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What is a UPC-E Barcode?

UPCs - Universal Product Codes - are 8/11/12/14-digit numbered barcodes that appear on many products within the United States and Canada. There are five classes of UPC Barcodes: A/B/C/D/E. For the purposes of this guide, we will be describing UPC-E Barcodes, which contain 8-digits, and are mostly used on smaller products due to its reduced size.



Fun Fact: The first commercial appearance of the UPC was at Marsh's Supermarket in Troy, Ohio. On June 26, 1974, Clyde Dawson pulled a 10-pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit gum out of his basket and it was scanned by Sharon Buchanan at 8:01 am. The pack of gum and the receipt are now on display in the Smithsonian Institution.

How to get a UPC-E Barcode

To get any kind of UPC Barcode, you must first obtain a unique GS1 Company Prefix by joining GS1 and paying an initial fee of $750 and then an annual maintenance fee of at least $150, depending on the number of unique products you sell. As stated below, however, you do not need to pay fees with GS1 / GS1-US for barcodes used for internal purposes. Here are GS1's ten steps to barcode implementation (you will be redirected to GS1's website):

If you only have one product you'd like to use a code for or if you would like to avoid the initial and annual fees, there are other options available. We recommend checking the links below to see why using a UPC reseller is legal and how you can get your own UPC.

Do you need to register with GS1-US for internal use like inventory or non-retail uses?

You do not need to join or pay fees with GS1 / GS1-US for internal use within your organization, however, there are certain GS1 prefixes assigned specifically for internal use.

Here are some links that can help you get started:

    How to get a GS1 barcode - [www.gs1.org]
    Bar Code FAQ Answers - [www.adams1.com]
    Get a UPC Barcode Online - [www.SingleUPC.com]