Free Tool
UPC-A Barcode Generator
Enter 11 digits and the check digit is added, or enter all 12 and it is verified. Download the UPC as a PNG or SVG, free and with no signup.
Private by design: the barcode is built in your browser. What you type is never uploaded or stored.
About this barcode
The standard barcode in North America
UPC-A is the twelve-digit barcode used on retail products in the United States and Canada. Eleven digits identify the product and the twelfth is a check digit. It is the same pattern of bars as an EAN-13 with a leading zero, so scanners all over the world read it.
The first digit is a number system digit. Different values are used for ordinary products, for items sold by weight, for coupons and for other uses. The digits after it carry the manufacturer and the product, and the last is calculated from the others.
Outside North America you will more often see EAN-13, which is the same family with thirteen digits.
Where it is used
Where UPC-A is used
Retail packaging. Grocery items, household goods, books and electronics sold in US and Canadian shops.
Online listings. Marketplaces often ask for a UPC, and the label on the product must match.
Packaging artwork. Designers drop in a barcode with the right proportions while the final number is pending.
Training and demos. Cashier training and scanner setup need valid sample codes.
Inventory software testing. Checking that a stock system reads and stores twelve-digit numbers correctly.
Internal labels. For codes that never leave your business, Code 128 accepts any text you choose.
How to use it
Three simple steps
1. Enter the digits
Type 11 digits and the check digit is calculated. A twelve-digit number is checked instead.
2. Read the message
The preview shows the check digit that was added, or explains clearly why a number is not valid.
3. Download and test
Save a PNG or SVG, print it at your intended size and scan the printout before committing to a print run.
The details
How the twelfth digit is worked out
The check digit comes from the first eleven digits. Working from the right, the digits are multiplied alternately by 3 and 1, the results are added, and the check digit is the amount needed to reach the next multiple of ten. For 03600029145 it is 2, giving 036000291452. This tool calculates it, and when you enter twelve digits it verifies the last one and shows the correct value if it does not match.
The bars must be tall enough and wide enough to scan reliably. A UPC printed too small, or with its blank margins crowded by artwork, is among the most common reasons a product fails at the till. This generator keeps the side margins automatically and warns you when the bars are very thin or very short.
This tool draws a valid UPC-A for any number you enter. It does not register the number. In North America, UPC numbers for products sold through retailers come from GS1 US, and a number made up on a web page may already belong to another company.
The number under the bars
Set the digits in your own typeface
The twelve digits printed under the bars are the fallback when a scan fails. Search the font box and choose a face from the ProFont font library. The PNG download uses it, and the SVG uses a standard font so it renders consistently on any device.
Number font ideas
Pick a font for the number
UPC digits are printed small, so a sturdy sans serif keeps them readable. Three to try:
Guides worth reading
Type guides to go with your barcode
Packaging mixes type styles, and these guides help you combine them:
Questions
UPC-A barcode FAQ
Is UPC-A the same as EAN-13?
They are closely related. A UPC-A is an EAN-13 with a leading zero, and scanners read both.
Do I enter 11 or 12 digits?
Either. With 11 digits the check digit is added, and with 12 the last digit is verified.
What does the first digit mean?
It is the number system digit. It marks whether the code is for an ordinary product, a weighed item, a coupon or another use.
Can I use a UPC I generate for products I sell?
The barcode is valid, but retailers expect registered numbers. Numbers should come from GS1 so they do not clash with another company’s.
Why won’t my printed UPC scan?
The usual causes are bars that are too thin, too short or blurry, or a blank margin that has been crowded by artwork. Print larger and test again.
More barcode formats
Make a different kind of barcode
Every format is free, private and made in your browser. Need a square code that holds a link or contact? The QR generator makes those.
Explore ProFont
Find the right font for anything
Search more than 2,000 fonts, see them in use and read the type guides.