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📊 Barcode Standards — GTIN Glossary

What Is a GTIN?

GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) is the universal product identifier defined by GS1, the global barcode standards body. It is not a barcode format itself — it is the underlying number. UPC-A, EAN-13, EAN-8, and ITF-14 are all ways of printing a GTIN as a scannable barcode. If you sell on Amazon, in retail stores, or through large e-commerce platforms, you have almost certainly encountered the word GTIN — and this page explains exactly what it means and what you need to do with it.

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GTIN Defined

Full name: Global Trade Item Number (全球贸易项目代码)

Governing body: GS1 — the global standards organization that manages barcode numbering systems in over 150 countries.

Purpose: To uniquely identify a trade item (a product) anywhere in the global supply chain. The same product — regardless of country, retailer, or sales channel — carries the same GTIN. A can of coffee sold at a grocery store in the US and the same can sold in Germany share one GTIN; their barcodes may look different (UPC-A vs EAN-13) but they encode the same number.

Format: GTIN is always a purely numeric string — no letters, no hyphens. The number includes a company prefix (assigned by GS1), an item reference (assigned by the brand), and a check digit calculated from the preceding digits.

The Four GTIN Formats

GTIN is not a single fixed length — it comes in four variants depending on the product type and packaging level. The digit count determines which barcode symbology is used to print it.

Format Digits Barcode Symbology Common Use
GTIN-8 8 EAN-8 Small packages, space-limited items
GTIN-12 12 UPC-A US & Canada retail
GTIN-13 13 EAN-13 Global retail (outside US/Canada)
GTIN-14 14 ITF-14 or GS1-128 Cartons, cases, logistics units

In everyday use, "GTIN" typically refers to GTIN-12 or GTIN-13. When Amazon asks for a GTIN during listing creation, it almost always wants one of these two. GTIN-14 is used on outer cases and shipping cartons, not on individual consumer units.

GTIN vs UPC vs EAN — What's the Difference?

Many sellers treat GTIN, UPC, and EAN-13 as interchangeable terms. They are related but distinct concepts:

  • GTIN is the numeric standard — the number itself (e.g. 012345678901).
  • UPC-A is the barcode format that visually encodes a GTIN-12 as a scannable black-and-white bar pattern.
  • EAN-13 is the barcode format that visually encodes a GTIN-13.

A useful analogy: GTIN is like a phone number — a pure sequence of digits with a defined structure. UPC-A and EAN-13 are like the ways that phone number might appear on a screen or a business card: different visual presentation, same underlying number.

Term What It Is Example
GTIN-12 12-digit numeric standard 012345678901
UPC-A Barcode format for GTIN-12 Printed bar pattern on retail packaging
GTIN-13 13-digit numeric standard 0123456789012
EAN-13 Barcode format for GTIN-13 Printed bar pattern on global retail packaging

Bottom line: you register a GTIN with GS1. You then use a barcode generator to convert that GTIN into a UPC-A or EAN-13 image for printing on your product.

When Do You Need a GTIN?

Not every business situation requires an officially registered GTIN. Here is a practical breakdown:

You need an official GTIN

  • Selling on Amazon, Walmart, Target, or large retail chains
  • Exporting products to international markets
  • Integrating via EDI with retail buyers
  • Listing in Google Shopping feed
  • Any channel that validates barcodes against GS1 database

You may not need one

  • Internal warehouse or inventory tracking (use Code 128 + custom SKU)
  • Selling exclusively on your own website or Shopify store
  • Custom / bespoke / service products
  • Amazon product categories with GTIN exemption
  • Amazon FBA using FNSKU instead of manufacturer barcode

How to Get a GTIN

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Official route — GS1

Register a company prefix at gs1us.org (US pricing starts at approximately $250/year for up to 10 GTINs). GS1 assigns you a prefix; you then assign item references within that prefix to generate as many GTINs as your subscription allows. These numbers are globally unique and accepted by every retailer.

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Amazon GTIN exemption

Certain Amazon product categories and brand-registered sellers may apply for a GTIN exemption and list products without a barcode. The exemption applies only within Amazon and does not give you a universally valid GTIN. Check Seller Central → Add a Product for category-specific guidance.

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Avoid resold barcodes

Third-party sellers on eBay and reseller sites offer "GS1 barcodes" at very low prices. These are recycled or invalid prefixes. Amazon and major retailers cross-reference GS1's database — an unauthorized number will fail listing validation and may result in account suspension.

How to Generate a Barcode from Your GTIN

Once you have obtained a valid GTIN from GS1, generating the barcode image is straightforward. Choose the right format based on your GTIN length:

1

Identify your GTIN length

Count the digits. 12 digits = GTIN-12 (use UPC-A format). 13 digits = GTIN-13 (use EAN-13 format).

2

Paste into Bulk Barcode Generator

Open the tool at bulkbarcodegenerator.pro, paste your GTIN list (one per row or upload a CSV column), and select the matching barcode format.

3

Choose output format

Select PDF for Avery label sheets or PNG for individual barcode images. Adjust label size to meet GS1 minimum dimension requirements.

4

Download and print

Download the ready-to-print file. All processing happens in your browser — your GTIN list never leaves your device.

Have your GTINs ready? Paste them into Bulk Barcode Generator — select UPC-A for GTIN-12 or EAN-13 for GTIN-13 — and download print-ready labels instantly. Free, no signup, no row limit. Your data stays in your browser and is never uploaded to any server.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is GTIN the same as UPC or EAN-13?
Not exactly. GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) is the numbering standard, while UPC-A and EAN-13 are barcode symbologies that encode GTIN numbers visually. A GTIN-12 becomes a UPC-A barcode; a GTIN-13 becomes an EAN-13 barcode. When Amazon or a retailer asks for a "GTIN," they usually mean the 12 or 13-digit number that will be encoded in one of these barcode formats.
How many digits is a GTIN?
GTIN comes in four lengths: GTIN-8 (8 digits, encoded as EAN-8), GTIN-12 (12 digits, encoded as UPC-A), GTIN-13 (13 digits, encoded as EAN-13), and GTIN-14 (14 digits, encoded as ITF-14 or GS1-128). The most common for retail products are GTIN-12 (US market) and GTIN-13 (global market).
Do I need a GTIN to sell on Amazon?
Amazon requires a GTIN (UPC, EAN, or ISBN) for most product listings unless your brand qualifies for a GTIN exemption. Brand-registered sellers and certain product categories may be exempt. For FBA sellers who do not use the manufacturer barcode, an FNSKU label replaces the GTIN on the physical product, but you still need a GTIN to create the listing.
Can I use a barcode generator to create GTIN barcodes?
Yes — once you have a valid GTIN from GS1, you can generate the barcode image using any barcode generator. Enter your GTIN-12 and select UPC-A format, or enter your GTIN-13 and select EAN-13. Bulk Barcode Generator creates print-ready PDF and PNG files from your GTIN list for free, with no row limit and no signup.