How to Get a UPC Barcode for Your Product
To get a UPC barcode, you license a company prefix from GS1 US (or the GS1 office in your country), give each product its own 12-digit number from that prefix, and then turn each number into a barcode image you print on the pack. The number is what stores and marketplaces check; the image is the easy part.
What a UPC is made of
A UPC-A barcode carries a GTIN-12: a company prefix that identifies your business, an item reference you assign to each product, and a final check digit. The prefix comes from GS1; the item references and the check digit are yours to work out.
Step 1: License a GS1 company prefix
In the United States, apply to GS1 US; in other countries, apply to the local GS1 office. The size of the prefix you license decides how many product numbers you can create, so count your products, sizes and colours first. Check GS1's current price list before you buy.
Avoid numbers sold by resellers. Amazon's Seller Central help says it checks product UPCs against the GS1 database and asks sellers to get their UPCs directly from GS1, not from third parties selling UPC licences.
Step 2: Give each product its own number
- Every size, colour and pack count needs its own number.
- Keep a list of which number belongs to which product, and never reuse a number for a different item.
- Record each product in your GS1 account so retailers and marketplaces can match the number to your brand.
Step 3: Add the check digit
The 12th digit is calculated from the first 11. Starting from the right, multiply the digits by 3 and 1 in turn, add them up, and take the amount needed to reach the next multiple of 10. For 03600029145 the check digit is 2, so the full UPC is 036000291452. The check digit calculator does this for a whole list at once.
Step 4: Make the UPC barcode image
Enter the 11 or 12 digits in the UPC generator and download the barcode as SVG for your packaging artwork or PNG for labels. Print it at 80% to 200% of the standard size and keep the blank margins on both sides.
The barcode size guide has the exact measurements for each size.
UPC barcodes for Amazon
Amazon verifies product UPCs against the GS1 database, so the number must be registered to the brand on the product. If the check fails, the listing can be rejected. Some products can apply for a GTIN exemption in Seller Central instead; Amazon lists the conditions on its help pages.
Do you need a UPC at all?
You need a GS1 UPC (or EAN) if you sell through stores, marketplaces or distributors that scan or list products by GTIN. You do not need one for items you only sell yourself, or for internal labels such as stock bins and asset tags; for those, any code in Code 128 works.
See how to make a barcode for internal labels.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a UPC barcode for free?
The barcode image is free to make. The UPC number itself comes from a GS1 licence, which GS1 charges for.
Can I buy a cheap UPC from a reseller?
It is risky. Amazon checks UPCs against the GS1 database and asks sellers to get UPCs directly from GS1.
Do I need a different UPC for each size and colour?
Yes. Each variant that is sold separately needs its own number.
Is a UPC the same as an EAN?
They are both GTINs from GS1. A UPC has 12 digits and an EAN-13 has 13; a UPC with a 0 in front is the same number in EAN-13 form.