UPC‑A Barcode Generator
Generate UPC-A barcodes for retail products in North America
UPC-A Barcode Generated!
Free UPC-A Barcode Generator - North American Retail Standard
What is UPC-A?
UPC-A (Universal Product Code - Version A) is the primary barcode standard used in the United States and Canada for retail product identification. It consists of 12 digits including a checksum.
UPC-A is managed by GS1 US and is required for selling products in North American retail stores, supermarkets, and major e-commerce platforms like Amazon. It's the North American equivalent of EAN-13.
Key Features
- US/Canada Standard - Primary retail barcode
- Auto Checksum - 12th digit calculated automatically
- POS Compatible - All North American systems
- GS1 Compliant - Industry standard
- Fixed Length - Always 12 digits
- Free - No registration required
How to Generate UPC-A Barcode
- Enter 11 Digits - Input your product code (manufacturer + product). You need a valid GS1 Company Prefix.
- Auto Checksum - The system automatically calculates and adds the 12th digit (checksum).
- Adjust Size - Set bar width and height based on label size and printing resolution.
- Generate - Create your UPC-A barcode instantly.
- Download & Print - Use on product packaging, labels, or price tags.
UPC-A Barcode Use Cases
Retail & E-commerce
- US Retail Stores - Walmart, Target, etc.
- Grocery Stores - Supermarkets and food items
- Amazon US/CA - Required for most categories
- Consumer Products - Electronics, toys, clothing
- Pharmacy Items - OTC medications and health products
- Price Tags - In-store shelf labels
Supply Chain & Distribution
- Point of Sale - Checkout scanning systems
- Inventory Tracking - Stock management
- Distribution Centers - Product sorting and routing
- Warehouse Systems - Receiving and shipping
- Sales Analytics - Data collection and reporting
- Product Recalls - Traceability and identification
UPC-A Structure
12-Digit Breakdown:
- Digit 1: Number system digit (0, 1, 6-9 for standard products)
- Digits 2-6: Manufacturer code (5 digits assigned by GS1)
- Digits 7-11: Product code (5 digits assigned by manufacturer)
- Digit 12: Checksum digit (calculated automatically)
Example: 0-12345-67890-5 → System: 0, Manufacturer: 12345, Product: 67890, Check: 5
UPC-A vs EAN-13
UPC-A (12 digits)
- Used in USA and Canada
- Required for North American retail
- Issued by GS1 US / GS1 Canada
- Format: 012345678905
EAN-13 (13 digits)
- Used worldwide (except US/Canada)
- International retail standard
- Issued by GS1 organizations globally
- Format: 5901234567890
Note: UPC-A can be converted to EAN-13 by adding a leading '0'. Modern scanners read both formats.
Best Practices for UPC-A
Do's
- Purchase official UPC from GS1 US/Canada
- Use high-resolution printing (300+ DPI)
- Maintain proper quiet zones (margins)
- Test with retail POS scanners before production
- Follow GS1 size and placement guidelines
Don'ts
- Don't use fake or unregistered UPCs for retail
- Avoid buying "cheap UPCs" from resellers
- Don't stretch or distort barcode images
- Avoid printing on curved surfaces
- Don't use barcodes smaller than minimum size
Printing Standards:
For retail product labels, use bar width 2-3px and height 50-60px. For larger packaging, increase to width 3-4px and height 80-100px. Always print at minimum 300 DPI with black bars on white background for best scanner compatibility!