What EAN-5 is
EAN-5 is a 5-digit add-on symbol printed alongside a primary EAN-13, UPC-A, or ISBN barcode to carry a supplementary price or weight indicator -- it is a companion symbol, not a standalone retail barcode.
Generate it now
Enter your 5-digit add-on value to see a live preview.
Valid input
The value must be exactly 5 digits; bwip-js rejects any other length ("EAN-5 add-on must be 5 digits") and rejects a non-digit character.
Key options
Supported options include includetext (show the 5 digits as human-readable text above the bars) and guardwhitespace.
Output and printing
Export SVG or PNG and place the add-on symbol to the right of its primary EAN-13/UPC-A/ISBN barcode, per that symbol's own add-on placement convention.
Common uses
EAN-5 is most commonly used for book pricing (alongside an ISBN barcode) and magazine/periodical issue or price data, always as a supplement to a primary barcode rather than on its own.
Example
See the live preview above, seeded with a bwip-js-verified valid 5-digit value.
Size guidance
bwip-js's own real default bar height, when height is left unset, is 0.7 inch (about 17.8mm).
Troubleshooting
A rejected value is almost always the wrong digit count -- EAN-5 accepts exactly 5 digits, no more and no fewer.
Related formats
Related formats: EAN-13 and ISBN (the primary barcodes EAN-5 commonly supplements) and EAN-2 (a shorter 2-digit add-on for periodical issue numbers).
FAQ
Can I use EAN-5 as a standalone barcode?
You can generate and scan the symbol on its own, but EAN-5 is designed as a supplementary add-on meant to be printed and read alongside a primary EAN-13, UPC-A, or ISBN barcode -- it does not carry a complete product identifier by itself.