Your first big order from Panama is for a Miami shop and the buyer wants the UPC-A of every product in the artwork file. You only work with EAN-13 and you are not sure whether switching means renumbering.
How to use UPC-A Barcode step by step
1. Type the 11 digits of the UPC
One reference per line. If you bring all 12, the final digit is verified.
2. Adjust the presentation
Pick height, bar width and whether to print the number underneath, depending on the packaging space.
3. Download and verify
Grab the PNG ZIP or the PDF sheet, print a proof and scan it before sending the file to the printer.
The Step Count: Traditional Friction vs. KorexTools
Preparing UPC-A for a US buyer without a tool (4 chores)
- Search the web for a check-digit formula.
- Build it in a spreadsheet for your 25 references.
- Ask the designer to draw each code by hand.
- Receive the file and discover that a digit has slipped.
With the UPC-A Generator on KorexTools (3 steps)
- Paste the eleven digits of each product.
- Review the preview of the twelve resulting digits.
- Download the batch and send it with your artwork file.
UPC-A: the twelve-digit code that rules North American checkouts
UPC-A was born in the United States in the 1970s and is still the standard in shops there and in Canada. It has eleven data digits plus one check digit: the first marks the kind of item (0, 1, 6, 7 or 8 for ordinary goods, 2 for variable-weight items, 3 for drugs, 5 for coupons), followed by the company number and the item reference. In practice it is an EAN-13 with a zero in front.
The tool takes your eleven digits, works out the twelfth, draws the symbol with its guard bars and margins and lets you download it as PNG or PDF. Paste a list of references and review every preview before exporting. Nothing leaves your device, so your product list stays with you.
What to know before using UPC-A
- •If you export to the US, many buyers and marketplaces ask for UPC-A rather than EAN-13.
- •Numbers valid for selling come from GS1 US or your local GS1, not from a generator.
- •For products sold only in Latin America or Europe, EAN-13 is the usual standard.
UPC-A against EAN-13
| Aspect | UPC-A | EAN-13 |
|---|---|---|
| Digits | 12 (11 + check) | 13 (12 + check) |
| Main region | United States and Canada | Rest of the world |
| Compatibility | Reads as EAN-13 with a leading 0 | Reads worldwide |
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- ⚠️Using the same UPC for two different pack sizes of one product.
- ⚠️Copying a UPC from another brand’s product to fill a form quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a UPC generated here work for selling on Amazon?
Amazon and other platforms verify that the UPC belongs to a company registered with GS1. The drawing will be correct, but the number has to be one assigned to your brand.
How many digits should I type?
Eleven, and the tool adds the twelfth. If you type twelve, it checks that the last one matches the right calculation.
Can I turn my EAN-13 into a UPC-A?
Only if the EAN-13 starts with 0: drop that zero and the remaining twelve digits form an equivalent UPC-A.
What I would do if I were in your shoes
«If your buyer is in the United States, ask in writing whether they accept your local GS1 prefix or insist on one from GS1 US: it is a one-minute question that saves a whole run of labels.» — DataKorex Engineering Team.