EAN-8 Barcode Scanner

Scan EAN-8 barcodes — the 8-digit codes printed on small retail packages — free in your browser. Use your camera for instant live scanning or upload a barcode image; no signup required and everything stays private on your device.

EAN-8 / UPC Barcode Scanner

Scan retail barcodes instantly — camera or image. Free, private, no signup.

Point at the barcode — EAN-8, EAN-8, UPC-A & UPC-E are detected automatically.

🔒 100% private — camera frames and images never leave this browser. No uploads, no tracking.

How to scan an EAN-8 barcode

  1. Allow camera access when your browser asks, or switch to the Upload image tab to scan a saved photo instead.
  2. Point your camera at the EAN-8 barcode, keeping the code sharp, flat, and well lit inside the frame.
  3. The decoded 8-digit number appears instantly — copy it, or look it up on Google and Open Food Facts with one click.

Where EAN-8 barcodes are used

EAN-8 is the compact sibling of EAN-13: an 8-digit GTIN printed on small packages where a full-size EAN-13 barcode won’t fit — think chewing gum, cosmetics samples, and single-serve snacks. For other retail formats, try our UPC-A barcode scanner or the general barcode scanner.

What Is an EAN-8 Barcode?

EAN-8 is the short form of the EAN barcode family: 8 digits instead of 13. It encodes a 7-digit product code plus a check digit, using the same Mod-10 checksum as EAN-13. You’ll find EAN-8 on small retail items — chewing gum, lip balm, single-serve snacks — where a full-size EAN-13 simply won’t fit.

Our free EAN-8 barcode scanner online reads these compact codes through your camera or from an uploaded photo, with no app and no signup.

EAN-8 vs EAN-13: When Is the Short Code Used?

EAN-13 is the default for almost all retail products worldwide. EAN-8 is reserved for small packaging where space is tight. The two are fully compatible: any scanner that reads EAN-13 also reads EAN-8, and our tool decodes both automatically.

If you scan a tiny product and get 8 digits, that’s EAN-8. For standard packaging, expect the 13-digit EAN-13.

How to Scan an EAN-8 Barcode

Because EAN-8 bars are printed small, hold the package 10–15 cm from your camera and make sure the code is flat and well lit. The 8-digit number appears instantly as copyable text — handy to check a product’s price by scanning its barcode. For smudged or curved packaging, uploading a sharp photo works better than a live scan. Everything runs locally in your browser — nothing is uploaded.

What Is an EAN-8 Barcode?

EAN-8 is the short version of EAN-13: 8 digits instead of 13, designed for small packages where a full-size barcode won’t fit — chewing gum, lipstick, batteries. It carries a GS1 country prefix, a short product code, and a check digit, just like its bigger sibling.

Our free EAN-8 barcode scanner reads these small codes through your camera or from an uploaded photo.

EAN-8 vs EAN-13

Same system, different size. EAN-13 holds 13 digits for the full global product catalog; EAN-8 holds 8 for products with limited packaging space. EAN-8 codes are only issued when EAN-13 genuinely won’t fit — they’re not interchangeable, and a product carries one or the other.

Scanning works the same for both: our EAN-13 scanner page handles full-size codes, this page is optimized for the compact EAN-8 format.

EAN-8 Barcode Example

A typical EAN-8 looks like 96385074: the first 2–3 digits are the GS1 prefix (country of registration), the middle digits identify the product, and the last digit is the check digit validating the whole number. When you scan with our tool, the check digit is verified automatically — a valid result means the code is structurally correct.

Frequently asked questions

What is an EAN-8 barcode?

EAN-8 is the compact 8-digit version of the EAN barcode standard (a GTIN-8). It encodes a 7-digit product code plus a check digit and is used mainly on very small retail packages where a full-size EAN-13 symbol won’t fit.

How do I scan an EAN-8 barcode online?

Open this page and allow camera access, then point your camera at the barcode — EAN-8 codes are detected automatically. You can also upload a photo of the barcode using the Upload image tab.

Is this EAN-8 scanner free? Do I need an account?

Yes — it’s completely free and no signup is needed. All scanning happens inside your browser, so your camera frames and images never leave your device.

What’s the difference between EAN-8 and EAN-13?

EAN-8 holds 8 digits and is meant for small packaging, while EAN-13 holds 13 digits and is the standard retail barcode worldwide. If your package shows a longer code, use our EAN-13 barcode scanner instead.