Barcode Guide
What Is a UPC Barcode? UPC-A Explained
A UPC is a product-identification code commonly used in retail. UPC-A is the familiar 12-digit barcode format seen on many consumer products in the United States and Canada. If you already have a valid UPC-A identifier, BarcodeYard can turn that number into a machine-readable barcode symbol.
What does UPC mean?
UPC stands for Universal Product Code. A UPC identifies a product for systems such as retail point-of-sale scanning. The number is the product identifier; the barcode is the machine-readable representation of that identifier.
How many digits are in a UPC-A?
A standard UPC-A identifier contains 12 digits. The final digit is a check digit used to help validate the number. When creating a barcode, use the identifier assigned to your product or workflow rather than treating a randomly generated number as an official UPC.
What is a UPC used for?
- Identifying retail products at checkout.
- Connecting a scanned product to a product record in a retail system.
- Supporting inventory and product workflows.
- Providing a standardized machine-readable product identifier.
- Representing the assigned UPC in a barcode symbol for compatible scanners.
UPC-A vs EAN-13
UPC-A normally uses 12 digits, while EAN-13 uses 13 digits. They are related retail product-identification standards, but you should use the format that matches the identifier assigned to your product and the requirements of the organizations that need to scan it.
Read UPC vs EAN for a detailed comparison, or learn more about what an EAN barcode is.
How do I create a UPC barcode?
- Start with the valid UPC-A identifier required by your product or workflow.
- Open the UPC-A Barcode Generator.
- Enter the number and generate the barcode symbol.
- Download the result as PNG, SVG, or PDF, or send it to print.
- Test the printed barcode with the scanners used in your workflow before printing a large run.
Can I create a UPC barcode for free?
Yes. BarcodeYard lets you generate a UPC-A barcode online for free without installing software or creating an account. The generator creates the symbol from a number you provide; it does not assign an official product identifier.
Does BarcodeYard assign UPC or GTIN numbers?
No. BarcodeYard generates a barcode symbol from an identifier you already have. It does not issue, sell, or assign official UPC or GTIN product identifiers. If a retailer or marketplace requires a product identifier, use the identifier supplied through the appropriate numbering system.
Frequently asked questions
Is a UPC the same as a barcode?
A UPC is a product-identification system, while the barcode is the machine-readable symbol that represents the identifier.
Can I make a UPC barcode for free?
Yes. You can generate the barcode symbol for a UPC-A identifier you already have with BarcodeYard.
Can I use any 12-digit number as a UPC?
A generator can render a valid UPC-A value, but generating an image does not make a number an officially assigned retail identifier.
Can a UPC be converted to EAN?
Do not manually alter a product identifier. If a different representation is required, follow the applicable product-identification and trading-partner rules.