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Free Online UPC-A Barcode Generator

UPC Mode

UPC-A is the 12-digit retail barcode found on most consumer goods sold in the United States and Canada. Enter the full number with check digit, validate the format, and download a scannable UPC image for packaging proofs and internal verification.

1. Enter barcode data

0 entries · Blank lines ignored · Duplicate values detected

2. Choose barcode settings

Barcode preview

Download settings

What is a UPC-A barcode?

UPC-A (Universal Product Code) is a 12-digit retail barcode symbology dominant on consumer packaging in the United States and Canada. The symbol encodes a manufacturer identifier, item reference, and check digit in a format read by virtually every North American point-of-sale scanner. It is structurally related to EAN-13, which adds a leading zero to many UPC values for international use.

Recommended generator settings

These defaults work well for preview and download. Adjust to match your label template or scanner tests.

Bar width Start at 2; increase only if scans fail at your print size
Height 100 px preview minimum; follow your label template for print
Quiet zone Keep the default margin unless your spec defines a different quiet zone
Readable text Leave enabled when operators verify values manually
Output format PNG for design files; JPEG for documents and quick sharing

Practical examples

  • 012345678905
  • 036000291452
  • 085892500005

When should you use UPC-A?

  • Consumer product labels targeting US and Canadian retail chains
  • Packaging artwork proofs before mass production
  • Verifying that an assigned 12-digit number renders correctly
  • Internal catalog workflows aligned with North American POS systems

Limitations and common mistakes

International retail outside North America often expects EAN-13. Small packages may use UPC-E. Warehouse cartons use ITF-14 rather than UPC-A.

  • Including letters or symbols when this format accepts digits only.
  • Using the wrong digit count for this fixed-length symbology.
  • Assuming a generated number is an officially assigned product or case identifier.
  • Trimming quiet zones when cropping the image for a label layout.
  • Scaling the barcode unevenly so bar width ratios no longer match the generated image.

Related formats

UPC-A vs EAN-13

Format Best for Supported data Key difference
EAN-13 Product packaging for retail sale in markets that expect EAN-13 symbols Exactly 13 digits Thirteen digits; international format that often prepends 0 to UPC data.
UPC-E Very small retail packages where UPC-A will not fit legibly Exactly 6 digits Zero-suppressed representation of eligible UPC-A data.
EAN-8 Small retail packages that cannot accommodate a full EAN-13 symbol Exactly 8 digits Fixed-length numeric identifier with check digit.

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Printing and scanning notes

Printing

  • Follow retailer-published minimum module width and height specifications.
  • Never truncate guard bars or quiet zones when cropping label artwork.
  • Print human-readable digits below bars when your style guide requires them.

Scanning

  • North American POS scanners read UPC-A by default.
  • Many scanners also accept EAN-13 representations of the same product data.
  • Test on curved surfaces like cans; distortion affects narrow guard patterns.

This tool creates a barcode image from the value you provide. It does not issue, register or guarantee an official product identification number.

Frequently asked questions

Exactly 12 digits including the check digit.

No. You supply the number; the generator creates the barcode image only.

They are closely related. Many EAN-13 values are a UPC-A number with a leading zero.

Yes. Leading zeros are valid and must be preserved in the input.

UPC-E compresses eligible 12-digit UPCs into six digits for very small packages.

The value must be exactly 12 numeric digits.

Yes. Enter one 12-digit number per line.

Yes. Confirm your 12th digit is correct; the tool encodes the digits you enter.