Use your UPC Company Prefix to create and view practice barcodes
The number in a UPC barcode (called a GTIN®) is typically 12 digits long. This tool helps illustrate how you create a GTIN-12
- It starts with your UPC Company Prefix that was assigned to your company when it became a member of GS1 US. Your U.P.C. Company Prefix could be between six and ten digits long
- The next one to five digits are for the item reference numbers that you will assign to your unique product variations
- The 12th digit is called the check digit, which is calculated based on the other numbers in the GTIN-12 and ensures accuracy
Create Your GTIN-12
- Find your GS1 Company Prefix Certificate to get your UPC Company Prefix. Your company received this certificate when it became a member of GS1 US®.
If you don't have a copy of your GS1 Company Prefix certificate, you can log in to myGS1 US and view or download a copy. - Follow the instructions on the wizard below.

Now that you know how to create a GTIN-12, explore these resources for creating more GTIN-12s and UPC barcodes:
- GS1 Foundations Online Certificate Course – Our online or virtual classroom course offers education that will help you learn product identification standards that result in trusted data for your trading partners and consumers.
- Solution Provider Finder – Find a GS1 US Solution Provider to create your GTINs and barcodes for you
- GS1 US Data Hub® | Product – Identify your products and create barcodes in a tool that backs up your product data in a secure environment. With GS1 US Data Hub | Product, you can create barcodes and manage and share your products. You currently need to be issued an annual GS1 Company Prefix to access GS1 US Data Hub | Product
- Get Started Guide – Learn more about creating product identification, choosing the right barcode type, getting the barcodes on your products, and more