Free UPC Barcode Generator
Enter your 11 or 12-digit number to get a UPC-A barcode. Add 11 digits and the tool works out the check digit.
Example: 036000291452
Everything runs in your browser. What you type is never sent to us.
Preview
Printed size: 43.2 × 26.1 mm
Downloads come out at the printed size shown here. On screen, the preview is scaled to fit.
What a UPC-A number is made of
UPC-A has 12 digits. Most of them are your GS1 company prefix and the item reference you assign to each product. The last digit is a check digit, worked out from the others so that scanners can catch a misread.
Where the number comes from
This tool draws the barcode, but it cannot give you the number. Retailers expect a number licensed to your company through GS1. Numbers bought from unofficial resellers may already be linked to another company, and some marketplaces reject them.
Size and placement
- 100% size uses a 0.33 mm narrowest bar, and the bars stand 22.85 mm tall.
- The allowed range runs from 80% to 200%. The tool scales the bar height with the width, as the standard expects.
- Quiet zones of at least 9 bar widths on each side are built into the file. Keep them clear of artwork.
- Avoid cutting the height. Shortening the bars makes the barcode harder to scan, and some retailers will not accept it.
- On a curved surface, run the bars around a bottle rather than along it where you can, so the barcode does not bend out of view.
What this tool does and does not do
It draws the barcode for the number you enter. It does not issue numbers: retail barcodes need a number licensed from GS1.
Scan a printed sample before a full run. Print quality, material and color all affect scanning, and only a barcode verifier gives a formal grade.
Common questions
What is the difference between UPC and EAN?
UPC-A has 12 digits and is mainly used in the US and Canada. EAN-13 has 13 digits and is used in most other countries. Modern retail systems usually read both.
Can I make up my own UPC number?
You can draw any valid number here, for testing or internal use. For retail sale, use a number licensed to your company, because an invented number may belong to someone else.
What is the smallest UPC barcode I can print?
GS1 allows down to 80% of full size, a 0.264 mm narrowest bar. Small sizes need good print quality, so talk to your printer and test a sample first.
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