Buy UPC Barcodes: GS1 or a Reseller?
To buy UPC barcodes in the United States, you license numbers from GS1 US: a single GTIN for $30, or a GS1 Company Prefix for 10 to 100,000 products with a yearly fee. Resellers sell numbers too, but GS1 US warns those may be linked to another company. This guide compares both and counts how many you need.
By the Barcode.codes editorial teamReviewed
How Many Barcodes Do I Need?
You need one barcode number for every product, every variation you sell separately and every package size: GS1 US's example is 3 sizes × 3 colors = 9 barcodes.
Try it: how many barcodes you need
Different products, such as a T-shirt and a hoodie.
Use 1 when there is one size.
Every variation sold separately.
Such as a single and a 3-pack: 2.
A prefix renews every year; single GTINs do not.
9 barcodes (1 × 3 × 3 × 1 = 9)
| Option | First year | Each later year | Total, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 GS1 US GTINs | $270 | $0 | $270 |
| GS1 Company Prefix for 10 items1 left for new items | $250 | $50 | $450 |
Over 5 years, 9 GS1 US GTINs comes to $270, $180 less than the prefix.
Prices from GS1 US for US companies; GS1 US can change them, and payments are not refunded. A single GS1 US GTIN cannot identify mixed cases or coupons. Reseller prices are not shown.
Variations and Package Sizes
GS1 US says each variation of each product you sell needs its own barcode, so a T-shirt in three sizes and three colors needs nine. The GS1 General Specifications add that a unit, a six pack and a 12 pack of the same item each get their own GTIN, and a multi-pack gets a GTIN different from the item inside it.
Cases and Pallets
Cases and pallets that are ordered or shipped as a unit need numbers of their own too. GS1 US lists cases, pallets, mixed cases, coupons and locations among what a GS1 Company Prefix covers, and says a single GS1 US GTIN cannot identify mixed cases or create coupons.
How Much Does a UPC Barcode Cost?
At GS1 US a single GTIN costs $30 once, with no renewal; a GS1 Company Prefix costs $250 to $10,500 to start, by capacity, plus an annual renewal of $50 to $2,100.
| Option | Numbers | Initial Fee | Annual Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS1 US GTIN | 1 each | $30 | $0 |
| GS1 Company Prefix | 10 | $250 | $50 |
| GS1 Company Prefix | 100 | $750 | $150 |
| GS1 Company Prefix | 1,000 | $2,500 | $500 |
| GS1 Company Prefix | 10,000 | $6,500 | $1,300 |
| GS1 Company Prefix | 100,000 | $10,500 | $2,100 |
GS1 US reserves the right to change these prices, and its FAQ says payments are non-refundable and a licensed prefix or GTIN cannot be exchanged. Count your products before you pay.
Single GTINs or a Company Prefix?
Single GTINs never renew, so for a handful of products they cost less over the years. Over five years, a prefix costs less from a few dozen numbers, and it also covers cases, pallets and locations. The calculator above compares both for your count and the years you choose.
Outside the United States
These prices are GS1 US's, for companies in the United States. Elsewhere, numbers come from the GS1 Member Organization of your country, with its own options and fees.
GS1 or a Reseller: What You Get
A number licensed from GS1 US is registered to your company in GS1's database; GS1 US warns that numbers not issued by GS1 may be linked to another company.
| Question | Licensed From GS1 US | Bought From a Reseller |
|---|---|---|
| Who the number is registered to | Your company, as the brand owner | GS1 US says it may be linked to another company |
| What Verified by GS1 shows | Your company | The company the prefix was licensed to |
| Amazon's check against the GS1 database | Matches your brand | May fail as a GTIN mismatch |
| Yearly fee | None for a single GTIN; a renewal for a prefix | Set by the seller |
Price is the reason people look at resellers, and this guide does not quote their prices. Before you pay anyone, look up a sample number from the seller to see whose company it belongs to.
What Amazon Checks
GS1 US quotes Amazon Seller Central: "We verify the authenticity of product UPCs by checking the GS1 database." A mismatch often comes from a brand name that differs from the one registered with GS1, or a GTIN not licensed to the brand owner. Amazon also grants GTIN exemptions for some products, which it checks case by case.
Barcode for Amazon products the GTIN Amazon needs, GTIN exemptions and the FBA labels since March 2026.
Check a Number Before You Buy
Verified by GS1 and the GS1 Company Database show which company a GS1 number is licensed to. A correct check digit only proves the digits were typed right; it says nothing about who owns the number.
Barcode lookup checks the digits and the GS1 prefix of a number and opens Verified by GS1 for it.
How to Buy UPC Barcodes From GS1 US
Count the numbers you need, choose a single GTIN or a prefix in the GS1 US store, pay, then assign a number to each product in GS1 US Data Hub.
- Count your products, variations and package sizes with the calculator above.
- In the GS1 US store, put a GS1 US GTIN or a GS1 Company Prefix in your cart.
- Give your contact information and pay; GS1 US sends a welcome email with access to myGS1 US.
- Assign each product its number in GS1 US Data Hub, which comes with the license.
- Make the barcode from the number and scan a test print before you print packaging.
GS1 US says that as long as you renew your membership every year, your product data stays linked to your company and you keep access to Data Hub. A single GS1 US GTIN comes with a free lifetime Data Hub subscription and no renewal fee.
UPC barcode generator draws a UPC-A or UPC-E from your number, with the check digit, as SVG, PNG, PDF or EPS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use One UPC for Every Size?
No. GS1 US says each variation of each product you sell needs its own barcode, so every size and color sold separately gets its own number.
Do UPC Barcodes Expire?
A single GS1 US GTIN has no renewal fee. A GS1 Company Prefix is renewed every year, and GS1 US says renewing keeps your product data linked to your company.
Can I Get a Refund From GS1 US?
No. The GS1 US FAQ says payments are non-refundable and a licensed prefix, GTIN or location number cannot be exchanged, so count your products first.
Does Barcode.codes Sell UPC Codes?
No. Barcode.codes draws barcodes from numbers you already have and checks their digits; it does not issue or sell product numbers.
Is a Reseller UPC Valid If the Check Digit Is Right?
The check digit only shows that the 12 digits are consistent. Whether the number belongs to your company is shown by Verified by GS1 or the GS1 Company Database.
Sources
The prices and rules in this guide come from these sources, retrieved on October 14, 2026; GS1 US can change its prices.
GS1 US: How to Get UPC Barcodes for Products has the price table, one barcode per product variation and the checkout steps; retrieved October 14, 2026.
GS1 US: GS1 Company Prefix, Barcodes and Identification FAQ covers single GTINs, prefix fees and renewal, refunds and the GS1 Company Database (GEPIR); retrieved October 14, 2026.
GS1 US: Barcodes for Amazon quotes Amazon Seller Central on checking UPCs against the GS1 database and explains GTIN mismatches; retrieved October 14, 2026.
GS1 General Specifications, Release 26.0, ratified January 2026 defines the GS1 identification keys, barcodes and Application Identifiers; the text names the sections used.
Verified by GS1 is GS1's service that shows which company a GTIN is licensed to.
Related Barcode Guides
- What is a UPC code?
The 12 digits, the check digit and how to get one.
- What is a GTIN?
GTIN-8, -12, -13 and -14 and their barcodes.
- Barcode country codes
The GS1 prefixes and the offices that issue them.
- EAN vs UPC
The difference between UPC-A and EAN-13, and how to convert.