UPC Codes

UPC-12 Standard

 Used Worldwide

UPC Barcodes are the most commonly used barcode symbology that is widely used at retail point of sale and online stores in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. Accepted by the largest online and retail stores including Amazon, Ebay, AliExpress, Jet, Shopify etc.

 

 Wide Range of Use Cases

The UPC barcode is visually represented by strips of bars and spaces that encode the UPC-A 12-digit number. EAN-13 codes beginning with 0 are actually 12-digit UPC codes with prepended 0 digit. Universal Product Codes can also be used as numbers for other purposes such as wholesale ordering or accounting

 

 Registered and Unique

Every UPC barcode number sold by Bar Codes Talk is registered and unique. Companies that purchase from us are registered in our Global Electronic Party Information Registry ( GEPIR )

 

Understanding UPC Codes

 

Everything You Need to Know about UPC Numbers

One of the most important moves a new company can make is to secure UPC code numbers for their products.  UPC numbers allow companies to distribute and sell their products in a variety of Point of Sale scenarios, which is why they are a necessary component in any sales strategy.

At Bar Codes Talk, it’s our goal to assist our customers in securing high quality bar codes for the lowest prices, taking the guesswork out of the UPC code number process- satisfaction guaranteed.

Being informed is the best way to ensure that your company purchases exactly the type of product UPC codes that you need, so that your products can be easily purchased by consumers. Let’s begin by taking a look at some of the most basic questions about UPC symbols:

What is a UPC Code?

Although there are several different types of bar codes, the UPC symbol appears on nearly every retail product in the United States, making it the most versatile and recognizable type of product code in this part of the world. It consists of a bar code with a GTIN-12 number beneath.

What is a Bar Code?

The bar code, or UPC symbol is the series of black vertical lines seen on any Point of Sale product. This symbol is unique to each product and represents the twelve numbers that identify an individual product for sale. The bar code is the part of the UPC code that is scanned at the Point of Sale.

What is a GTIN-12? How Many Numbers are in a UPC Code?

GTIN stands for Global Trade Identification Number, the coding structure that identifies a product. The GTIN-12 of a product is the unique 12 digit code shown beneath the bar code.

How Many UPC Codes do I Need for my Products?

Each individual product that you are planning on selling will need its own unique UPC Code. Though the Company Prefix assigned by the GS1 will remain the same, you will need to assign each product a unique Product Number and Check Digit.

barcode infographic

What’s the Difference Between UPC and EAN?

UPC’s are the most commonly used bar codes in the United States. EAN’s (European Article Number) are used internationally. Nowadays, most places will accept both product UPC codes and EAN codes, although if you are planning on selling your products outside of the United States, an EAN code might be best for you. EAN format bar codes contain 13 digits, leading with a “0” in front of the standard GTIN-12 digit UPC code. Both bar codes, however, are identical.

Learn How to Generate a UPC Code

Due to the stringent standards of the GS1, individual companies cannot create their own UPC codes. In order to have a barcode that will scan at a Point of Sale, you must have a Company Prefix number assigned to you by GS1. For companies wondering how to create UPC codes- the answer is that you cannot do so on your own.

Who Should I Purchase UPC Codes From?

All retail UPC codes must originate from GS1, and you may choose to purchase your UPC code numbers directly from them. However, GS1 has different requirements and higher pricing. An example is 10 barcodes, at a minimum cost of $250. This does not include the annual renewal fee for your UPC symbol, which typically begins at $150!

At Bar Codes Talk, we purchase our UPC numbers in bulk so that our customers don’t have to. Purchase as many or as few UPC numbers as you need! Additionally, since we joined GS1 in 1994, several years before they began charging renewal fees, our customers are not responsible for any additional fees once they have purchased their UPC symbols from us


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