software will always ignore your provided check digit, and calculate the check digit based on your first 12 code digits.
EAN-13 Supplemental barcodes (2 digits or 5 digits)
EAN/UPC bar codes may be augmented with a two-digit supplemental code to indicate the issue number for a periodical. Five digits supplemental codes are used with the product number to identify paperback books.
To generate EAN-13 with supplemental code, you need follow the steps below
- Choose barcode type as "EAN-13 +2" for 2-digit supplemental barcode, "EAN-13 +5" for 5-digit supplemental barcode.
- In the data property, use the following format "12 or 13 digits for EAN-13 code" + "+" + "2 or 5 digits for supplemental code". For example "123456789012+12".
Frequently Asked Questions
An EAN-13 is a 13-digit barcode used to identify products worldwide. It's a 13-digit barcode consisting of 12 data digits and 1 check digit.
Once known as EAN (European Article Number), it's now GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) and uniquely identifies retail products around the world.
Using Excel AN-13 barcode generator add-in, you can quickly create and print EAN-13 in Excel cells without any activex component, barcode font installed.
What sets EAN apart from EAN-13?
The EAN barcode category includes EAN-13, EAN-8, and the 2-digit or 5-digit add-on barcodes.
EAN is the standard, while EAN-13 is a specific format under that standard.
The broader EAN standard covers the 13-digit EAN-13, the 8-digit EAN-8, and supplementary add-on codes.
Using Excel EAN barcode add-in freeware, you can print all EAN barcodes, including EAN-8, EAN-13, EAN-128 barcode images in Microsoft Office Excel 365/2024/2021/2019 applications.
What's the layout of an EAN-13 barcode?
EAN-13 consists of 13 digits grouped as follows:
- GS1 Prefix: 2-3 digits for the country or organization.
- Company Number: 4-5 digits assigned to the manufacturer.
- Item Number: 5 digits for the specific product.
- Check Digit: A final digit that validates the code's accuracy.
Using Excel EAN-13 barcode add-in freeware, you can encode and print EAN-13 with formated data encoding in Microsoft Office Excel 365 applications.
What's the way to confirm the validity of a created EAN-13 barcode?
An EAN-13 code can be validated through its last character, the check digit. The 13th digit of EAN-13 is a check digit, designed to validate the first 12 data digits.
Using Excel EAN-13 barcode add-in freeware, the barcode software will automatically calcuate the check digit and place the bars in the right position
in EAN-13 symbology in Excel application.
What are the minimum dimensions of EAN-13, and how to apply it?
GS1's recommended minimum size for an EAN-13 barcode is 30mm (width) by 20mm (height).
When creating your barcode, adhere to these measurements to guarantee readability.
Using Excel EAN-13 barcode add-in freeware, you can print EAN-13 with minimum dimension size customized in Microsoft Office Excel 365/2021/2019 applications.
How do I print EAN-13 barcodes correctly?
For good-quality EAN-13 barcode printing, check these key points:
- The barcode graphic must have a sufficient resolution (DPI) that is at least as high as your printer's output resolution.
- Use a readable font for the human-readable text; the GS1 System recommends OCR-B for EAN-13 text labels.
Using Excel EAN-13 barcode generator add-in, you can create high quality EAN-13 barcode image with resolution, text font customized in
Microsoft Excel application.
