What is UPC-A?

UPC-A is the standard retail barcode for North America. It has 12 digits: the first 6-10 are your GS1 company prefix, the rest identify your specific product, and the last digit is a check digit. Walmart, Target, and Amazon FBA all scan UPC-A at receiving. Without a valid GS1 prefix, your barcode will not scan at major retailers. The nominal size is 37.3mm by 26mm, but you can scale from 80% to 200%.

FAQ

Do I need a GS1 company prefix?

Yes. You cannot make up your own UPC-A numbers. Buy a GS1 company prefix, then assign product numbers within that range.

Can I use this barcode on Amazon FBA?

Yes. Amazon requires GS1-issued UPC-A barcodes for FBA units. Print clearly with adequate quiet zone — the #1 reason for receiving rejects is cropped quiet zones.

Is UPC-A the same as EAN-13?

They are close cousins. A UPC-A is essentially an EAN-13 with a leading zero. If your product ships internationally, use EAN-13 instead.

Need other barcode formats? Use the full barcode generator →