An EAN-13 is 13 digits in three parts. The first part is the Global Company Prefix, which is the country code (890 for GS1 India) plus your company prefix [1]. Next comes the item reference you assign to each product or SKU [1]. The last digit is a check digit, which one independent guide says is calculated from the other 12 [4].
Buyer guide
How an EAN-13 number is built: prefix, item reference and check digit
An EAN-13 looks like a random run of digits, but every digit has a job. This guide breaks the number into its three parts, explains the 890 start used in India, and shows how the last digit is calculated.
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Short answer
The short answer
The three parts of an EAN-13, and what 890 means
GS1 India splits the number into three parts [1]:
- Global Company Prefix (GCP): the country code plus the company prefix [1].
- Item reference (GS1 India's product code): a number your company generates to identify each product or SKU [1].
- Check digit: one calculated digit that confirms the number is composed correctly [1].
GS1 India states that 890 is the country code it was assigned and that Indian-made products carry a prefix starting 890 [1]. The check digit is calculated, not chosen [4]. For licensing, marketplaces and the wider GTIN picture, see our pillar guide, GS1 barcodes for products sold in India.
How prefix and item reference share 12 digits
GS1 India says shorter company codes allow more digits in the product code, and the reverse [1]. Ask GS1 India for the lengths that apply to your 890 licence.
As an example from another GS1 member, GS1 Sweden gives a company prefix of 6 to 9 digits, depending on the size of the number series, and a serial number (its term for the item reference) of 3 to 6 digits, depending on the length of the company prefix [2]. This is GS1 Sweden's scheme, not a GS1 India rule.
Each product/SKU has a different product code [1]. If you manage two frame sizes as separate SKUs, each needs its own item reference. GS1 Sweden suggests numbering sequentially, with the first item ending 001, the second 002, and so on [2]. Keep a register of which number belongs to which SKU, for example one line per frame size, and settle the list before packaging artwork is final. See private-label packaging and inserts for what else goes on the pack, and barcode size, quiet zone and placement on frame packaging for symbol size.
| Part | What it is | Named on this page |
|---|---|---|
| Global Company Prefix (GCP) | The country code plus the company prefix; 890 is the code assigned to GS1 India | GS1 India |
| Item reference | A number your company generates for each product or SKU | GS1 India |
| Check digit | One calculated digit, the last, that confirms the number is composed correctly | GS1 India; calculation from a walk-through that follows the GS1 General Specifications |
How the check digit is calculated
GS1 Sweden describes the check digit as the last digit of a barcode number, which ensures the barcode is correctly composed [3]. It is worked out from the other 12 digits [4]. One published walk-through, which says it follows the GS1 General Specifications and is a weaker reference than GS1 itself, gives these steps [4]:
- Take the first 12 digits. Starting from the rightmost, multiply the digits alternately by 3 and 1, so the twelfth digit gets 3 and the first gets 1 [4].
- Add the 12 results [4].
- Subtract that sum from the nearest multiple of ten that is equal to or higher than it. The answer, from 0 to 9, is the check digit, so a sum that is already a multiple of ten gives a check digit of 0 [4].
Example. The same guide works through 952012345678. The weighted products are 9, 15, 2, 0, 1, 6, 3, 12, 5, 18, 7 and 24, which add up to 102. The nearest multiple of ten at or above 102 is 110, and 110 minus 102 is 8, so the full number is 9520123456788 [4]. In that number, 952012345678 is the 12 data digits and the final 8 is the check digit. The guide says GS1 reserves the 952 prefix for demonstrations and examples, so this number is not assigned to a real product and is not an ArtzFolio or GS1 India number [4]. The split inside the 12 data digits between company prefix and item reference depends on the licence, so it is not shown.
Do not rely on hand arithmetic for a live range. Run every number through a check-digit calculator before artwork goes to print. GS1 Sweden links to a calculator on its GTIN-13 page [2]. Check the method against the current GS1 General Specifications before relying on it.
How this applies when you work with us
ArtzFolio is a private-label manufacturer with its factory and working office in Noida, serving businesses and brands only. If your range needs EAN-13 numbers on packaging, mention it in your enquiry. Our quote confirms price, minimum order and lead time. Samples are paid, and the cost may be reimbursed or adjusted by agreement. Payment is 50% advance, with the balance as agreed, and our shipping term is EXW Noida. We aim to reply within 1 business day. See pricing, minimums and lead times or contact us.
Further reading
Further reading
- EAN-13: the barcode number, GS1 India. gs1india.org
- GTIN-13, GS1 Sweden. gs1.se
- Check digit calculator, GS1 Sweden. gs1.se
- How Check Digits Work: GS1 Mod-10 Worked Examples, PlainBarcode (independent guide, weaker reference). plainbarcode.com
FAQ
Questions buyers ask
How many digits does an EAN-13 have?
13: 12 data digits and one check digit [1].
What does the 890 at the start of an Indian barcode mean?
It is the country code GS1 assigned to GS1 India [1].
How long is the item reference?
GS1 India says it depends on the length of your company code: shorter codes leave more digits for the item reference [1]. Ask GS1 India for the exact lengths on an 890 licence. As an example from another GS1 member, GS1 Sweden uses a 6 to 9 digit company prefix and a 3 to 6 digit serial number [2].
Can I choose my own check digit?
No. It is calculated from the other 12 digits [4].
Do I need a new number for each product variant?
If a variant is managed as a separate SKU, yes: each SKU has its own product code [1].
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