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UPC barcode generator for UPC-A and UPC-E
Type an 11 or 12 digit UPC-A number, or a short UPC-E, and get a print-ready barcode with the check digit right. Type a full UPC-A while UPC-E is selected and we tell you whether it can be shortened for a small pack.
- UPC-A and UPC-E
- Zero suppression checked
- GS1 sizes, SVG and PDF
11 digits, or 12 with the check digit. Used in the US and Canada.
More QR and barcode tools
How to make a UPC barcode
Have your UPC number
GS1 US licenses single numbers and company prefixes. Each size, color and pack of a product needs its own.
Type 11 or 12 digits
With 11 digits we add the check digit; with 12 we verify the last one.
Small pack? Try UPC-E
Switch the type to UPC-E and paste the same number. If it has the right run of zeros, we shorten it.
Download at 100%
Place the PDF or SVG at full size in your artwork, keeping the blank margins on both sides.
UPC-A, UPC-E and EAN-13 compared
All three belong to the same family and are read by every retail scanner. They differ in length and where they are used:
| Detail | UPC-A | UPC-E | EAN-13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digits | 12 | 8 (6 drawn as bars) | 13 |
| Width in modules | 95 | 51 | 95 |
| Quiet zones | 9X and 9X | 9X and 7X | 11X and 7X |
| Width at 100% with quiet zones | 37.29 mm | 22.11 mm | 37.29 mm |
| Used for | Products in the US and Canada | Small packs, from zero-suppressible UPC-A numbers | Products everywhere else |
A UPC-A barcode draws exactly the same bars as an EAN-13 that starts with 0. That is why many scanners, including our reader, show 13 digits for a UPC-A.
When a UPC-A number can become UPC-E
UPC-E squeezes a UPC-A number into six digits by leaving out zeros, a trick called zero suppression. It only works for numbers that have zeros in the right places. The last of the six digits tells the scanner which rule was used:
| UPC-A number (without check digit) | UPC-E digits | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 0 12000 00003 | 120030 | Company part ends in 000, 100 or 200; last digit repeats its third digit |
| 0 34500 00012 | 345123 | Company part ends in 300 to 900; last digit 3 |
| 0 12340 00005 | 123454 | Company part ends in 0; last digit 4 |
| 0 12345 00006 | 123456 | Item number 5 to 9 after four zeros; last digit is that number |
Only number system 0 or 1 can be shortened. The check digit is always worked out from the full UPC-A number, and we verify it for both forms.
Sizes for UPC barcodes
GS1 gives UPC-A and UPC-E the same bar width range as EAN-13: from 0.264 mm (80%) to 0.660 mm (200%), with 0.330 mm as the standard size and a bar height of 22.85 mm at that size. GS1 US also warns against cutting off or shrinking barcodes, and against adding or removing digits, which can turn your number into another company’s.
Keep the quiet zones blank: 9 modules on each side of a UPC-A, about 3 mm at the standard size. The numbers under the bars are part of the design, with the first and last digits printed smaller, outside the bars.
Questions
Where do I get a UPC number?
From GS1 US, which licenses single GTINs and company prefixes for larger ranges. Outside the US and Canada, your local GS1 member organization issues EAN-13 numbers, which US scanners read too.
Can I buy cheap UPC numbers from a reseller?
They may already be licensed to another company. Retailers and marketplaces check numbers against GS1 records, and a mismatch can block your listing, so get numbers directly from GS1.
What is the difference between UPC-A and UPC-E?
UPC-A is the full 12 digit barcode. UPC-E is a shorter form for small packs, made by removing zeros from certain UPC-A numbers.
Why does my scanner show 13 digits for a UPC barcode?
Many scanners report every UPC-A as a 13 digit EAN with a leading 0. It is the same number and the same barcode.
Can every UPC-A number be turned into UPC-E?
No. Only numbers with the zero patterns shown above. Paste yours with UPC-E selected and the tool tells you if it fits.
How is the UPC check digit calculated?
Multiply the 1st, 3rd, 5th and every odd-position digit by 3, add the even-position digits, and take what is needed to reach the next multiple of 10.
Do these UPC barcodes work on Amazon?
The barcode image does. What matters is the number: GS1 US notes that Amazon sellers need valid GTINs unless their category is exempt.
Sources
Checked on 13 October 2026.
- GS1 General Specifications, Release 26.0 (GS1)
- Get your U.P.C. barcodes from GS1 US (GS1 US)
- Barcode FAQs: GS1 Company Prefix, barcodes and identification (GS1 US)
- Amazon seller assistance: GTINs and UPCs (GS1 US)
- GS1 Company Prefix and GS1 Prefix list (GS1)
- ZXing-C++, the open-source barcode library our checks and reader use
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