Who maintains UPC?
James Craig
Published May 21, 2026
UPCs are also distinct, meaning each item in your catalog will need its own unique UPC code—even variants of an item (like a T-shirt in five different colors). UPCs are regulated by the GS1 US, part of an international standards organization that maintains the guidelines for product identification and registration.
How do I get a manufacturer code for UPC?
Obtaining barcodes for your products is an easy four-step process:
- Step One: Apply for a U.P.C. Company Prefix.
- Step Two: Assign Unique Product Numbers.
- Step Three: Determine how your product will display barcodes.
- Step Four: Obtain accurate UPC barcodes for each item.
Can UPC codes be transferred?
When can an Identifier be transferred from one company to another company? A GS1 US GTIN or a GS1 Company Prefix can only be transferred from one company to another if (1) there is a sale of the company’s business, (2) there is the sale of a business line of the company, or (3) a company merges with another company.
How much does a UPC cost?
Prefix Pricing*
| Number of items needing a barcode/GTIN** | Initial fee | Annual renewal fee |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $250 | $50 |
| 100 | $750 | $150 |
| 1,000 | $2,500 | $500 |
| 10,000 | $6,500 | $1,300 |
Is UPC code unique?
The UPC number is the twelve-digit number that runs along the bottom of the barcode and, as the name implies, is a universal number. It also means that the UPC is not unique to a store. If two companies are selling the same item, those items will have different SKUs, but the same UPC.
Can two products have the same UPC code?
UPC barcodes were introduced in 1974 to help retailers track trade items. UPCs are numeric codes with 12 digits. A product retains the same UPC code even if it’s sold by multiple retailers, making this 12-digit number the retail products equivalent of a universal language.
What does a UPC code tell you?
UPC barcodes, or Universal Product Codes, consist of 12 characters that uniquely identify a product and were originally created to help grocery stores speed up the checkout process and track their inventory more efficiently, but they soon spread to other retail products because it was so successful.
What is difference between UPC and SKU?
While some may haphazardly interchange the terms UPC and SKU, they are actually two quite different entities. Another difference is that SKUs are typically eight alpha-numeric digits, while UPCs are 12 digits, numeric only. In conclusion, SKUs are for internal use, and UPCs are for external, or universal, use.
What is a 12 digit barcode called?
UPC (technically refers to UPC-A) consists of 12 numeric digits that are uniquely assigned to each trade item. Along with the related EAN barcode, the UPC is the barcode mainly used for scanning of trade items at the point of sale, per GS1 specifications.
