What is a UPC barcode?
UPC-A (Universal Product Code) is the 12-digit barcode on almost every product sold in the United States and Canada. Shop tills read it to look up the product's name and price. The 12 digits are a GTIN-12 (Global Trade Item Number), made of a company prefix assigned by GS1, an item reference you choose for each product, and a check digit at the end.
| Digits | 12 (11 data digits + 1 check digit) |
|---|---|
| Characters | Numbers only |
| Standard size (100%) | 37.29 mm × 25.91 mm (about 1.47" × 1.02") including the numbers |
| Allowed sizes | 80% to 200% of standard (bar width 0.264 mm to 0.66 mm) |
| Quiet zone | 9 bar widths of blank space on each side |
| Used in | US and Canadian retail, Amazon, Walmart, Google Shopping |
How to make a UPC barcode
- Type the first 11 digits of your UPC. Leave off the last digit; we calculate it. If you enter all 12, we check that the last digit is correct.
- Leave the bar width on Standard (0.33 mm) for normal packaging. Go down to 0.264 mm (80%) only if space is tight, or up for cartons scanned from further away.
- Download a PNG at 300 DPI for labels and documents, or SVG/PDF for packaging artwork.
- Print one copy at 100% scale and test it with a scanner before printing in bulk.
Where do UPC numbers come from?
UPC numbers are issued by GS1 US. You can license a single number (a single GTIN) or a company prefix that gives you a block of 10, 100 or more. The prefix becomes the start of every UPC you make, and GS1 lists it under your company name in its database.
Amazon, Walmart and Google check product numbers against that database. A UPC licensed to another company, or recycled from an old prefix, can get your listing blocked or attached to someone else's product. You can check who a number belongs to with GS1's free Verified by GS1 lookup.
UPC-A or EAN-13?
A UPC-A is really an EAN-13 with a leading zero. Scanners worldwide read both, so a UPC works on products sold abroad, and modern US tills read EAN-13. Use whichever GS1 issued you: GS1 US issues UPCs, while GS1 organisations elsewhere issue EAN-13s. More in UPC vs EAN.
The first digit
The first digit of a UPC-A is the number system character. 0, 1, 6, 7 and 8 are for ordinary products; 2 is for variable-weight items like meat and deli goods priced in-store; 3 is reserved for medicines (National Drug Code); 4 is free for a shop's internal use; 5 and 9 are for coupons.
