To get UPC codes for products, license GTINs through GS1, assign one per SKU, then generate and print UPC-A barcodes for your packaging.
Here’s a clear, step-by-step playbook for getting UPC codes the right way—so your products scan cleanly, list smoothly on major marketplaces, and pass retail intake without drama.
How To Get UPC Codes For Products: Step-By-Step
This process works whether you’re launching a single handmade item or a growing catalog. Follow the sequence and you’ll avoid the usual pitfalls that lead to listing errors and label reprints.
Step 1: Decide How Many UPCs You Need
Count every unique sellable SKU. Size, color, pack size, and variant bundles each need their own code. If one candle scent ships as single, 3-pack, and 6-pack, that’s three UPCs. Planning a seasonal line or gift sets? Add headroom so you’re not stuck mid-launch.
Step 2: Pick Your GS1 Option
You can license a single GTIN for one product or a GS1 Company Prefix that lets you create a pool of GTINs for many SKUs. Brands with more than a handful of items usually save time with a prefix because you can generate codes on demand inside the GS1 portal.
Step 3: Assign GTIN-12 And Record The Details
Once you have access, create a record for each SKU: brand, product name, variant, package dimensions, and weight. The system outputs a GTIN-12 (the number that powers a UPC-A barcode) along with a check digit. Keep a simple spreadsheet or use the portal to track which numbers map to which SKUs.
Step 4: Generate And Place The UPC-A Barcode
Use the GS1 tool or professional software to render the barcode image at retail size with proper quiet zones. Place it on the sellable unit packaging where scanners have a clean shot—flat, high-contrast area, no tight curves, no gloss overprint that causes glare.
Step 5: Test Scan And List
Before a print run, scan proofs with a handheld scanner app or a USB scanner. After the label is on a sample unit, scan again. When you list on marketplaces, enter the GTIN cleanly with the matching brand and title so automated checks pass on the first try.
Ways To Get UPCs: Options, Pros, And Best Uses
The table below compares the common routes brands take. Pick the path that matches your catalog size and where you plan to sell.
| Option | What You Get | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| GS1 Single GTIN | One GTIN-12 tied to your brand; access to a portal to manage it | Single product, test launch, or short runs |
| GS1 Company Prefix | A prefix that lets you create many GTINs anytime | Growing catalogs, variants, multipacks, bundles |
| Marketplace GTIN Exemption | Permission to list without a GTIN in specific categories | Private label, custom, or handmade on a case-by-case basis |
| Third-Party “Barcodes” | Numbers sourced from legacy prefixes; may fail checks | Not recommended where GS1 validation is enforced |
| Distributor-Supplied UPC | Manufacturer assigns and shares their UPC | Reselling established brands |
| Printing From Artwork Files | EPS/SVG/PNG barcode symbols at retail size | Packaging vendors and print houses |
| In-House Labeling | Thermal labels with UPC and text | Short runs, kitting, and FBA relabel projects |
| EAN-13 (Outside U.S./Canada) | GTIN-13 encoded in EAN-13 symbol | Export markets that expect EAN |
Getting UPC Codes For Your Products — Costs And Choices
Budget for two things: the license and your packaging/labeling. A single GTIN is a smaller upfront spend and works well for one-off items. A GS1 Company Prefix carries a higher entry fee plus an annual renewal, but it unlocks bulk GTIN creation and smoother catalog growth. Many retailers and marketplaces check GTIN ownership against GS1 records, so numbers tied to your brand give you the least friction.
When A GTIN Exemption Makes Sense
Some categories or selling models allow a GTIN exemption. This lets you list without a UPC in that channel. It’s handy for made-to-order goods, one-off bundles, or pilot runs. That said, if you plan to expand to other channels or wholesale, real GTINs keep your data portable.
UPC-A, GTIN-12, And EAN-13—What’s The Difference?
GTIN is the product ID; UPC-A and EAN-13 are the barcode symbologies that carry it. In North America, retail point-of-sale expects UPC-A with a 12-digit GTIN. Many other regions expect EAN-13 with a 13-digit GTIN. Most scanners read both, but retail intake rules can be strict. If you’re selling in multiple regions, plan labels per market or use dual-language packaging with region-specific barcodes.
Barcode Basics You Must Get Right
These are the quality levers that prevent misreads and chargebacks. Set them once in your artwork template so every SKU stays consistent.
Symbol Size And Quiet Zones
Retail scanners expect a UPC-A printed at retail size with the white margins on both sides. Keep the symbol flat, avoid tight curves, and don’t squeeze bars to fit a tiny panel.
Color And Contrast
Black bars on a white background give the most reliable scans. If your brand style needs color, use very dark bars on a light background with high contrast. Never place a barcode over busy patterns or glossy foils that reflect light into scanners.
Placement On The Package
Pick a flat face that faces outward on shelf. Leave room around the symbol so shrink wrap, seams, or folds don’t cut through bars. Tubes and round jars can work when the symbol runs ladder-style along the length of the package.
