The short answer
- Selling through big retailers or Amazon? Get your numbers from GS1 (in the US, GS1 US). It's the only organisation that issues official product numbers.
- Selling only on your own website, at markets or on Etsy? You probably don't need a UPC at all.
- Just need scannable labels for your own stock? Use any internal number with our Code 128 generator. It's free.
What GS1 actually gives you
GS1 is a non-profit standards body with member organisations in more than 100 countries. When you sign up you get either a single GTIN (one product number) or a company prefix, a block of numbers that are registered to your business. Each product, size and colour variant then gets its own number from that block.
Prices and options vary by country and change from time to time, so check your local GS1 organisation's website for current fees. Company prefixes usually carry an annual renewal fee; single GTINs are often a one-off payment.
Once you have your number
- Assign a number to each product variant and record it in a spreadsheet.
- Make the barcode with our UPC generator (US and Canada) or EAN-13 generator (everywhere else).
- Download the SVG and place it on your packaging artwork at full size. See the size guide.
- Test a printed proof with a scanner app before ordering a full print run.
What about cheap barcodes from resellers?
Some websites sell UPC numbers for a few dollars each. These numbers were usually issued to another company years ago, so in GS1's database they belong to that company, not to you.
Amazon and many large retailers check product numbers against GS1 records. If the brand on your listing doesn't match the registered owner, listings can be suppressed or shipments refused. For marketplace selling, the reseller shortcut often costs more in the long run.
No barcode at all?
Amazon offers a GTIN exemption for some products that don't carry a barcode, such as handmade goods and private-label items in certain categories. Check Amazon's Seller Central help pages for the current rules in your category.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to make my own barcode?
Yes. Drawing a barcode for any number is legal, and our tool does exactly that. The issue is whether a retailer accepts the number, which for retail usually means it must come from GS1.
Do I need a different UPC for each size and colour?
Yes. Every variant that a store stocks separately needs its own number, so a T-shirt in 3 colours and 4 sizes needs 12 UPCs.
Do I need a UPC to sell on Shopify or Etsy?
No. Barcodes are optional on both. Add one if you also sell through retailers or want to scan stock.