Barcode Lookup: How to Find Product Information from Any Barcode

A barcode lookup turns a string of numbers into actual product information: what the product is, who makes it, and where to buy it. Retail barcodes like UPC-A and EAN-13 don't store product details inside the barcode itself. They store an identification number. The product information lives in databases that you query with that number.

Here's how to scan any barcode, find its number, and look up the product behind it.

What's Actually in a Barcode

This trips people up. A barcode on a cereal box doesn't contain the product name, price, or nutritional info. It contains a number. That's it.

When a grocery store cashier scans a box of cereal, the scanner reads the number (say, 038000138416), sends it to the store's database, and the database returns the product name and price. The barcode is just a key that unlocks information stored somewhere else.

Different barcode formats store different types of data:

Only UPC and EAN barcodes are meant for product lookup. Other formats encode operational data like tracking numbers, URLs, or serial codes.

Step 1: Scan the Barcode

First, get the number out of the barcode. You have several options depending on what device you're using.

On Your Phone

Fastest method — open barcodescanner.online in your phone's browser. Point your camera at the barcode. The scanner decodes the number instantly and shows the barcode format. No app install needed.

Google Lens (Android) reads most barcode formats and often shows product info directly. Open Google Lens from the Google app or camera app and point at the barcode.

iPhone Camera handles QR codes natively but won't decode UPC or EAN barcodes. For product barcodes on iPhone, use a web-based scanner or a dedicated app.

For a full walkthrough, see our guide to scanning barcodes on phones.

From a Photo or Screenshot

Already have a picture of the barcode? Upload it to barcodescanner.online using the "Upload Image" option. The scanner finds and decodes barcodes in photos, screenshots, and scanned documents.

With a Handheld Scanner

USB barcode scanners act like keyboards. Plug one in, open any text field (Notepad, a search bar, a spreadsheet), and scan the barcode. The number appears as typed text. Most handheld scanners cost $20-50 and work with any computer.

Step 2: Decode the Number

Once you have the barcode number, you can already extract some information before hitting a database.

Reading UPC-A Numbers

A 12-digit UPC-A number breaks down like this:

0  36000  29145  2
│  │      │      └── Check digit (calculated)
│  │      └── Product number (assigned by manufacturer)
│  └── Company prefix (assigned by GS1)
└── Number system (0 = standard UPC)

The company prefix (first 6-9 digits after the number system digit) identifies the manufacturer. The product number identifies the specific item within that manufacturer's catalog. The check digit is calculated from the other digits to catch scanning errors.

Reading EAN-13 Numbers

A 13-digit EAN-13 works similarly but starts with a 2-3 digit country prefix:

590  1234  12345  7
│    │     │      └── Check digit
│    │     └── Product number
│    └── Company prefix
└── Country prefix (590 = Poland)

The country prefix tells you where the company is registered with GS1. It doesn't necessarily mean the product was manufactured there.

Common country prefixes:

Step 3: Search Product Databases

Now take the barcode number and look it up. Several free databases and search engines return product information.

Google Search / Google Shopping

The simplest approach. Type or paste the barcode number into Google. For well-known products, Google shows a product card with the name, images, pricing, and retailer links. Google Shopping results are especially useful for comparing prices across stores.

Dedicated Barcode Databases

Retailer Search

Paste the barcode number directly into the search bar on Amazon, Walmart, Target, or any major retailer's website. If the product is sold there, the listing appears with full details, images, reviews, and current pricing.

Google Lens (Visual Search)

If you're looking up a barcode from a physical product, Google Lens can skip the number entirely. Point it at the barcode or the product itself, and Google returns product matches, shopping results, and related information.

What to Do When Lookup Returns Nothing

Not every barcode has a match in public databases. Here's why, and what to try.

Internal Barcodes

If the barcode is Code 128 or Code 39, it's probably an internal barcode used for inventory, shipping, or warehouse management. These use custom numbering schemes that only make sense within the company that created them. No public database will have information for these.

New or Niche Products

Small manufacturers sometimes don't submit their products to barcode databases. The product is real and has a valid GS1-registered barcode, but nobody has cataloged it yet. Try:

1. Searching the manufacturer name plus the product description
2. Looking up the GS1 company prefix on GEPIR to at least identify the manufacturer
3. Checking the manufacturer's own website with the product code

Discontinued Products

Products pulled from shelves years ago may have been removed from active databases. Historical barcode databases and archived retail listings sometimes still have the data. Try searching the number in quotes on Google.

In-Store Barcodes

Some retailers (especially grocery stores) use in-store barcodes with the prefix 2 in UPC-A. These are store-specific codes for weighed items, deli products, or store-brand products. They only work in that specific retailer's system.

Barcode Lookup for Business

If you need to look up barcodes at volume for business purposes, the approach changes.

For Inventory Receiving

When receiving shipments, scan product barcodes to match them against your purchase orders. Your inventory management software maintains its own product database keyed to UPC/EAN numbers. The first time you scan a new product, you add it to your system; after that, the lookup is instant.

For Price Comparison

Retail competitors use barcode scanning to match products across stores. Scan a competitor's shelf, look up each product by its UPC/EAN, and compare against your own pricing. Several business intelligence tools automate this workflow.

For Product Data Enrichment

If you need product images, descriptions, and attributes at scale, barcode database APIs provide programmatic access:

• UPCitemdb API: Free tier (100 requests/day), paid plans for higher volume
• Barcode Lookup API: Paid plans starting around $30/month
• Open Food Facts API: Free, open source, focused on food products
• GS1 Data Hub: Official GS1 product data registry for verified information

Verifying Barcode Authenticity

Barcode lookup can help spot counterfeit products, but it's not foolproof. Here's what to check:

• Does the company prefix match the brand? Look up the GS1 prefix on GEPIR. If a product claims to be from a major brand but the prefix belongs to a different company, that's a red flag
• Does the product info match the physical product? If the database says the barcode belongs to a 16oz bottle of shampoo but you're holding a 32oz bottle, something is wrong
• Is the barcode format appropriate? Retail products sold in stores should have UPC-A or EAN-13 barcodes. If a "retail" product has a Code 128 or Code 39 barcode, it wasn't issued through the standard GS1 system

These checks don't guarantee authenticity, but inconsistencies are worth investigating further.

Related Guides

• How to Scan a Barcode on iPhone and Android — all the ways to scan barcodes on mobile
• EAN-13 Complete Guide — everything about the international product barcode
• UPC-A Complete Guide — the North American retail barcode explained
• How to Get a Barcode for Your Product — register your own product barcodes through GS1