EAN-13 Barcode Dimensions

EAN-13 Retail Barcode Dimensions

Below is an outline of the specifications you need to follow when printing your barcode image onto your product. Pay particular attention to these specifications if you are looking at getting barcode verification. If your barcode does not adhere to these sizing specifications it may fail a verification report (if your retailer requires this), and it may not be decoded easily or consistently when scanned by a barcode scanner in a retail environment.

Magnification

The specified magnification range for an EAN13 barcode image scanned in retail environments is 80% – 200% (X-dimension 0.26mm-0.66mm).

An minimum magnification of 75% (X-dimension 0.25mm) is permitted only to on demand (e.g. thermal) print processes. In such cases, the bar heights should not be truncated below the minimum required height for an 80% magnification barcode symbol.

When a barcode may also be scanned via automated scanning (ie. in a General Distribution environment), the allowable magnification range is 150% to 200% (X-dimension 0.50mm – 0.66mm).

 

Human Readable Interpretation

The “Human Readable Interpretation” is printed under the barcode symbol.

The recommended typeface for the Human Readable Interpretation is OCR-B at a height of 2.75mm at nominal size (100% magnification, X-dimension 0.33mm). This typeface is a recommendation only – alternative type fonts and character sizes are acceptable as long as the digits are clearly legible.

Dimensions (All measurements are in mm)

Magnification	X-dimension	Width	Bar height	Left Quiet Zone	Right Quiet Zone
0.80	0.26	25.08	18.28	2.90	1.85
0.85	0.28	26.65	19.42	3.09	1.96
0.90	0.30	28.22	20.57	3.27	2.08
0.95	0.31	29.78	21.71	3.45	2.19
1.00	0.33	31.35	22.85	3.63	2.31
1.05	0.35	32.92	23.99	3.81	2.43
1.10	0.36	34.49	25.14	3.99	2.54
1.15	0.38	36.05	26.28	4.17	2.66
1.20	0.40	37.62	27.42	4.36	2.77
1.25	0.41	39.19	28.56	4.54	2.89
1.30	0.43	40.76	29.71	4.72	3.00
1.35	0.45	42.32	30.85	4.90	3.12
1.40	0.46	43.89	31.99	5.08	3.23
1.45	0.48	45.46	33.13	5.26	3.35
1.50	0.50	47.03	34.28	5.45	3.47
1.55	0.51	48.59	35.42	5.63	3.58
1.60	0.53	50.16	36.56	5.81	3.70
1.65	0.54	51.73	37.70	5.99	3.81
1.70	0.56	53.30	38.85	6.17	3.93
1.75	0.58	54.86	39.99	6.35	4.04
1.80	0.59	56.43	41.13	6.53	4.16
1.85	0.61	58.00	42.27	6.72	4.27
1.90	0.63	59.57	43.42	6.90	4.39
1.95	0.64	61.13	44.56	7.08	4.50
2.00	0.66	62.70	45.70	7.26	4.62

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terms:

– Bar Width = width of bar code symbol (excluding Quiet Zones)

– Bar Height = height of bars (excluding guard bar patterns)

– Quiet Zone = Area of blank space (preferably white) on either side of the bars

It is advisable to have more quiet zone space than is strictly required to allow for possible ink spread and printing issues

 

If you don’t understand any of the terms above (and they are not part of our glossary), please contact us.

If you require a barcode verification report, you can order one here.

 

Standard Size EAN-13 Barcode (100% Magnification)

The standard size for an EAN-13 barcode image is approximately 38mm wide x 25mm high ( (the precise dimensions are listed in the chart above – see 1.00 magnification). You may want to download the example images below. When you order a “Barcode Package” from us you will receive barcode images in this size in 4 different formats (Bitmap, EPS, Tiff, Jpeg and PDF). If you want a different size, please request this when ordering.

Standard Size EAN-13 Barcode Image (JPEG)

Standard Size EAN-13 Barcode Image (BMP)

 

Smallest Recommended Size for EAN-13 Barcode (80% Magnification) 

The smallest officially recommended size for an EAN-13 barcode image is approximately 30mm wide x 20mm high(the precise dimensions are listed in the chart above – see 0.80 magnification). In practice, some businesses make their barcodes shorter than this (e.g. 12mm or 15mm high) if their product label/packaging is small (this is common on cosmetics products). However it is very important that the width of the barcode remains at least 30mm wide, otherwise it will not scan properly. You may want to download the example images below.

80% Size EAN-13 Barcode Image (JPEG)

80% Size EAN1-3 Barcode Image (BMP)

 

 

ITF-14 Barcode Dimensions

ITF-14 Carton Code Dimensions

Here are the official ITF-14 Specifications. All measurements are in millimetres.

 

 

The top and bottom bearer bars are mandatory whereas the vertical bearer bars are optional as long as a non-printing plate method is being used.

Magnification:

The specified magnification range for an ITF-14 Barcode Symbol being scanned in a General Distribution Scanning environment is between 50 and 100%. For other scanning environments the range is 25-100%

If printing onto corrugate fibreboard the ITF-14 should be above 62.5%.

Height of Bars:

The minimum height for the bars in a General Distribution Scanning Environment is 32mm.

In other scanning environments the bar height should be as high as possible. 13mm is the minimum bar height, hence all ITF-14’s should exceed this height however every effort should be made to ensure that the height is as close as possible to 32mm.

Bar Width Ratio:

The bar width ratio is 2.5:1. The acceptable range for this ratio is between 2.25:1 and 3:1.

Human Readable Interpretation:

Font, font size and location are not specified however these should be printed clearly in proportion to the rest of the barcode. It is preferred for the font to appear below the barcode.

Magnification	X-Dimension	Width	Bar Height	Quiet Zones
25%	0.25	30.62	13	2.54
30%	0.3	36.73	13	3.05
35%	0.36	42.85	13	3.56
40%	0.41	48.97	13	4.06
45%	0.46	55.09	13	4.57
50%	0.51	61.21	32	5.08
55%	0.56	67.34	32	5.59
60%	0.61	73.46	32	6.1
62.50%	0.64	76.52	32	6.35
65%	0.66	79.58	32	6.6
70%	0.71	85.7	32	7.11
75%	0.76	91.82	32	7.62
80%	0.81	97.94	32	8.13
85%	0.86	104.06	32	8.64
90%	0.91	110.19	32	9.14
95%	0.97	116.31	32	9.65
100%	1.02	122.43	32	10.16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All measurements are in millimetres.

It is best to allow more space for the quiet zones than the minimum in case of ink spread

Terms:

General Distribution Scanning Environment – This refers to automated scanning by a machine as the item passes along a conveyor belt.

Other Scanning Environments – Typically this refers to handheld scanners.

Bar Width Ratio – this refers to the ratio of wide modules to narrow modules in the ITF-14. A wide module should be 2.5 times the width of a narrow module.

Quiet Zones – Area of white space on either side of the bars