How to Get a Barcode for Your Product: Step-by-Step Guide

To get a barcode for a retail product, you register with GS1 (the global standards organization managing product identification in 116 countries), receive a Company Prefix, assign product numbers, and generate barcode graphics for your packaging. GS1 US charges an initial fee starting at $250 for a prefix supporting 10 products, plus $50/year renewal. The process takes 1-2 business days for approval. This guide walks through each step from registration to printed barcode, including which format to choose and common mistakes that cause barcode rejection at major retailers.

Step 1: Register with GS1

Barcodes for retail products aren't something you generate randomly. Each barcode contains a globally unique number that identifies your company and product. The organization that manages this numbering system is GS1 — a global non-profit with member organizations in over 110 countries.

How GS1 Registration Works

1. Visit your local GS1 organization's website. In the US, that's GS1 US. In the UK, it's GS1 UK. Other countries have their own GS1 offices.

2. Apply for a GS1 Company Prefix. This is a unique number assigned to your company that forms the first part of every barcode you create. The prefix length determines how many individual product codes you can assign:

3. Pay the registration fee. GS1 US charges an initial fee (starting around $250 for the smallest prefix) plus an annual renewal fee ($50/year). Prices vary by country and prefix size.

4. Receive your Company Prefix. GS1 processes applications within 1-2 business days. Once approved, you can begin assigning product numbers immediately.

Why Not Use a Third-Party Reseller?

You'll find websites selling individual barcodes for $5-30 each. These resellers purchased large GS1 prefixes and subdivide them. While technically valid barcodes, they carry risks:

• Retailer rejection: Amazon, Walmart, Target, Kroger, and other major retailers verify barcodes against the GS1 database. If the prefix owner doesn't match your company, listings can be suspended or rejected.
• No ownership: The prefix belongs to the reseller, not you. If they stop renewing with GS1, your barcodes become invalid.
• Marketplace policy violations: Amazon's GTIN exemption and brand registry policies increasingly require GS1-verified barcodes.

For products sold through major retailers or marketplaces, GS1 registration is the only reliable path.

Step 2: Choose Your Barcode Format

The format depends on where and how your product is sold.

For Retail Products

UPC-A — The standard for products sold at retail in North America. Encodes 12 digits: your GS1 company prefix + product code + check digit. This is what checkout scanners read at grocery stores, pharmacies, and mass merchandisers.

EAN-13 — The international equivalent. Encodes 13 digits and is required for products sold outside North America. UPC-A codes convert to EAN-13 by adding a leading zero, so a single GS1 prefix covers both formats.

UPC-E — A compressed version of UPC-A for products with very small packaging. Only certain UPC-A codes qualify for compression (those with specific zero patterns).

EAN-8 — The compact international format for small products. Requires a separate application to GS1 with proof that EAN-13 won't fit.

For Shipping and Distribution

ITF-14 — Identifies outer cases and cartons containing retail products. Required by distributors and retailers for case-level scanning at warehouses.

GS1-128 — Encodes additional supply chain data like batch numbers, expiry dates, and serial numbers alongside the product identifier.

For Most New Businesses

If you're launching a consumer product for retail, start with UPC-A (North America) or EAN-13 (international). These cover 90% of use cases. You can add shipping barcodes (ITF-14) later when retailers require case-level identification.

Step 3: Assign Product Numbers

With your GS1 Company Prefix, you assign unique product numbers to each item you sell. Each unique product — including variations in size, color, flavor, or packaging — needs its own number.

Examples that each need separate barcodes:

• 12 oz bag of coffee vs. 16 oz bag (different sizes)
• Vanilla flavor vs. chocolate flavor (different variants)
• Single bottle vs. 4-pack (different packaging configurations)
• Original recipe vs. new formula (if sold simultaneously)

Number Assignment Best Practices

• Keep a spreadsheet tracking which numbers are assigned to which products. GS1 provides tools for this, but a simple spreadsheet works for small catalogs.
• Don't reuse numbers. Once a product is discontinued, retire its number. Reusing numbers creates confusion in retail systems and databases.
• Assign sequentially. Start with 00001, then 00002, and so on. There's no significance to the product number itself — it's just a unique identifier.
• Calculate the check digit correctly. The last digit of every UPC/EAN code is a mathematically calculated check digit. Our barcode generator handles this automatically.

Step 4: Generate Your Barcodes

Once you have your complete product numbers (company prefix + product code + check digit), generate the actual barcode graphics for your packaging.

Using our free barcode generator:

1. Go to the appropriate generator page:
   • EAN-13 Generator for international products
   • UPC-A Generator for North American products
2. Enter your complete product number
3. Download the barcode as SVG (for print) or PNG (for digital use)
4. Send the file to your packaging designer or printer

Important file format notes:

• SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is preferred for print. It scales to any size without quality loss.
• PNG works for digital use and basic printing. Use high resolution (300 DPI minimum) for packaging.
• PDF is also suitable for print workflows.

Step 5: Print and Place Your Barcode

Barcode Placement Guidelines

• Flat surface: Place the barcode on a flat area, not across curves, seams, or folds
• Bottom right: The standard placement on most packaging is the lower-right area of the back panel
• Away from edges: Keep at least 3mm between the barcode and any package edge
• Clear of other graphics: Don't overlap the barcode with text, images, or other design elements

Size Requirements

Printing below minimum size risks scanning failures at checkout.

Color and Contrast

• Best: Black bars on white background
• Acceptable: Dark bars on light background (dark blue, dark green on white or light yellow)
• Avoid: Red bars (invisible to laser scanners), bars on red/orange backgrounds, metallic or transparent substrates without an opaque white backing

Print Quality Verification

Before committing to a full production run, verify your barcode:

1. Print a sample on the actual packaging material
2. Test scanning with a handheld scanner and our free online scanner to confirm readability
3. Check quiet zones — the blank space on each side of the barcode must be maintained
4. Verify the number — scan the barcode and confirm the decoded number matches your assigned product code

For high-volume products, consider professional barcode verification (ISO/IEC 15416 grading) to ensure consistent scannability across your production run.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Starting without GS1 registration: Generating random numbers or copying barcode formats from the internet creates invalid codes that retailers reject.

Using the same barcode for different products: Each unique product (size, variant, pack size) needs its own unique barcode number. Two different products sharing a barcode causes pricing errors and inventory chaos.

Printing too small: Shrinking the barcode to fit your design looks clean but causes scanning failures. Meet minimum size requirements even if it means adjusting your packaging layout.

Forgetting the check digit: The last digit must be mathematically correct. Manually composing a barcode number and guessing the last digit produces an invalid code. Always calculate it or use a generator that calculates it automatically.

Not testing before production: A barcode that looks correct visually might not scan due to insufficient contrast, poor print quality, or inadequate quiet zones. Always test before printing thousands of packages.

Letting GS1 registration lapse: GS1 requires annual renewal. If your registration lapses, your barcodes may be flagged as invalid in retailer systems.

Barcode Requirements by Sales Channel

Timeline and Checklist

Here's a realistic timeline for getting barcodes on your product:

Day 1-2: Apply for GS1 Company Prefix and receive approval

Day 2-3: Assign product numbers to each item in your catalog

Day 3-4: Generate barcode graphics using our barcode generator and send to your packaging designer

Day 4-7: Review packaging proofs, verify barcode placement and sizing

Week 2: Print test packaging, scan-test barcodes, confirm readability

Production: Proceed with full packaging production run

The total investment — GS1 registration fee plus your time — is minimal compared to the cost of rejected products, retailer compliance issues, or marketplace listing suspensions from using improper barcodes.