The standard 12-digit barcode identifying retail products, supplemented by GS1 SSCC for pallet-level identity.
Detailed Definition
The Universal Product Code (UPC) is the barcode most often printed on consumer products in the US and Canada. The common UPC-A symbol encodes a 12-digit GS1 Global Trade Item Number (GTIN-12), made up of a GS1 company prefix, an item reference and a check digit. Checkout scanners read it to identify the product. A UPC identifies a product type, not a shipment, so pallets carry a separate SSCC on a GS1-128 label.
From item to case to pallet
- Consumer unit: a UPC-A barcode carrying a GTIN-12, scanned at checkout.
- Case or carton: often a GTIN-14 for the case pack, commonly printed as an ITF-14 barcode or included on a GS1-128 label.
- Pallet or unit load: an 18-digit SSCC that identifies that one physical load and links it to the advance shipping notice.
Each level answers a different question: what product this is, what case pack this is, and which specific shipping unit this is.
Getting and using UPCs correctly
Brand owners obtain a GS1 company prefix or individual GTINs from GS1 US and assign a number to each product variation, such as size or flavor. Retailers expect a unique GTIN for each distinct item and may check barcode print quality. Reused or unlicensed numbers can clash with other products in retailer systems. On pallets, place the pallet label where the routing guide requires it.
UPC-E and EAN-13
UPC-E is a compressed version that suppresses zeros so the barcode fits small packages; it still represents a 12-digit number. EAN-13 is the 13-digit equivalent used widely outside North America, and US retail scanners are expected to read both.
Related Glossary Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a pallet need a UPC?
A pallet does not normally use a UPC as its main identifier. UPCs identify consumer items, while a full or mixed pallet is identified by an SSCC encoded in a GS1-128 barcode on the pallet label. Some single-SKU pallet labels also show the product GTIN and quantity, but the SSCC is what makes each pallet unique for receiving and tracking.
What is the difference between a UPC and a GTIN?
GTIN is the GS1 numbering system for trade items, and it comes in 8, 12, 13 and 14 digit lengths. A UPC is the barcode symbol commonly used to carry a 12-digit GTIN on consumer products. In practice people say UPC to mean either the number or the barcode. When filling in retailer item setup forms, follow the field definitions, which usually ask for the GTIN.