Quick answer: enter the 11 digits of your UPC (from GS1 US or your licence certificate). The 12th digit is calculated and added. Download the barcode as a vector SVG or PDF for packaging, or a high-resolution PNG for labels.
How a UPC-A number is built
The first digit is the number system. Digits 0, 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are used for normal products; 2 is for random-weight items such as meat and cheese priced in store; 3 is reserved for drugs registered with a National Drug Code; 4 is for in-store numbers like loyalty cards; and 5 was used for coupons. Then come your company prefix and item reference, and finally the check digit.
The bars themselves are identical to an EAN-13 that starts with 0. That is why a scanner may report 0036000291452 for the UPC 036000291452 – it is the same number written as a GTIN-13.
Buying UPC numbers – what to avoid
GS1 US is the only official source of UPC company prefixes; you can also license a single GTIN from them. Cheap resold numbers often come from companies that joined UCC before 2002 and are still registered in their name. Amazon, Walmart and most large retailers check the brand owner in the GS1 database, so such numbers are frequently rejected.
How to make a UPC-A barcode
- Enter 11 digits. Type the UPC without its last digit. If you have all 12, paste them and the check digit is confirmed.
- Choose the size. A bar width of 0.33 mm gives the nominal 100 % size of 37.29 × 25.91 mm.
- Confirm the scan. The tick under the preview means the barcode was read back as your UPC.
- Download. Pick SVG or PDF for printers and designers, PNG or JPG for everyday use.
Artwork checklist for UPC-A
- Keep at least 9 bar widths (about 3 mm at 100 %) of white space on each side.
- Print the bars in black or another dark colour on a light background. Avoid reds.
- On curved packs (cans, bottles) turn the barcode so the bars run around the curve – the “picket fence” orientation becomes a “ladder”.
- Do not reduce the height. If space is short, use UPC-E where the number allows it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between UPC and UPC-A?
UPC-A is the standard full-size UPC barcode with 12 digits. When people say “UPC barcode” they almost always mean UPC-A.
Can I sell in Europe with a UPC-A barcode?
Yes. Scanners worldwide read UPC-A, and it equals an EAN-13 starting with 0. You do not need a second barcode.
Why is my first digit printed outside the bars?
That is how UPC-A artwork is laid out: the number system digit and the check digit stand to the left and right of the bars, in smaller type.
Can I use the UPC for a variable-weight item?
Price-embedded numbers starting with 2 are set up by the retailer’s system, not by brand owners. Ask the store which format it uses.
Is there a limit to how many UPC barcodes I can create?
No. Use the bulk option to create up to 1,000 at a time as images or a printable sheet.