What is a UPC-A barcode?

UPC-A (Universal Product Code version A) is a 12-digit barcode standard used primarily in the US and Canada for retail product identification. It consists of a 1-digit number system character, a 5-digit company prefix assigned by GS1 US, a 5-digit product reference assigned by the brand, and a 1-digit check digit calculated automatically. Almost every consumer product sold in North American retail stores carries a UPC-A barcode.

What is the difference between UPC-A and UPC-E?

UPC-A is the standard 12-digit version used on most products. UPC-E is a compressed 8-digit version designed for small packages where there is not enough space for a full UPC-A barcode. UPC-E is derived from UPC-A by removing certain zeros; a scanner reads UPC-E and converts it back to the full UPC-A number. UPC-E is only used when package space is extremely limited.

Is UPC-A the same as EAN-13?

They are closely related. UPC-A encodes a 12-digit GTIN-12, while EAN-13 encodes a 13-digit GTIN-13. A UPC-A number becomes a valid EAN-13 by adding a leading zero (for example, UPC-A 012345678905 becomes EAN-13 0012345678905). Since 2005, all US point-of-sale systems are required to scan both UPC-A and EAN-13, so for most purposes they are interchangeable in the US market.

Can I generate UPC-A barcodes without GS1 registration?

You can generate the barcode image from any 12-digit number without GS1 registration — the image itself is just a visual representation of a number. However, to sell through retailers or on Amazon, the UPC-A number must be GS1-registered to your brand. Using unregistered numbers (often sold on eBay as 'cheap UPCs') risks having your listings rejected. For internal inventory use only, Code 128 with your own SKU system is a free alternative that requires no registration.

📊 Barcode Standards — UPC-A Glossary

What Is UPC-A?

UPC-A (Universal Product Code version A) is the foundational barcode format of the North American retail system. Almost every product sold in US and Canadian supermarkets, convenience stores, and big-box retailers carries one. Its 12-digit number is managed by GS1, making it both the predecessor and a subset of EAN-13. If your product is headed for North American retail channels or the Amazon US marketplace, UPC-A is your starting point.

Generate UPC-A Barcodes Free →

12-digit US standard GS1-compatible Retail-ready Free generator

UPC-A Defined

Full name: Universal Product Code version A
Governing body: GS1 (formerly the Uniform Code Council)
Digits: 12 digits total, including 1 check digit
Type: Linear (one-dimensional) barcode
Standard: ISO/IEC 15420 (shared with EAN-13)
Year introduced: 1974 — UPC-A was used in the world’s first commercial barcode scan, on a pack of Wrigley’s gum in an Ohio supermarket

UPC-A is the default retail barcode for the United States and Canada. It is now also a fully supported subset of the global EAN-13 standard, meaning a UPC-A barcode can be read by any EAN-13-capable scanner worldwide.

How a UPC-A Number Is Structured

Every UPC-A number follows a strict four-part structure. Here is how the example 012345678905 breaks down:

Digits	Position	Meaning	Example
Digit 1	Number System Character	0 = regular product; 2 = variable weight; 3 = pharmaceutical; 5 = coupon	0
Digits 2–6	Company Prefix	Assigned by GS1 US to the brand or manufacturer	12345
Digits 7–11	Product Reference	Assigned by the company for each individual product or variant	67890
Digit 12	Check Digit	Calculated automatically using the Modulo 10 algorithm	5

Number System Character values: Most everyday consumer goods use 0 (or 6, 7, 8, 9 for other regular products). Digit 2 is used for items sold by weight (deli, produce). Digit 3 is reserved for pharmaceuticals and health products. Digit 5 marks coupons. Digits 1 and 4 are reserved. When in doubt, your GS1-assigned company prefix determines which digit applies to your registration.

UPC-A vs EAN-13

UPC-A and EAN-13 are the two most common retail barcode formats globally. They share the same ISO standard (ISO/IEC 15420) and are mathematically related — a UPC-A number is simply an EAN-13 with the leading zero dropped.

	UPC-A	EAN-13
Digits	12	13
Geographical scope	US & Canada primarily	Global
US retail acceptance	✓ Universal	✓ (since 2005)
Amazon	✓ Accepted	✓ Accepted
GTIN type	GTIN-12	GTIN-13
Relationship	UPC-A = EAN-13 with leading “0” stripped	Prepend “0” to UPC-A → valid EAN-13
Best for	US-only brands with existing UPC system	New brands, international or global sales

If you already have a UPC-A number, prepend a single 0 and you instantly have a valid EAN-13 — no new GS1 registration required. Most new brands starting from scratch today register directly for EAN-13, since it is globally accepted and future-proofs their barcode strategy across all markets.

