UPC and EAN check digit calculator
Paste barcodes one per line to check them, or paste codes missing their last digit and we work it out. Handles UPC-A, EAN-13 and EAN-8, and draws the barcode too.
- Check a whole list
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Check or complete barcodes
Paste full codes, one per line.
Scan barcodes with your phone, not a scanner
Binly counts stock and receives deliveries by scanning with your phone camera, then shows every difference against Shopify before anything changes.
How the check digit works
The last digit of a UPC or EAN is not part of the product number. It is a safety check calculated from the digits before it, so a scanner can tell a misread or mistyped code from a real one.
Worked example for the UPC-A code 03600029145 (the check digit is still missing):
- Digits in odd positions (1st, 3rd, 5th, and so on): 0 + 6 + 0 + 2 + 1 + 5 = 14, and 14 × 3 = 42.
- Digits in even positions: 3 + 0 + 0 + 9 + 4 = 16.
- Total: 42 + 16 = 58. The next multiple of 10 is 60, so the check digit is 60 − 58 = 2.
- The full code is 036000291452.
For EAN-13 the same rule applies, with the 12 digits before the check digit weighted 1, 3, 1, 3 and so on from the left. For EAN-8 it is the 7 digits before the check digit, weighted 3, 1, 3, 1 from the left.
Common reasons a code fails
- A leading zero was dropped by a spreadsheet, so the code has 11 or 7 digits.
- Two digits were swapped or one was mistyped while copying from a label.
- A UPC-A was entered with an extra digit, or an EAN-13 was cut short.
Related: Shopify barcode labels · Shopify stocktake app · SKU and barcode setup for Shopify
FAQ
Common questions
How is a UPC or EAN check digit calculated?
Take the digits before the check digit. Starting from the right, multiply them alternately by 3 and 1, add everything up, and subtract the total from the next multiple of 10. The difference is the check digit. UPC-A, EAN-13 and EAN-8 all use this same rule.
What is the difference between UPC-A, EAN-13 and EAN-8?
UPC-A has 12 digits and is common in the United States and Canada. EAN-13 has 13 digits and is used almost everywhere else. A UPC-A is the same as an EAN-13 with a 0 in front, and the check digit is identical. EAN-8 has 8 digits and is for very small packages.
Why does my spreadsheet show 11 digits instead of 12?
Spreadsheets treat barcodes as numbers and drop leading zeros. A UPC-A starting with 0 then looks like it has 11 digits. We flag this and, if putting the zero back gives a valid code, show you the fixed version. Format the column as text to stop it happening.
Does a valid check digit mean the barcode is registered to me?
No. It only means the digits are internally consistent, so a scanner will not reject a typo. Barcode numbers for products you sell come from GS1, the organisation that issues company prefixes, and marketplaces may check that a code belongs to the brand.
Is anything uploaded?
No. Everything runs in your browser, and the codes you paste are never sent anywhere.
Can I check a long list?
Yes. Paste as many lines as you like, one code per line. The table shows the first 500 results, and the copy button gives you the corrected list for all of them.
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