UPC-A barcode generator
A UPC-A barcode is 12 digits drawn as bars, the form of retail barcode used in the United States and Canada. Opo Codes draws the bars for a number you supply, adds the twelfth check digit when you type 11, and exports the barcode free in your browser. It does not issue official product numbers.
Open the generatorFree. Runs in your browser.
How to do it
- Open the generator with UPC-A already selected.
- Type the 11 digits and the check digit is added, or type all 12.
- If the last digit of a 12-digit number is wrong, the generator shows the right one and offers to fix it.
- Check the scan stamp, pick PNG, JPG, SVG or PDF and a resolution, then download.
How the UPC-A check digit is worked out
The twelfth digit is a check digit. Add the digits in positions 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 and multiply that sum by 3. Add the digits in positions 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. Add the two results and find what is needed to reach the next multiple of 10.
Worked example with 01234567890. Positions 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 hold 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 0, which add up to 20, and 20 times 3 is 60. Positions 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 hold 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, which add up to 25. The total is 85. The next multiple of 10 is 90, so the check digit is 5 and the full number is 012345678905.
UPC-A and EAN-13
A UPC-A number is an EAN-13 with a 0 in front, so 012345678905 and 0012345678905 are the same product. Many scanners and phone readers report a UPC-A as 13 digits starting with 0, and the generator treats that as a match when it checks the scan. If a marketplace asks for EAN-13, add the 0 and use the EAN-13 type.
At the default 0.33 mm bar width the code is about 39 mm wide including its quiet zones. A 2 or 5 digit add-on can sit to the right of it.
Where the number comes from
This tool encodes the number you give it. It does not issue official GS1 numbers, and it cannot tell whether a number belongs to anyone. Numbers for products sold in shops come from GS1 membership, which gives you a company prefix that is yours alone. An invented number that happens to be valid can clash with another maker's product.
Use the made-up number above only to test a printer or a layout.
Questions
Can I type 12 digits instead of 11?
Yes. If the twelfth digit is wrong, the generator tells you the correct one so you can accept the fix.
What is the difference between UPC-A and UPC-E?
UPC-E is a shortened form for small packs. It is in the same generator, but this browser has no reader for it, so it is marked Not scan-tested.
Will a UPC-A scan outside North America?
Most modern scanners read it as EAN-13 with a 0 in front. Check with the shop or marketplace you sell through.
Can I sell with a number made here?
Only if you are entitled to use that number. Shops expect numbers from GS1 membership. This tool draws bars; it does not register numbers.