--- title: "What Is a UPC (Universal Product Code)?" url: https://www.uncap.com/glossary/upc author: "Denis Dyli" published: 2026-10-11 updated: 2026-10-11 summary: "A UPC (Universal Product Code) is the 12-digit GS1 product number, also called a GTIN-12, and the UPC-A barcode that carries it. Used predominantly in North America, it is scanned at the point of sale so retailers and manufacturers can identify the exact item, look up its price and track inventory." --- # What Is a UPC (Universal Product Code)? > A UPC (Universal Product Code) is the 12-digit GS1 product number, also called a GTIN-12, and the UPC-A barcode that carries it. Used predominantly in North America, it is scanned at the point of sale so retailers and manufacturers can identify the exact item, look up its price and track inventory. **UPC (Universal Product Code)**: A UPC (Universal Product Code) is the 12-digit GS1 product number, also called a GTIN-12, and the UPC-A barcode that carries it. Used predominantly in North America, it is scanned at the point of sale so retailers and manufacturers can identify the exact item, look up its price and track inventory. ## How it works Strictly, GS1 US separates the two parts of the barcode. The GTIN-12 is the identifying number printed under the bars, and the UPC is the scannable symbol. In everyday use, barcode, GTIN and UPC all describe the same complete barcode you see in stores. A standard UPC-A number has three parts: - GS1 Company Prefix. The first 6 to 10 digits, a company ID assigned only by GS1. The first digit also serves as a number system character. - Item reference. The next 1 to 5 digits, assigned by the brand owner. Every variation, such as a different size or flavor, gets its own item number. - Check digit. The final digit, calculated from the 11 digits before it. The scanner repeats the calculation to verify the number was composed and read correctly. ## Types of UPC There are two kinds of UPC: - UPC-A. The full 12-digit code most people see on everyday items. - UPC-E. A compressed version that shows eight digits by suppressing zeros, for packages without room for a UPC-A. The 13-digit EAN, used across much of the world, is one digit longer than a UPC. Both UPCs and EANs can be used internationally, so a product does not need a second code to sell in another region. ## How the check digit works GS1 publishes one method for every GTIN length. Here it is on the 11 digits 6 14141 99999: **Calculating a UPC check digit** ### 1. Step 1, Multiply Multiply the 11 digits alternately by 3 and 1, starting with 3, as GS1's table aligns them: 18, 1, 12, 1, 12, 1, 27, 9, 27, 9, 27. ### 2. Step 2, Add Add the results together to create the sum, which here is 144. ### 3. Step 3, Subtract Subtract the sum from the nearest equal or higher multiple of ten: 150 minus 144 gives a check digit of 6. The full UPC is 6 14141 99999 6. When the barcode is scanned, the system runs the same calculation to verify the number was composed and read correctly. ## UPCs in B2B A UPC identifies the consumer unit. In GS1 US packaging levels, the each sold at checkout or online is assigned a GTIN-12 (U.P.C.), while a [case](/glossary/case-pack) of those eaches can get a GTIN-14 for shipping and receiving, which is not meant for point of sale scanning. Other GS1 barcodes, such as [GS1-128](/glossary/gs1-128-label), help track shipments. For most retailers, a UPC on the product is a requirement to sell it. ## On Shopify A UPC is entered as one of a product's or variant's barcodes, and you can add up to 20 barcodes to each. Shopify's UPC barcode type accepts 8 or 12 digits, and the value has to match the standard's length and allowed characters. A product can carry both a UPC and a SKU in their own fields, and Shopify POS finds a product by scanning or searching any of its barcodes. ## How Uncap helps Uncap's [Shopify EDI integration guide](/post/shopify-edi-integration) is clear that every step of an EDI flow requires mapping: product identifiers such as the UPC, GTIN and buyer item number must match your Shopify variants. A misconfigured mapping produces chargebacks, because the trading partner's system cannot reconcile what they sent with what was received and shipped. ## Related terms - GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) - SKU (stock keeping unit) - Case pack - GS1-128 label - PIM (product information management) - List price ## Sources - GS1 US: What is a UPC Code? - GS1 US: EAN Numbers and UPCs - GS1: How to calculate a check digit manually ## Frequently asked questions ### What does UPC stand for? UPC stands for Universal Product Code. It is the 12-digit GS1 number, or GTIN-12, used mainly in North America, and the barcode that encodes it. ### What's the difference between UPC and SKU? A UPC is accepted globally for a product, so every seller sees the same number. A SKU is an internal code a brand or retailer creates to monitor its own inventory, and two retailers selling the same UPC will each use their own SKU. ### How do I get a UPC number for my product? License it from GS1 US. Work out how many products and variations you will sell, since each needs its own number, then buy single GTINs for a few items or a GS1 Company Prefix to assign numbers in bulk. ### Can you lookup a product by UPC code? Yes. GS1 GTINs, including UPCs, are searchable in Verified by GS1, the public GS1 database that many marketplaces use to verify a product's identity.