UPC-A barcode generator
Make the 12-digit barcode US and Canadian retailers expect. Type 11 digits and we add the check digit, then test-scan it before you download.
1. Content
2. Size and style
Bulk barcodes PRO
Make up to 500 barcodes in your current type and style. Each one is test-scanned, and the ZIP includes an index.csv with the results.
What is a UPC-A barcode?
UPC-A is the barcode on retail products in the United States and Canada. It encodes a 12-digit GTIN-12: a GS1 US company prefix, an item reference and a check digit. Scanners worldwide read it, because it's the same symbol as an EAN-13 that starts with 0.
The first digit, printed small to the left of the bars, is part of the company prefix. It once said what kind of item it was, and some ranges still do: 2 for items sold by weight, 3 for drugs (National Drug Code) and 5 for coupons.
Where it's used
- Products sold in US and Canadian stores
- Amazon, Walmart and other North American marketplaces
- Items priced by weight, such as deli and produce (prefix 2)
- Pharmacy products (prefix 3)
How to make a UPC-A barcode
Get your number
Buy a company prefix or single GTINs from GS1 US. Each product, size and flavor needs its own number.
Enter 11 or 12 digits
Type 11 digits and we add the check digit, or all 12 and we check it.
Download and test
PNG is free. For packaging, use SVG, PDF or EPS. Print a sample at the final size and scan it before the full run.
Sizing and printing a UPC-A barcode
Standard size
At 100% the module is 0.33 mm (0.013 in), and the symbol with its margins is 37.29 × 25.91 mm (1.469 × 1.02 in). You can scale it from 80% to 200%.
Keep the quiet zones
Leave at least 9 modules of blank space on each side: about 3 mm at 100%.
Don't cut the height
Truncated bars are harder to scan at the checkout. Keep the full height when you have room.
Colors that scan
Dark bars on a light background. Red, orange and yellow bars are invisible to the red light of checkout scanners.
Match the printer
Choose a module width that's a whole number of printer dots, so every bar prints the same width.
Use a vector file for print
SVG, PDF and EPS stay sharp at any size, so packaging designers and print shops prefer them. For PNG, download at your printer's resolution and place it at 100%.
UPC-A questions
Do I need to buy UPC numbers from GS1?
Major US retailers and Amazon check product numbers against GS1's database, so numbers resold by third parties are often rejected. Buy a company prefix or single GTINs from GS1 US.
Can I use UPC-A outside North America?
Yes. Scanners everywhere read UPC-A, because it's an EAN-13 starting with 0. Retailers outside North America usually ask for EAN-13, which can hold the same number.
UPC-A or UPC-E?
Use UPC-A whenever it fits. UPC-E is a compressed version for very small packs, and only numbers with enough zeros can be compressed.
Why are the first and last digits outside the bars?
That's the standard UPC-A layout: the number system digit and the check digit are printed smaller, outside the bars. Both are still encoded.
What's the smallest UPC-A I can print?
At 80% the module is 0.264 mm and the symbol about 29.8 mm wide with margins. Below that, checkout scanners struggle.
Can I change the colors?
Yes, but keep the bars dark and the background light. We warn you if the colors could fail under a laser scanner.