UPC-E barcode generator
The compact UPC for cans and small packs. Paste a 12-digit UPC-A and we tell you whether it can be compressed, then do it for you.
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-E barcode?
UPC-E is a compressed form of UPC-A for small packages like soda cans and chewing gum. It drops runs of zeros from a UPC-A number, so 12 digits fit into 6 encoded digits plus the number system (0 or 1) and the check digit printed beside the bars.
Only UPC-A numbers with the right zeros in the right places can be compressed. Scanners expand a UPC-E back into the full UPC-A, so both identify the same product.
Where it's used
- Cans, bottles and small packs sold in the US and Canada
- Products where a UPC-A would take too much space
How to make a UPC-E barcode
Start from your UPC-A
Paste your 12-digit UPC-A, or type 6 to 8 UPC-E digits if you already have them.
Check the conversion
We show the UPC-A it stands for. If your number can't be compressed, use UPC-A instead.
Download and test
Download a PNG or a vector file and test a printed sample.
Sizing and printing a UPC-E barcode
Standard size
At 100% the module is 0.33 mm. The bars are about 17 mm wide, and about 22.1 mm with the quiet zones.
Keep the quiet zones
At least 9 modules on the left and 7 on the right.
Colors that scan
Dark bars on a light background; avoid red, orange and yellow bars.
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-E questions
How does UPC-E compression work?
Depending on where the zeros are in the manufacturer and product parts of a UPC-A, they're removed and the last encoded digit records which pattern was used. A scanner reverses it.
Can every UPC-A become a UPC-E?
No, only numbers with enough zeros in the right places. GS1 US can issue numbers for UPC-E use if you need one.
Is a UPC-E the same product as its UPC-A?
Yes. Checkout systems expand it to the full 12 digits, so it looks up the same product.
What do the digits outside the bars mean?
The left one is the number system (0 or 1), the right one is the check digit of the full UPC-A.