UPC-A Barcode Generator

UPC-A is the 12-digit barcode used on retail products in the United States and Canada. Point-of-sale systems everywhere read it too, because a UPC-A number is simply an EAN-13 with a leading zero. Enter the 11 digits of your GTIN-12 and QRPebble appends the correct check digit, or paste all 12 and we verify it. That catches the single-digit slips that otherwise surface as 'item not found' at a checkout. As with any retail barcode, the symbol is the easy part. The number must come from a GS1 US (or other GS1 member organisation) company prefix licensed to your brand.

Design options
Fill in the form to preview your code.

How to make it

  1. Enter the first 11 digits of your GTIN-12 in the Data field.
  2. Or enter all 12 digits to have the check digit validated.
  3. Download SVG to place in packaging artwork at 100% scale.
  4. Print a proof and scan it with the same kind of scanner your retailers use.

What gets encoded

UPC-A holds 12 numeric digits: a number-system digit, company and item reference, and a GS1 mod-10 check digit. Every digit is represented by bars, and the human-readable number is printed below with the first and last digits outside the guard bars. Scanners that read EAN-13 also read UPC-A, treating it as the 13-digit number with a leading 0. For very small packages, GS1 offers the compressed UPC-E, which this generator doesn't produce.

Where people use it

  • Consumer products sold in US and Canadian stores
  • Amazon and other marketplace listings requiring a GTIN
  • Product labels for wholesale distribution
  • Retail inventory and point-of-sale systems

Tips before you print

  • License your company prefix from GS1 US if you sell in the US. Marketplaces increasingly check numbers against the GS1 registry.
  • Keep the barcode at 80–200% of its nominal size (about 37.3 × 25.9 mm at 100%) and don't truncate the bar height.
  • Leave at least 9 module widths of quiet zone on both sides.
  • Avoid placing the barcode over seams, folds or tightly curved surfaces.

FAQ

UPC-A or EAN-13, which do I need?

Modern retail scanners read both. UPC-A is traditional in the US and Canada; EAN-13 is standard elsewhere. Your GS1 membership provides numbers that work either way.

Can I buy cheap UPC codes from resellers?

Numbers from resellers may be registered to another company, and some retailers and marketplaces reject them. Licensing from GS1 is the safe route.

Why does my UPC show a leading zero in some systems?

Systems that store 13-digit GTINs display UPC-A with a leading 0. It's the same number.

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