UPC or EAN-13 When Selling Globally?

Q&A ProCategory: eCommerceUPC or EAN-13 When Selling Globally?
Mary Rios asked 5 years ago
1 Answers
Dani Avitz Staff answered 5 years ago
EAN13 codes, UPC codes - things can get confusing. But it’s quite simple. If you plan to ship outside of the US and Canada, then you’ll need an EAN. EAN, or European Article Number, is the global standard for product identifiers. Whereas UPC, or Universal Product Code, is standard only in the US and Canada. If you’re selling both globally and in the US and Canada, you’ll need both an EAN and a UPC. So the question of whether you need a UPC or EAN code depends entirely on where you plan to ship your products. The only other difference between these identifiers is length. The UPC is a 12-digit code, and the EAN is usually a 13-digit code. Hence the acronym EAN-13. I do hope this answers your question thoroughly. If you have more questions please feel free to ask - we’re here to help.