How to Get a UPC Code for Your Product
To get a UPC code that retailers and marketplaces will accept, buy it from GS1, the organization that assigns barcode numbers worldwide. In the United States that is GS1 US. You can buy single barcode numbers or a company prefix that lets you create many. Prices change, so confirm current fees on the GS1 US site before you budget.
Option 1: a single barcode number
If you have one or a handful of products, GS1 US sells individual GTINs (the 12-digit UPC is a GTIN-12). Each number is a one-time purchase with no yearly renewal. The price per number drops as you buy bigger bundles, but it is still the cheapest way to start with a single product line.
The catch is that these numbers are issued as complete codes, not as a prefix you own. It works well for a small test, but if you grow to dozens of products it is usually less economical than a prefix.
Option 2: a company prefix
A company prefix is a block of digits GS1 registers to your business. Every UPC you make starts with it, and you assign the remaining digits to each product yourself. A longer prefix gives you fewer product numbers, a shorter one gives you more, and the price rises with capacity.
A prefix has an initial fee plus an annual renewal fee. If you stop renewing, the prefix can lapse, so budget for it as a recurring cost. The advantage is control: you can generate new UPCs for new products at any time without buying again.
| Single numbers | Company prefix | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost structure | One-time fee per number or bundle | Initial fee plus annual renewal |
| Best for | A few products | Many products or a growing catalog |
| Flexibility | Limited to numbers you bought | Create new UPCs as you need them |
| Who is listed as owner | Your company in GS1's records | Your company in GS1's records |
Be careful with cheap resellers
Searching for UPCs turns up many sites selling codes for a few dollars. Those numbers usually come from a prefix registered to the reseller, or to an old company. The risks are real:
- Marketplaces and retailers can look up the number and see it belongs to someone else, which can get listings rejected or removed.
- Some retailers require proof of GS1 membership before they stock a product.
- If the original owner stops paying GS1, the numbers can be pulled.
Amazon accepted resold UPCs for years, then tightened its checks. For a brand you plan to keep, buying from GS1 directly avoids relisting every product later.
Amazon and the GTIN exemption
Amazon normally requires a GTIN (UPC, EAN or similar) when you create a new product listing. If your product has no barcode, for example a handmade item or a custom product with no brand, Amazon lets you apply for a GTIN exemption in Seller Central. You describe the product and upload images of it and its packaging. Not every category qualifies, and Amazon decides each request. The official rules are in Amazon's seller help pages.
If you sell under Fulfillment by Amazon, you will also use Amazon's own FNSKU labels, which are separate from your UPC.
After you have your numbers
- Assign one number to each product variant and record the mapping in a spreadsheet.
- Calculate or confirm the check digit. The UPC barcode generator does this for you.
- Download the barcode as SVG or PNG and place it on your packaging artwork or label.
- Print a test and scan it with a phone and, if possible, a real handheld scanner.
For a long list of products, the bulk barcode generator makes all of the images from a pasted list. Barcode Ready draws the barcodes in your browser, so your product numbers are not uploaded anywhere.
If you only need barcodes for internal inventory and never sell through retail or marketplaces, you do not need a GS1 number at all. A Code 128 barcode with your own SKU works fine for that.
Summary
- Buy from GS1 US for retail and marketplace use.
- A few products: single numbers. Many products: a company prefix.
- Fees change, so check the GS1 US site for current prices.
- Avoid resold UPCs if you plan to build a brand.
- Use a GTIN exemption on Amazon only when your product genuinely has no barcode.