UPC-A Barcode Generator
Generate a 12-digit UPC-A retail barcode with the check digit calculated automatically, and download it as a print-ready PNG. Free and entirely in your browser.
UPC-A is the 12-digit retail barcode used on products in the United States and Canada. Enter your 11-digit GS1 number and the twelfth check digit is calculated and appended for you, then rendered as a scannable PNG at retail-ready proportions.
Runs entirely in your browser · no signup · nothing is uploaded · updated 2026-09-08
Symbology
UPC-A
North American retail. Exactly 11 or 12 digits.
How to use it
- 1.Enter the 11 digits of your GS1 number, or all 12 if the check digit is already known.
- 2.The check digit is calculated with the standard 3-1 weighting and appended.
- 3.Download the PNG and place it at 100% scale in your packaging artwork.
UPC-A number system digits
The leading digit signals what kind of item the code identifies. Most consumer goods carry a 0, 1, 6, 7 or 8.
| First digit | Means |
|---|---|
| 0, 1, 6, 7, 8 | Standard consumer product |
| 2 | Variable weight item priced in store, such as meat or cheese |
| 3 | Pharmaceutical, carrying a National Drug Code |
| 4 | Retailer's own internal use, never leaves the store |
| 5, 9 | Coupon |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between UPC and EAN?
Length. UPC-A is 12 digits, EAN-13 is 13. A UPC-A code is an EAN-13 with a leading zero, so EAN scanners read both. Use UPC-A for North American retail and EAN-13 elsewhere.
Where do I get a real UPC number?
From GS1 US, as a company prefix you then assign item references under. Resellers offering cheap single barcodes are selling numbers from prefixes issued before 2002 - they scan, but many large retailers reject them because the registered owner is not you.
How is the UPC check digit calculated?
Multiply the digits alternately by 3 and 1 from the left, sum them, and the check digit is what brings the total to the next multiple of ten. Enter 11 digits here and it is computed for you.
What is UPC-E?
A compressed 8-digit form for small packaging, produced by suppressing zeros from a UPC-A number. It is not a separate registration - it encodes the same product, just shorter.
How big does a UPC barcode need to be?
Nominal is 37.29mm by 25.91mm, and retailers accept 80% to 200% of that. Anything under 80% starts failing at the till.
Can I shrink the height to fit my label?
Not much. Truncating bar height is technically scannable but it forces the operator to align the scanner precisely, and most retailer packaging specs prohibit it outright.
Do I need a separate UPC for each product variant?
Yes - every size, flavour, colour or multipack a retailer stocks and prices separately needs its own item reference under your company prefix.
Why does my UPC scan but show the wrong product?
Almost always because the number belongs to someone else's company prefix - either invented, or bought from a reseller. The barcode is valid; the ownership record is not yours.
Tools that pair with this one
Converters & calculatorsMorse Code Translator
Translate text to Morse code and Morse back to text, covering letters, digits and punctuation. Runs in your browser with no signup.
Converters & calculatorsPercentage Calculator
Work out X% of Y, what percentage one number is of another, and percentage increase or decrease between two values.
Converters & calculatorsRoman Numeral Converter
Convert numbers to roman numerals and roman numerals back to numbers, with validation that rejects malformed numerals like IIII.
Converters & calculatorsUnit Converter
Convert between metric and imperial units for length, weight, volume, time, digital storage and temperature, with exact conversion factors.
Built something?
RankCert is a weekly launch board where products rank on domain control we verify ourselves - not upvotes. Listing is free and the link is dofollow whether or not you display our badge.