When to Use UPC-A

UPC-A is not required for every product. Here is a practical guide to when it makes sense and when it does not:

✅

Use UPC-A when…

You already have a GS1 US company prefix from a historical registration
Your product is sold exclusively in the US or Canadian retail market
A specific retailer (such as certain Walmart or Target departments) explicitly requires UPC-A
Label space is very limited — UPC-A is one digit shorter than EAN-13, so the barcode prints slightly narrower

❌

UPC-A is not necessary when…

You are a new brand registering from scratch — go straight to EAN-13 for broader coverage
You are listing on Amazon — Amazon accepts both UPC and EAN equally
You are selling outside North America — EAN-13 has wider international acceptance

How to Get a UPC-A Number

UPC-A numbers are issued through GS1 US (gs1us.org). The process works as follows: GS1 US assigns your company a 6-digit company prefix, starting at approximately $250/year for a capacity of 10 GTINs. You then assign the next 5 digits yourself for each product or variant. The 12th digit (the check digit) is calculated automatically by any barcode generator.

Registration body GS1 US — gs1us.org

Starting cost Approximately $250/year (includes 10 GTINs with a 6-digit prefix)

What you receive A unique company prefix; you self-assign the remaining product digits up to your capacity

Check digit Computed automatically by any compliant barcode generator — no manual calculation needed

Warning: do not buy “second-hand UPCs.” Amazon and major retailers cross-check all barcodes against the GS1 database. Barcodes not registered under your company’s prefix — commonly sold cheaply on eBay or via third-party resellers — can result in listing rejection, ASIN suppression, or account suspension. Always obtain your UPC-A numbers directly through GS1 US.

How to Generate UPC-A Barcodes

Once you have your GS1-issued company prefix and have assigned product reference numbers, generating print-ready UPC-A barcodes takes seconds:

Single barcode

Open the generator, select UPC-A as the symbology, enter your 11 digits (the tool auto-calculates the 12th check digit) or the complete 12 digits, then download as PNG or PDF.

Bulk from CSV

Prepare a CSV with one UPC-A number per row. Upload it, select UPC-A, then download a ZIP of individual PNGs or a multi-page label PDF ready for Avery sheets or a thermal label printer.

Print

Open the PDF in your printer dialog, choose your label stock (Avery 5160, 4×6 thermal, or any standard sheet), and print. Barcodes are automatically sized to GS1 specifications — no manual scaling needed.

Have your UPC-A numbers ready? Paste them into Bulk Barcode Generator, select UPC-A, and download retail-ready PDF labels in seconds. Free, no signup, no row limit — all processing happens locally in your browser, so your product data never leaves your device.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a UPC-A barcode?: UPC-A (Universal Product Code version A) is a 12-digit barcode standard used primarily in the US and Canada for retail product identification. It consists of a 1-digit number system character, a 5-digit company prefix assigned by GS1 US, a 5-digit product reference assigned by the brand, and a 1-digit check digit calculated automatically. Almost every consumer product sold in North American retail stores carries a UPC-A barcode.
What is the difference between UPC-A and UPC-E?: UPC-A is the standard 12-digit version used on most products. UPC-E is a compressed 8-digit version designed for small packages where there is not enough space for a full UPC-A barcode. UPC-E is derived from UPC-A by removing certain zeros; a scanner reads UPC-E and converts it back to the full UPC-A number. UPC-E is only used when package space is extremely limited.
Is UPC-A the same as EAN-13?: They are closely related. UPC-A encodes a 12-digit GTIN-12, while EAN-13 encodes a 13-digit GTIN-13. A UPC-A number becomes a valid EAN-13 by adding a leading zero — for example, UPC-A 012345678905 becomes EAN-13 0012345678905. Since 2005, all US point-of-sale systems are required to scan both UPC-A and EAN-13, so for most purposes they are interchangeable in the US market.
Can I generate UPC-A barcodes without GS1 registration?: You can generate the barcode image from any 12-digit number without GS1 registration — the image itself is just a visual representation of a number. However, to sell through retailers or on Amazon, the UPC-A number must be GS1-registered to your brand. Using unregistered numbers (often sold on eBay as “cheap UPCs”) risks having your listings rejected. For internal inventory use only, Code 128 with your own SKU system is a free alternative that requires no registration.