How to Get a UPC Code for Your Product
If you sell a physical product, you almost certainly need a UPC code. It's the barcode you see on virtually every item in every store. Without one, retailers won't stock your product, and most online marketplaces won't list it.
The good news: getting a UPC code is straightforward. Here's exactly how to do it, what it costs, and what to watch out for.
What is a UPC code, exactly?
A UPC (Universal Product Code) is a 12-digit number assigned to a product, represented as a scannable barcode. When a cashier scans your product at checkout, the scanner reads the barcode, extracts the number, and looks up the price in the store's system.
That 12-digit number is actually a type of GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), the worldwide standard for identifying products. UPC is the format used in the United States and Canada. Europe and the rest of the world use EAN (13 digits), but they're both GTINs under the hood.
Step 1: Register with GS1
You can't just make up a UPC number. Every legitimate UPC starts with a GS1 Company Prefix, a unique string of digits assigned to your company by GS1, the global standards organization that manages barcodes.
In the United States, you register through GS1 US. The registration process takes about 10 to 15 minutes online:
- Go to gs1us.org and click "Get a barcode"
- Create a GS1 US account
- Select a capacity tier based on how many products you need barcodes for
- Provide your company information (legal name, address, contact details)
- Pay the initial fee
- Receive your GS1 Company Prefix, usually within 1 to 2 business days
If you're outside the US, search for your country's GS1 Member Organization at gs1.org. Each country has its own GS1 office with local registration and pricing.
We cover this entire process in detail in our GS1 Company Prefix guide.
Step 2: Assign GTINs to your products
Once you have your company prefix, you need to assign a unique number to each product. Your prefix forms the first part of every UPC. You fill in the remaining digits (called the item reference) to create a complete 12-digit GTIN for each product.
A few important rules:
- Every product variation needs its own number. Different sizes, flavors, colors, and pack counts each get a separate GTIN. A 12oz bottle and a 16oz bottle are two different GTINs.
- Never reuse a number. Even if you discontinue a product, don't reassign its GTIN to something new.
- The last digit is calculated for you. It's a check digit that lets scanners verify they read the number correctly. You can compute it with our check digit calculator.
GS1 US provides an online tool called GS1 US Data Hub where you can manage your product numbers, assign item references, and keep everything organized.
Once your GTINs are assigned, you can verify them with our GTIN validator to confirm they're correctly formatted.
Step 3: Generate barcode graphics
With your GTINs assigned, you need the actual barcode image to put on your packaging. For traditional UPC barcodes, GS1 US Data Hub includes a barcode image generator.
You can also use third-party barcode generation software. Just make sure the output is a UPC-A format barcode (the standard linear barcode with vertical lines) and that the human-readable number printed beneath the bars matches your assigned GTIN.
For print-ready files, most packaging designers prefer vector formats (EPS or SVG) so the barcode stays crisp at any size.
How much does a UPC code cost?
UPC codes come from GS1 through a company prefix, which has a one-time initial fee plus an annual renewal. The cost depends on how many product numbers you need:
| Number of products | Initial fee | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 10 | $250 | $50/year |
| Up to 100 | $750 | $150/year |
| Up to 1,000 | $2,500 | $500/year |
| Up to 10,000 | $6,500 | $1,300/year |
| Up to 100,000 | $10,500 | $2,100/year |
These are GS1 US prices as of 2026. Pricing varies by country.
For most small and mid-sized brands, the $250 tier (up to 10 products) is the right starting point. You can upgrade to a larger capacity later as your product line grows.
Don't forget the annual renewal. If you let your prefix lapse, GS1 can reassign it. Set a calendar reminder.
Can I buy cheap UPC codes online?
You'll find websites selling individual barcodes for $5 to $30 each. These are resold numbers from someone else's GS1 Company Prefix. It sounds like a good deal, but it creates real problems.
Why resold barcodes are risky:
- Retailer rejection. Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Kroger all require barcodes tied to your own GS1 Company Prefix. Resold codes will get flagged or rejected during product setup.
- Ownership disputes. The prefix belongs to whoever registered it. If the original owner stops renewing, your barcodes become invalid.
- Duplicate conflicts. Some resellers sell the same numbers to multiple buyers. Two products with the same barcode cause chaos in inventory systems.
- Marketplace listing problems. Amazon's Brand Registry and similar programs verify that your GTIN belongs to your company. A resold number won't pass verification.
The $250 investment in a legitimate GS1 Company Prefix pays for itself the first time a retailer accepts your product without questions.
UPC vs EAN vs GTIN: what's the difference?
These terms come up a lot, and they're easy to confuse. The short answer: they're all GTINs.
- UPC (UPC-A) is a 12-digit GTIN used primarily in the US and Canada
- EAN (EAN-13) is a 13-digit GTIN used in Europe and most of the rest of the world
- GTIN is the umbrella term for all product identification numbers in the GS1 system, including UPC-12, EAN-13, EAN-8, and GTIN-14
Any UPC can be converted to a 14-digit GTIN by adding leading zeros. For example, the UPC 012345678905 becomes 00012345678905 in GTIN-14 format. Retailers and systems increasingly use the 14-digit format internally, even for products with UPC barcodes.
When you register with GS1, you get a company prefix that works for all of these formats. There's no separate registration for UPC vs EAN.
For a deeper look, see our full GTIN explainer.
The next step: GS1 Digital Link QR codes
UPC barcodes have worked well for 50 years, but the retail industry is moving to something better. The Sunrise 2027 initiative is transitioning products from traditional linear barcodes to 2D codes, specifically QR codes that carry a GS1 Digital Link URL.
These QR codes still contain your GTIN, but they also link to product information, traceability data, and more. A single code works at the point of sale and gives consumers a way to learn about your product by scanning with their phone.
The important thing to know: if you already have GTINs (from following the steps above), you're ready. Your existing product numbers carry over directly. The only thing that changes is the barcode format on your packaging.
You can see what a GS1 Digital Link QR code looks like by trying our QR code generator with one of your GTINs.