Common Scenarios And How To Assign UPCs
Not sure how many codes you need? Walk through these real catalog shapes and mirror the logic.
Single Product With Size Variants
One T-shirt design in five sizes uses five UPCs. If you later add a 3-pack, that’s a new sellable unit, so it gets its own code.
Color And Size Matrix
Four colors × five sizes equals twenty UPCs. Add a gift box edition and that’s another UPC. If the gift box contains two different SKUs, treat it as a kit with its own code.
Multipacks And Case Packs
A 12-pack case that is not sold at retail doesn’t need a UPC-A, but a case sold as a unit on a marketplace does. For wholesale logistics, you’ll use a case label with a GTIN-14 in an ITF-14 symbol; retail sale of that case uses a UPC-A tied to the sellable case.
Rebrands And Packaging Refreshes
Cosmetic changes can keep the same UPC if the product identity is unchanged. If the net contents, formula, or size changes in a way that affects how shoppers compare items, assign a new code so retailers don’t merge dissimilar inventory.
Marketplace Rules You Should Know
Most channels accept manufacturer barcodes. Some require relabeling with platform IDs in select programs. A quick channel-by-channel snapshot:
| Channel | Barcode Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | UPC/EAN accepted; FNSKU label used for FBA | Brand Registry can apply for GTIN exemption when no GTIN exists |
| Walmart | UPC or GTIN on each sellable unit | UPC/GTIN exemption request path exists for eligible items |
| Grocery & Drug Chains | UPC-A at retail size | Expect strict intake scans and label tests |
| Specialty Retail | UPC-A, some use store labels | Ask buyers if they relabel at DC |
| DTC Only | UPC optional | Still helpful for inventory systems and POS |
| Export | EAN-13 common outside U.S./Canada | Match local retail norms |
| Wholesale Cases | GTIN-14 on ITF-14 case label | Not a retail scan; logistics only |
| Kits/Bundles | New GTIN for the kit | Keep components’ own codes too |
Printing Specs That Prevent Headaches
Dial these specs into your packaging template once, then reuse them for every SKU.
Target Print Size
Use standard UPC-A magnification with matching symbol width and height. Going smaller raises misread risk. Large warehouse scanners tolerate bigger symbols, but retail tills expect the retail size most of the time.
Quiet Zones
Leave the clear margins on both sides of the symbol. These blank areas are part of the code and tell the scanner where to start and stop reading.
Substrates And Finishes
Uncoated, matte, or satin stocks scan more reliably under bright store lighting. If you love high-gloss, add a white matte patch beneath the barcode so reflections don’t blow out the bars.
Quality Checks Before You Print Thousands
Run through this short checklist before you hit the big print button.
Match Number To SKU
Cross-check your GTIN assignment sheet against packaging proofs. The human-readable digits under the bars must match your portal record exactly.
Check Digit Confidence
If you type a GTIN manually, confirm the check digit with a calculator tool or let the GS1 portal compute it automatically. One wrong digit breaks scans.
Test Scans On Real Samples
Print a short run or laser proofs at scale. Scan from different angles and distances with a basic USB scanner and a phone app. If you get slow reads, widen the symbol, increase contrast, or move the code to a flatter panel.
Frequently Missed Rules
These are the issues that trigger listing rejections or delays at distribution centers.
Buying Old Numbers From Resellers
Some sites sell codes pulled from legacy prefixes. Many marketplaces cross-check brand ownership against GS1. If a code isn’t tied to your brand record, you can hit error messages or compliance flags.
Reusing One UPC Across Variants
Every sellable variant needs its own code. Sharing one UPC across five colors creates returns and shelf confusion because scanners pull the wrong item.
Putting The Barcode On A Curve
Curved tubes can hide the ends of the symbol. If the surface isn’t flat, rotate the symbol ladder-style so both ends stay visible to the scanner at once.
How This Maps To Your Launch Plan
New brand with three SKUs and two pack sizes? License a small GS1 Company Prefix, assign five GTINs, and build packaging with UPC-A symbols at retail size. Running a single seasonal item? Start with a single GTIN, then upgrade to a prefix when you expand. Selling on one marketplace today but aiming for wholesale next year? Use GTINs from GS1 from day one so your data passes intake everywhere.
Two Smart Links To Keep Handy
Bookmark two references you’ll use again and again during setup and packaging. The first is the official rules hub where barcode size and placement standards live. The second is the barcode policy page that spells out how manufacturer barcodes and platform labels work in a major marketplace. Read both once, then share with your designer and label vendor:
Recap: From Blank Box To Scan-Ready SKU
Count your SKUs, license GTINs through GS1, assign one per sellable unit, generate a UPC-A at retail size with real quiet zones, test scan, and list. Follow these steps and your labels will pass intake, your listings will match your brand, and your inventory will flow.