Data rules
11 data digits + 1 check digit
- Length: 11–12 characters
- Character set: digits only
- Check digit: required
- Quiet zone: 9 modules
Retail point of sale
UPC-A
Encode a 12-digit UPC-A product code with automatic check-digit validation. Download as SVG, PNG or a print-ready PDF.
- Check digit verified.
Preview
Enter valid data to see the barcode.
Encoding happens entirely in your browser. This tool encodes numbers you already own — it does not issue or register GS1 company prefixes.
Printing notes
- UPC-A is the retail point-of-sale symbology used across the United States and Canada.
- The first digits are the GS1 company prefix; this tool encodes the number you supply and does not register or issue it.
- A UPC-A code is also a valid GTIN-12 and can be zero-padded to GTIN-13 or GTIN-14 for logistics use.
Workflow links
Related barcode formats
UPC-E
UPC-E compresses a UPC-A code to six data digits for small packaging. Enter the code and download a scannable symbol.
EAN-13
Encode a 13-digit EAN-13 retail code. The check digit is verified — or calculated for you from 12 data digits.
ITF-14
ITF-14 encodes a 14-digit GTIN on outer cartons and cases. Check digit validation and bearer bars are handled for you.
What is UPC-A?
UPC-A is the 12-digit retail barcode used at point of sale in the United States and Canada. The number is a GTIN-12: a GS1 company prefix, an item reference you assign, and a final modulo-10 check digit that lets the scanner detect a misread.
This generator encodes a GTIN-12 you already own and validates it against the standard. It does not issue numbers — a company prefix has to be licensed from GS1 before your products can be sold through retailers.
Frequently asked questions
Is this UPC-A generator free to use?
Yes. The UPC-A generator is free, has no signup and adds no watermark. The symbol is encoded in your browser, so the data you type is never uploaded to a server.
What file format should I download for printing UPC-A?
Download SVG for anything that will be printed. SVG is vector, so bar widths and the quiet zone stay exact at any size. PNG is fine for screens and slide decks, but never scale a PNG barcode up — enlarging it blurs the bar edges and scanners start failing.
What is the difference between UPC-A and EAN-13?
EAN-13 is the 13-digit international superset of UPC-A. A UPC-A number is an EAN-13 with a leading zero, and virtually every modern retail scanner reads both. Use UPC-A for North American retail and EAN-13 elsewhere.
Can I make up my own UPC number?
No. An invented number may encode and scan, but it will collide with another company's product and retailers will reject it. GTINs must be issued from a GS1 company prefix licensed to your business.
Standards & references
This page follows the published specifications. The bodies that own them: