UPC-A Barcode Generator

What a UPC-A barcode holds

UPC-A stands for Universal Product Code, version A, and it encodes a twelve-digit number. The first digit is a number system character, the next five identify the manufacturer, the following five identify the item, and the last digit is a check digit. Because the structure is fixed, a scanner can reject a read whose digits do not add up.

The generator takes eleven digits, weights them with the same mod-10 rule used for the EAN codes, and appends the check digit. For example, 03600029145 becomes 036000291452. Type twelve digits instead and the last one is checked, with a wrong value refused and the expected digit shown. Only digits are accepted, so letters and spaces are not.

A UPC-A is in effect an EAN-13 with a leading zero, so the two symbols carry the same number once that zero is added, and most scanners that read EAN-13 also read UPC-A. The generator draws the symbol. It does not assign manufacturer or item numbers, which come from GS1.

A dependable workflow starts with the number assigned to the item, moves to the product record and ends at the label. Keeping those three in step means a change in one place is copied to the others, so the same code appears on the shelf, the till and the invoice.

How to make a UPC-A barcode in three steps

1. 01

   Choose UPC-A and enter the digits

   Select UPC-A in Type, then enter eleven digits in Value. Use an example fills 03600029145 so you can see the layout. Enter twelve digits to check a number you already have, and the editor confirms the last digit.

2. 02

   Adjust the appearance

   Set Bar color and Background, then Size for the width of the narrow bars and Bar height for their length. Show the number is on by default for UPC-A, so the twelve digits appear under the bars in the file.

3. 03

   Test the preview and download

   Scan the preview with a handheld reader or a phone, and make sure the digits under the bars match the value you typed. Download SVG for print, or PNG, JPG or WEBP for a document or a web page.

Where UPC-A barcodes are used

• Grocery and household products

  Cans, boxes and bottles sold in North American supermarkets commonly carry a UPC-A, which the till reads to find the item and its price.

• General merchandise

  Clothing, tools and toys sold in stores that follow the North American convention carry a 12-digit code on the tag or packaging. Keep one number per item and per variant.

• A brand preparing its first range

  A brand launching its first retail range needs its own manufacturer number from GS1 before it prints a UPC-A. Once the number is assigned, the generator produces the symbol for each item.

• Prototype and pre-production labels

  A prototype can show the final UPC-A on its label, so a retailer's buyer sees the layout before the full run starts. Mark the file clearly as a proof so no one ships it by mistake.

• Price-check and shelf signs

  Shelf labels next to a product can show its UPC, so an employee can scan the position and check the price in the system. Keep the symbol large enough for the scanning distance used on the shelf.

Tips for UPC-A labels that scan at the till

Keep the twelve digits intact

A UPC-A is read as a whole, so one missing or repeated digit changes the product. Compare the printed digits with your product master record before you approve a label.

Do not guess the check digit

The twelfth digit is calculated. If you copy an existing number, enter all twelve digits and let the editor verify it, because a wrong digit is reported with the one it expected.

Mind the quiet zones

UPC-A needs clear space on both sides of the bars. Scanners use the blank area to find the start and end of the code, so keep graphics and text out of it.

Choose bar colors that read

Dark bars on a light background read best. Avoid light colors on dark packs, and check the printed result on the real material, since glossy films can reflect the scanner light.

UPC-A questions