The standard size for both EAN-13 and UPC-A barcodes for retail consumer goods is 25.93mm x 37.29mm (100% magnification, SC0). These dimensions are optimal for retail scanning environments, ensuring better scan reliability. This includes the necessary quiet zones on either side of the barcode: a 3.63mm left quiet zone and a 2.31mm right quiet zone. Quiet zones are critical for scanner functionality as they help the scanner detect the start and end of the barcode. Barcodes without quiet zones cannot be scanned.
Barcode Sizes & Re-sizing
Barcode Savers Hong Kong supplies EAN-13 and UPC-A barcodes at 100% magnification in three digital formats (EPS, JPEG, and TIFF). GS1 guidelines recommend barcodes be printed within an 80% – 200% magnification range. If possible, we advise printing within this range for optimal performance. However, barcodes can be resized to fit packaging space constraints while keeping these important points in mind:
- Barcodes under 80% magnification may not pass barcode verification reports required by some large retailers.
- Barcodes that are too small, or have low print resolution, may fail to scan properly.
- EPS images offer the most flexibility for resizing without compromising quality.
To resize barcodes, you can use photo editing software like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. Simply select and scale the barcode to the desired size (e.g., 80% or 82% to account for minor print errors). The 2450 DPI EPS file is the best option for resizing, as it maintains high quality.
Truncation
Truncation refers to resizing a barcode by removing a portion from the top, making the barcode more rectangular. This method is preferred over resizing by dragging the edges, which can distort barcode proportions. Some products, such as pens or pencils, may have truncated barcodes, but these may not pass barcode verification, even though they can still be scanned at POS.
Magnification Table
| Magnification | Bar Width (mm) | Bar Height (mm) | L Quiet Zone (mm) | R Quiet Zone (mm) |
| 80% (SC0) | 20.08 | 18.28 | 2.90 | 1.85 |
| 85% | 26.65 | 19.42 | 3.09 | 1.96 |
| 90% (SC1) | 28.22 | 20.57 | 3.27 | 2.08 |
| 95% | 29.78 | 21.71 | 3.45 | 2.19 |
| 100% (SC2) | 31.35 | 22.85 | 3.63 | 2.31 |
| 105% | 32.92 | 23.99 | 3.81 | 2.43 |
| 110% (SC3) | 34.49 | 25.14 | 3.99 | 2.54 |
| 115% | 36.05 | 26.28 | 4.17 | 2.66 |
| 120% (SC4) | 37.62 | 27.42 | 4.36 | 2.77 |
| 125% | 39.19 | 28.56 | 4.54 | 2.89 |
| 130% | 40.76 | 29.71 | 4.72 | 3.00 |
| 135% (SC5) | 42.32 | 30.85 | 4.90 | 3.12 |
| 140% | 43.89 | 31.99 | 5.08 | 3.23 |
| 145% | 45.46 | 33.13 | 5.26 | 3.35 |
| 150% (SC6) | 47.03 | 34.28 | 5.45 | 3.47 |
| 155 | 48.59 | 35.42 | 5.63 | 3.58 |
| 160% | 50.16 | 36.56 | 5.81 | 3.70 |
| 165% (SC7) | 51.73 | 37.70 | 5.99 | 3.81 |
| 170% | 53.30 | 38.85 | 6.17 | 3.93 |
| 175% | 54.86 | 39.99 | 6.35 | 4.04 |
| 180% | 56.43 | 41.13 | 6.53 | 4.16 |
| 185% (SC8) | 58.00 | 42.27 | 6.72 | 4.27 |
| 190% | 59.57 | 43.42 | 6.90 | 4.39 |
| 195% | 61.13 | 44.56 | 7.08 | 4.50 |
| 200% (SC9) | 62.70 | 45.70 | 7.26 | 4.62 |
If you’re unsure about barcode resizing or truncation, contact us at contact@barcodesavers.hk for assistance.