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UPC barcode generator
Type the first 11 digits of your UPC and this generator adds the check digit and draws a UPC-A barcode to GS1’s dimensions: 37.29 mm wide with its quiet zones and 22.85 mm of bar at the 100% nominal size. Choose 80% to 200%, then download SVG, PNG or PDF. The number itself has to come from GS1 US; this tool draws the barcode for a UPC you already own.
Updated October 12, 2026
UPC-A sizes
GS1 specifies UPC-A by its X-dimension, the width of one module. The nominal X is 0.330 mm, and retail point-of-sale symbols may run from 0.264 mm to 0.660 mm, the old 80% to 200% (General Specifications 5.2.3.1 and symbol specification table 1). The symbol is always 113 modules wide including its quiet zones, and the bar height scales with X.
| Size | X-dimension | Width with quiet zones | Bar height | Height with digits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80% (minimum) | 0.264 mm | 29.83 mm (1.174 in) | 18.28 mm | 20.74 mm |
| 90% | 0.297 mm | 33.56 mm (1.321 in) | 20.57 mm | 23.34 mm |
| 100% (nominal) | 0.330 mm | 37.29 mm (1.468 in) | 22.85 mm | 25.93 mm |
| 120% | 0.396 mm | 44.75 mm (1.762 in) | 27.42 mm | 31.12 mm |
| 150% | 0.495 mm | 55.94 mm (2.202 in) | 34.28 mm | 38.89 mm |
| 200% (maximum) | 0.660 mm | 74.58 mm (2.936 in) | 45.70 mm | 51.86 mm |
Width = 113 modules x X (5.2.3.5). Bar height from GS1 symbol specification table 1 and the withdrawn magnification table (GSCN 23-112). Height with digits is this generator’s layout; at 100% it matches the commonly quoted 25.93 mm.
GS1 sets the bar height at nominal size to 22.85 mm and says the bars must not be cut shorter than the table minimum (5.2.3.2 and table 5-44 note). Guard bars, and the bars of the first and last digit, run 5X further down.
How to make a UPC barcode
Enter the 11 digits of your GTIN-12, or all 12 to check the one you have.
Keep 100% unless the package is small or the barcode must be read from further away. Do not go under 80% unless you print on a thermal or laser printer, where GS1 allows down to 0.249 mm (5.12.4.1.3).
If you print on a label printer, choose its resolution. At 300 dpi the closest dot pattern to 100% is 4 dots per module, which GS1’s table 5-60 lists as 100.01%.
Download the SVG or PDF for packaging artwork, or the PNG for a label program. Place it at 100%.
Anatomy of a UPC-A
Number system digit, printed small to the left of the bars. It is the first digit of the GTIN-12.
Ten digits under the bars, in two groups of five, separated by the centre guard.
Check digit, printed small on the right. It is calculated from the other 11 digits (see the check digit calculator).
Quiet zones of 9 modules each side (5.2.3.4). Keep text and box edges out of them.
Do I need to buy UPC numbers?
Yes, if the product will be sold through retailers or on Amazon. GS1 US licenses a single GS1 US GTIN for $30 with no renewal fee, or a company prefix for more products. GS1 US also says Amazon validates barcodes against the GS1 database and may flag numbers that came from another source. This tool is not affiliated with GS1 and does not sell numbers.
Common questions
What is the difference between UPC-A and EAN-13?
A UPC-A encodes 12 digits; an EAN-13 encodes 13. GS1 says a UPC-A may be decoded as a 13-digit number by adding a leading zero (5.2.2.3), so a UPC-A is the same number as an EAN-13 that starts with 0.
Can I shrink the barcode to fit a small box?
Down to 80%, which is GS1’s minimum for retail point of sale, and do not cut the bars shorter than the minimum height for that size.
Which file should I send to my packaging printer?
The SVG or PDF. Both are vector, so the bars stay sharp at any resolution. Ask the printer whether they apply bar width reduction for ink spread; that is a press setting, not something to add yourself.
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