Manufacturer · Fashion Accessories
The barcode used on clothing labels is usually EAN-13 – a 13-digit number unique to each combination of style, colour and size, printed as black bars on a light background. It is placed on the back of the cardboard hang tag, most often at the bottom, with quiet zones on both sides. The numbers are obtained from the GS1 organisation in the relevant country, and the barcode is generated from them and printed at a scale that scanners read reliably.
What EAN-13 is and where to get it
EAN-13 is the international barcode standard for retail goods. The number consists of:
- a company prefix, assigned by GS1 on membership;
- an item number, which the company determines itself;
- a check digit, calculated from the preceding 12 digits.
To sell through retail chains and many online platforms, the numbers must be registered to your company through GS1. Randomly generated numbers can coincide with other products and cause problems at the till. Internal codes for your own shop can be in another format, such as Code 128, but for external trade the standard is EAN-13.
One barcode for each variant
Each size and each colour of a style is a separate item and has a separate barcode. A shirt in 3 colours and 5 sizes needs 15 different barcodes. That is why, when ordering hang tags, a table is prepared in which each row is one variant with its number and the quantity of tags.
| Style | Colour | Size | EAN-13 | Number of tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shirt 101 | white | S | number from GS1 | as per order |
| Shirt 101 | white | M | number from GS1 | as per order |
| Shirt 101 | blue | S | number from GS1 | as per order |
Barcode on a label: size, colour and quiet zones
Size
The standard allows EAN-13 to be scaled within certain limits around the nominal size, at which the symbol is about 37 mm wide and about 26 mm high including the digits. Reducing it below the recommended minimum lowers scanning reliability. On a hang tag the barcode is usually placed close to the nominal size. Do not shorten the bar height to save space – this also makes scanning harder.
Colour
- Black on white is the most reliable.
- Dark blue or dark green on white can also be read.
- Red, yellow and orange bars cannot be read by most scanners, which use red light.
- On kraft, grey or coloured board, place a white panel under the barcode.
- Do not make the barcode in foil or varnish – the reflection interferes with the scanner.
Quiet zones
On both sides of the barcode there must be an empty light area with no text or graphics. For EAN-13 at nominal size this is a few millimetres on the left and slightly less on the right. If graphics or the edge of the tag encroach on this zone, the scanner cannot recognise the start and end of the code.
Where to place the barcode on a hang tag
- On the back, at the bottom – there it does not interfere with the design and is easily accessible at the till.
- Horizontally, parallel to the longer side, if the tag is wide, or vertically on very narrow tags.
- Away from the hole, folds, embossing and the edge.
- Not on the price field, if a sticker will be applied there.
If the tag has a shaped outline, check that the barcode fits within the rectangular inner area. You will find more shape options among our hang tags.
Barcode on the hang tag or the sewn-in label
The hang tag is the main place for the barcode, because it is scanned at the till. Some brands also put the barcode on a sewn-in label in the seam – so the item can be identified even after the hang tag is removed, for example on returns. This is usually the care label, which carries material and care data anyway. See our care and composition labels if you are looking for this solution.
How to prepare barcodes for printing
- Export the numbers from your stock system into a table – no manual copying.
- Check the check digit of each number.
- Generate the barcodes as vector objects or leave generation to the printer via variable data.
- Print a test sheet at actual size and scan each type with an ordinary handheld scanner or an app.
- Compare the scanned number with the text under the barcode and with the size and colour on the tag.
Barcode and QR code on one label
A QR code does not replace EAN-13 at the till, but it can sit next to it and link to a product page, a video or material information. Separate the two codes clearly so the wrong one is not scanned. If space is tight, put the QR code on the front or on a separate tag.
Organising tags in production
When each size and colour has its own tag, the risk of mix-ups is real. Ask for the tags to be packed by variant – a separate bundle or envelope for each barcode, marked with style, colour and size. Attach the tags in the same sequence in which the garments are sewn and sorted, and spot-check the scanned number against the sewn-in size label.
Common mistakes
- A reduced barcode that the till does not read first time.
- A barcode on a dark background or in a light colour.
- Mixed-up tags – a size M barcode attached to a size L.
- Unregistered numbers that coincide with other products.
Barcode labels from Polkom
Polkom, a label manufacturer, produces custom hang tags with printed barcodes and other variable data – size, colour, price – from your table. We will check the file and send a sample before the run. Minimum quantities depend on the article. Send an inquiry with your design and item list.
