UPC-A barcode generator
The twelve-digit retail barcode used in the United States and Canada. Enter eleven digits and the twelfth is calculated for you.
Generate a UPC-A barcode
SVG shape mask (decorative)
Upload an SVG — the barcode is clipped to its shape. A horse SVG makes a horse-shaped barcode.
UPC-A encodes a 12-digit GTIN-12 and is the North American counterpart of EAN-13. Structurally the two are the same symbology: a UPC-A is an EAN-13 whose leading digit is zero, and any scanner that reads one reads the other. The difference is administrative, not technical.
The twelve digits break down as a number system character, a five-digit manufacturer code, a five-digit product code and a check digit — although modern GS1 company prefixes are variable-length, so that neat 1-5-5-1 split is now a historical description rather than a rule. As with EAN-13, the number comes from a GS1 company prefix and cannot be invented.
A few number system digits are reserved. 2 is for variable-measure items priced in store, such as meat and cheese cut to order; 3 is used for drugs under the US National Drug Code; 4 is reserved for retailer in-store use; and 5 and 9 are coupon ranges. Do not use these prefixes for ordinary products.
What UPC-A encodes
| Character set | Digits 0–9 only |
|---|---|
| Length | 11 digits (check digit computed) or a complete 12 |
| Check digit | Modulo 10, weights 3 and 1 alternating from the left |
| Dimensions | Linear (1D) |
| Nominal size | 37.29 × 25.91 mm at 100 % magnification, scalable 80 %–200 % |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 15420, GS1 General Specifications |
Where UPC-A is actually used
US and Canadian retail
The default article barcode at every North American point of sale.
Amazon and marketplace listings
A GTIN-12 is accepted wherever a GTIN is required, alongside EAN-13.
Variable-measure goods
Number system 2 encodes an in-store price or weight for items cut and packed at the counter.
Coupons
Number systems 5 and 9 carry coupon values, usually with a five-digit add-on symbol.
Rules this UPC-A generator enforces
- Digits only, 11 or 12 of them.
- With 11 digits the generator appends the check digit; with 12 it validates the one you typed.
- A UPC-A converted to EAN-13 simply gains a leading zero. Both forms identify the same product.
- UPC-E is a compressed form of UPC-A, not a separate product number — see the UPC-E page for the zero-suppression rules.
Printing a UPC-A symbol that scans
Magnification runs from 80 % to 200 % of the 37.29 mm nominal width, exactly as for EAN-13. Below 80 % the bars fall under the resolving power of ageing till scanners, and North American retailers audit for this.
Print black on white with the full bar height. The guard bars that extend below the digit line are functional, and the number-system and check digits printed outside the guard bars on each side are part of the specified layout — do not centre all twelve digits under the symbol for tidiness.
UPC-A questions
What is the difference between UPC-A and EAN-13?
None at the level of the bars. A UPC-A is an EAN-13 with a leading zero. UPC-A is the North American administrative form of the same GS1 numbering system.
Can I create my own UPC number?
Not for retail sale. UPC numbers come from a GS1 company prefix. Resold or invented numbers are a common source of listing rejections on Amazon.
Why does my UPC start with 2?
Number system 2 is reserved for variable-measure items priced by the store, such as deli counter packs. Those codes are meaningful only inside that retailer.