Free UPC-A barcode generator
UPC-A is the 12-digit barcode used on retail products in the United States and Canada. Give it eleven digits and it completes the twelfth.
Barcode format
11 digits, or 12 with the check digit. The 12th digit is calculated for you.
Check digit 2 calculated and appended.
Keep strong contrast (dark bars on a light background) and leave a clear margin, or scanners may fail to read it.
Preview
Rendering…
Everything is generated in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
A UPC identifies a product to the whole retail supply chain, so the manufacturer code must be licensed from GS1. This generator does not issue numbers.
What is UPC-A?
A UPC-A has a one-digit number system, a manufacturer code, a product code and a check digit. Most grocery and general merchandise uses number system 0, 1, 6, 7 or 8, while 2, 3, 4 and 5 are reserved for variable-measure, drug, in-store and coupon uses.
On the label the first and last digits sit outside the bars, a layout that is part of the standard UPC look.
When to use UPC-A
Products for sale in US or Canadian shops and on marketplaces that ask for a UPC.
Product listings and packaging proofs that need a correctly formed UPC.
If you only sell elsewhere, EAN-13 is the more common choice.
How to make a UPC-A barcode
- 1
Type 11 digits, or all 12 if you already have the check digit.
- 2
Review the calculated check digit shown with the preview.
- 3
Download SVG for artwork or PNG for listings and documents.
- 4
Print with dark bars on a light background and test scan before a full run.
UPC-A questions
Can I make my own UPC for Amazon or a shop?
Marketplaces and retailers generally verify that the UPC belongs to you through GS1. Drawing a barcode for a made-up number is possible here but it will not be accepted for real listings.
Is a UPC-A the same as a 12-digit EAN?
Effectively. Scanners treat a UPC-A as an EAN-13 with a leading zero, so the two interoperate at the till.
What is the UPC check digit formula?
Add the digits in odd positions, multiply by three, add the digits in even positions of the first eleven, and the check digit brings the total to a multiple of 10.
When would I use UPC-E instead?
UPC-E is a compressed form for very small packages, available only for numbers with enough zeros. It is covered on its own page.
Related barcode formats
Need a code people scan with their phone?
Barcodes hold short numbers. For links, Wi-Fi, contact cards and more, create a QR code.
- No watermark
- No account for static codes