Linear symbology
EAN-8
EAN-8 is the short retail barcode for packs that are physically too small to carry an EAN-13 at a readable size. It holds eight digits — seven of data and a check digit — and requires its own GS1-8 prefix rather than being a shortened version of an existing 13-digit number.
Specification
These are the values the editor enforces while you design, not figures collected from elsewhere — the same numbers its quiet-zone and resolution checks run on.
| Property | Value | In context |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum X-dimension | 0.264 mm | 0.0104 in · 10 thou |
| Quiet zone | 7 modules | 1.85 mm at the minimum X-dimension |
| Dimensionality | Linear (1D) | Read by laser or imager |
EAN-8 at 203, 300 and 600 dpi
A printer can only place whole dots, and 0.264 mm is not a whole number of them at any of these resolutions. What changes is how much a single dot of rounding costs you as a share of the narrow bar.
| Resolution | Narrow bar in dots | Printed as | Rounding error |
|---|---|---|---|
| 203 dpi | 2.11 | 2 dots | 5% |
| 300 dpi | 3.12 | 3 dots | 4% |
| 600 dpi | 6.24 | 6 dots | 4% |
What EAN-8 encodes
Exactly 8 digits. Seven carry the GS1-8 item number and the eighth is the computed check digit. There is no letter or punctuation support and no variable length.
Where it is used
- Small retail packs such as confectionery, cosmetics and single-serve items
- Products where an EAN-13 at its minimum size would not fit the available panel
Check digit
Starting from the rightmost data digit and working left, multiply the digits alternately by 3 and 1, add the results, then subtract the total from the next multiple of ten. The remainder is the check digit. The editor computes it for you, and accepts the value either with or without it.
How EAN-8 fails in practice
- Trying to derive an EAN-8 from an existing EAN-13. There is no arithmetic relationship between them — an EAN-8 is a separately issued number.
- Reaching for EAN-8 before the pack genuinely requires it. GS1 treats it as an exception for constrained packaging, and using it by default wastes a scarcer number range.
When to use something else
- EAN-13 — choose it instead when the pack has room for a full 13-digit symbol at its minimum size, which is the normal case.
- Data Matrix — choose it instead when the item is too small even for EAN-8 and the scanning environment is an imager rather than a retail laser.
Questions about EAN-8
- Can I shorten my EAN-13 into an EAN-8?
- No. EAN-8 numbers come from a separate GS1-8 allocation and are not mathematically derived from a 13-digit number. You apply for one, and GS1 generally expects evidence that the pack is genuinely too small for EAN-13.