UPC & GTIN checker: is your barcode number valid?
Type or paste a UPC, EAN or GTIN. We check the check digit, show the GTIN type and tell you what Amazon needs before you list.
Works with UPC-A, EAN-13, GTIN-8 and GTIN-14. Nothing is stored.
A UPC is a 12-digit GTIN (GTIN-12) used in the US and Canada. GTIN is the family name that also covers EAN-13, GTIN-8 and GTIN-14, so every UPC is a GTIN but not every GTIN is a UPC. A barcode number is valid when its last digit matches the GS1 check-digit formula. Amazon also checks that the number is registered to your brand in the GS1 database.
How the UPC check digit works
Every GTIN ends in a check digit calculated from the other digits. It catches almost every single-digit typo, which is why scanners and marketplaces reject numbers that fail it.
Drop the check digit
barcode 036000291452 → 03600029145The last digit is the check digit. Set it aside and keep the other digits.
Weight the digits from the right
3, 1, 3, 1, …Starting with the rightmost remaining digit, multiply digits alternately by 3 and 1.
Add the results
0×3 + 3×1 + 6×3 + … = 58Sum all the weighted digits.
Find the check digit
check = (10 − 58 mod 10) mod 10 = 2Round the sum up to the next multiple of 10. The difference is the check digit. If it matches the last digit, the number is valid.
GTIN types at a glance
| Type | Digits | Also called | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTIN-8 | 8 | EAN-8 | Small packs where a full barcode doesn’t fit |
| GTIN-12 | 12 | UPC-A | Retail products in the US and Canada |
| GTIN-13 | 13 | EAN-13, JAN, ISBN-13 (978/979) | Retail products in most other countries, and books |
| GTIN-14 | 14 | ITF-14, case code | Cases and cartons, not single consumer units |
Any GTIN can be written as 14 digits by adding leading zeros. Marketplaces store it that way, so 036000291452 and 00036000291452 are the same product.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between GTIN and UPC?
GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) is the family of product numbers run by GS1. A UPC is one type of GTIN: the 12-digit GTIN-12 used in the US and Canada. EAN-13, GTIN-8 and GTIN-14 are the other types. Every UPC is a GTIN, but not every GTIN is a UPC.
How do I get a UPC code?
License a GS1 Company Prefix from GS1 US (or the GS1 office in your country), then assign a number to each product and variant. Sellers with only a few products can buy single GTINs from GS1 US. Codes resold by third parties may not be registered to your brand.
Does Amazon accept any UPC?
No. Amazon checks UPCs against the GS1 database, and a code must be registered to the brand on the listing. Codes bought from resellers can be rejected. Private-label, handmade and some bundled products can apply for a GTIN exemption instead.
Is a valid check digit enough?
No. A correct check digit only proves the number is well formed and catches most typos. It does not prove the code is registered or who owns it. Look the number up in GS1’s Verified by GS1 service to see the company it belongs to.
What does the first digit of a UPC mean?
In a UPC-A the first digit is the number system. 0, 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are used for regular products, 2 for variable-weight items such as meat, 3 for drugs (US NDC), 4 for in-store codes and 5 for coupons. Codes starting with 2 or 4 are for internal use and are not accepted on marketplaces.
Related free tools
Sources: GS1, How to calculate a check digit · Amazon Seller Central, Product UPCs and GTINs · Jungle Scout, GTIN exemption on Amazon. Prefix ranges show which GS1 office issued the number, not where the product was made.