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Why Is the EAN-13 Check Digit Incorrect?

Route: FAQ - [ Why Is the EAN-13 Check Digit Incorrect? ]

You may actually need to generate an ITF-14 barcode instead of an EAN-13 barcode.

Adding a 1-digit Packaging Indicator in front of the EAN-13 barcode number converts it into an ITF-14 barcode. EAN-13 barcodes are affixed to the surface of individual products, while ITF-14 barcodes are used for the outer packaging of those products. However, despite their similarity, EAN-13 and ITF-14 barcodes have different check digits.


Example

Suppose the EAN-13 barcode number for a product is [ 6900000000007 ], with a check digit of 7. To facilitate transportation, the product is packed in a box that requires an ITF-14 barcode. Adding a 1-digit packaging indicator (e.g., "1") in front of the EAN-13 number gives the ITF-14 barcode [ 16900000000004 ], whose check digit is 4. The check digits of the two barcodes are distinct.

To learn more about the relationship between EAN-13 and ITF-14, click [Adding a 1-Digit Packaging Indicator to EAN-13 Converts It to ITF-14].


Why Is the EAN-13 Check Digit Incorrect?

As analyzed above, the numbers of EAN-13 and ITF-14 barcodes are similar, which often leads to incorrect type selection. For example, if you intend to generate an ITF-14 barcode but mistakenly select the EAN-13 type, the generated check digit will be incorrect.

DoingLabel Reminder: If a 1-digit packaging indicator is added before the EAN-13 number, you must select the ITF-14 type to generate the barcode.

To learn about the check digit calculation process, click [How to Calculate the EAN-13 Barcode Check Digit].


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