GTIN, the generic term
GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) is the generic term defined by GS1 to refer to a product identifiertout. EAN, UPC and ISBN are specific types of GTIN. This is the term you will see on Amazon.co.uk, eBay, Etsy.
The 4 official GTIN formats
- GTIN-8 (EAN-8) — 8 digits. For small packages where an EAN-13 code won’t fit.
- GTIN-12 (UPC-A) — 12 digits. The traditional format used in the US and Canada.
- GTIN-13 (EAN-13) — 13 digits. The European and international standard, and the most widely used.
- GTIN-14 (ITF-14) — 14 digits. Logistics code for boxes, pallets and groups of items.
EAN-13 vs UPC-A: compatibility
Good news: since 2005, l'EAN-13 et l'UPC-A sont totalement interopérables. A 12-digit UPC-A is actually an EAN-13 with a leading zero. You can sell a product with an EAN-13 in France and the United States without making any changes.
Special cases
- ISBN (books): an EAN-13 code beginning with 978 or 979.
- ISSN (press): an EAN-13 starting with 977.
- QR Code GS1 : encodes a GTIN into a 2D QR code, used in pharmacies and logistics.
Which format should I choose?
In 95% of cases (e-commerce, marketplaces, retail), the EAN-13 is the right solution. It is universally accepted, readable by all scanners worldwide and compatible with UPC. See our article on structure d'un EAN-13.