What is UPC-A?
UPC-A (Universal Product Code) is the 12-digit barcode used on retail products in the United States and Canada. It is the North American equivalent of EAN-13 and encodes an 11-digit number plus a check digit.
Common Uses for UPC-A
- US and Canada retail product labels
- Amazon FBA product identification
- Grocery and pharmacy items
- Coupon and loyalty card encoding
UPC-A vs UPC-E
UPC-A is the standard 12-digit retail barcode. UPC-E is a compressed form that squeezes a zero-suppressed UPC-A into just 6 digits - used on small packages like chewing gum and lipstick where a full UPC-A is too large. This tool generates full-size UPC-A barcodes; for tiny items you may want the UPC-E compact form instead.
UPC-A Check Digit
The 12th digit of a UPC-A is a check digit computed from the first 11 digits to catch scan errors. It uses weights of 3 and 1 alternately (odd positions weight 3). This generator computes the check digit for you automatically, so any 11 or 12 digit number you enter produces a valid, scannable UPC-A.