UPC-A (Universal Product Code, version A) is the 12-digit barcode on the back of every retail product sold in the United States and Canada. Outside North America, the equivalent is EAN-13.
Enter 11 digits and we calculate the check digit. Enter all 12 and we validate it.
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At a glance
| Standard | ISO/IEC 15420 (2009), same family as EAN-13 — ISO/IEC 15420 |
|---|---|
| Data capacity | 11 data digits + 1 mod-10 check digit (12 total) |
| Character set | Digits 0–9 only |
| First digit (number system) | 0/1/6/7/8 = regular retail · 2 = variable-weight in-store · 3 = drug/health · 4 = loyalty/coupon · 5/9 = coupon |
| Nominal size (X = 0.33 mm) | 37.29 mm wide × 25.91 mm tall at 100% magnification — GS1 General Specifications §5.2.2 |
| Size range | 80%–200% of nominal |
| Year introduced | 1973; first scanned 26 June 1974 (Marsh Supermarket, Troy, Ohio) |
“UPC-A and EAN-13 share the same symbol structure; modern scanners read both interchangeably, and an EAN-13 with a leading zero is, in effect, a UPC-A.”
Structure
First digit is the number system character (0/1/6/7/8 = regular product, 2 = variable-weight item like meat or produce, 3 = pharmaceutical, 4 = in-store use, 5/9 = coupon).
The next 5 digits identify the manufacturer. The next 5 identify the product. The 12th is a modulo-10 check digit.
Relationship to EAN-13
A UPC-A is an EAN-13 with a leading zero. Modern scanners read both interchangeably. If you sell internationally, you can ship a single product with a UPC-A and it scans fine in European supermarkets.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to register with GS1?
- Yes if you intend to sell at retail. Every store enforces it. For internal asset tracking, any 11 digits work.
- What's the minimum print size?
- Retail standard is 37.29 mm × 25.93 mm at 100%. The GS1 spec allows scaling down to 80%, below which scan failures rise sharply.
- Can I print UPC-A in colors?
- Bars must be a dark color (black is safest); background must be light (white or pale yellow). Red bars do not scan — red lasers see red as white.