Where Is EAN-8 Used? Locations, Packaging, and Systems

Where do you find EAN-8 barcodes?

EAN-8 barcodes appear on physical products and packaging where space is limited for a full-size barcode. Typical places include small cosmetics, single-serve food packets, confectionery, small electronics accessories, and components where the surface area cannot accommodate an EAN-13 or UPC-A barcode. You’ll also encounter EAN-8 codes in software systems—point-of-sale (POS), inventory management, and product catalogs—where they represent the product identifier tied to pricing and stock data.

Common physical locations

• Primary packaging: EAN-8 is often printed directly on the product or its primary packaging (for example, a lipstick tube, travel-size toiletry, or small candy wrapper).
• Secondary packaging: In some cases, EAN-8 appears on secondary packaging like a small box or blister pack when that outer surface has limited printable area.
• Labels and tags: Small adhesive labels or tags attached to the product or hang tags in specialty retail can carry EAN-8 when space is tight.

Where in the supply chain

• Retail shelves and checkout: EAN-8 is read at store checkouts and used to match items to prices in the POS database.
• Warehouses and receiving: Warehouse teams scan EAN-8 during receiving, inventory counts, and picking when individual small items are handled or tracked.
• Distribution centers and cross-docking: In fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) distribution, EAN-8 enables quick identification of small SKU-level units without requiring inner packaging changes.

Where EAN-8 is appropriate vs where it isn’t

• Appropriate: Use EAN-8 for items with extremely limited labeling space where readability at point-of-sale is essential and the product range is small enough to manage with short codes.
• Not appropriate: Avoid EAN-8 for large product portfolios or where global product data synchronization is needed at scale—EAN-13 or GTIN-13 is preferred because it supports extensive numbering schemes and broader interoperability.

Where to get EAN-8 numbers

• GS1 member organizations: EAN-8 numbers are assigned by GS1 or its national affiliates. Manufacturers or brand owners should contact their local GS1 office to apply for EAN-8 allocation or to receive guidance on alternatives.
• Resellers and third parties: Some third-party vendors offer short-code solutions, but you should validate that codes come from a reputable GS1 source to avoid conflicts and ensure global uniqueness.

Where EAN-8 integrates with systems

• Point-of-sale systems: Retail POS terminals and scanners are typically configured to accept EAN-8 and map it to the store’s item master database.
• Inventory and WMS: Warehouse management systems and inventory software accept EAN-8 just as any GTIN; ensure your item master allows eight-digit GTIN entries and that integration mapping is correct.
• eCommerce and product catalogs: Online product listings and marketplaces usually prefer GTIN-13 or GTIN-14, but EAN-8 can appear in product metadata for relevant small items. Check marketplace policies before relying solely on EAN-8 for online listings.

Geographic considerations: where is EAN-8 used globally?

• Worldwide standard: EAN-8 is part of the GS1 system and is valid globally. Retailers and scanners around the world recognize EAN-8, though local GS1 offices manage allocations.
• Regional naming: In North America, UPC variants are more common; UPC-E (a compressed UPC) is sometimes used instead of EAN-8 for similar compact applications. However, modern scanners are generally backward-compatible and will read EAN-8 alongside UPC variants.

Placement and printing best practices (where on the pack)

• Place the code on a relatively flat area of the package to avoid distortion.
• Maintain required quiet zones and avoid printing over seams or near edges.
• Use high-contrast colors (black on white or dark on light) and ensure sufficient print resolution for the small symbol.

Real-world example

Imagine a boutique cosmetics brand producing a mini lipstick in a 2 cm-wide tube. There’s no room for a full EAN-13, so the brand obtains an EAN-8 for that SKU and prints it vertically on the tube’s base with a small quiet zone. At checkout, the scanner reads the EAN-8, the POS retrieves the correct item and price, and inventory is updated automatically—smoothly integrating that tiny item into the retailer’s systems.

Summary



EAN-8 is used wherever small size demands a compact barcode: on primary and secondary packaging, labels, and tags for small consumer goods. It integrates cleanly into retail, warehouse, and catalog systems when allocated and printed correctly. If you’re deciding where to use EAN-8, consult your local GS1 office and test print and scan in the environments where the product will be sold and handled.