Home › GS1 US Barcode Guide
GS1 US — Barcode Registration Guide for US Businesses
Last updated: April 2026
US businesses that sell physical products at retail — in grocery stores, pharmacies, or mass merchandise chains, or on Amazon, Walmart, Target, or any other major marketplace — need a GS1-registered GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) on every product. In the United States, GTINs are issued by GS1 US, the US member organisation of the international GS1 standards body. This guide explains the full registration process, how GS1 US compares to GS1 Canada, how to assign GTINs to your products, and how to generate the barcode images from those numbers.
GS1 US vs GS1 Canada — What Is the Difference?
This is the most common question US product sellers ask when they encounter the two organisations. For practical barcode purposes, there is no meaningful difference. Both GS1 US and GS1 Canada issue Company Prefixes in the same global 0-prefix range. A GTIN-12 issued by GS1 US produces a UPC-A barcode that is functionally identical to one issued by GS1 Canada — it scans at the same retail checkout systems, is accepted on the same marketplaces, and is stored in the same global GS1 product database.
| Property | GS1 US | GS1 Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix range issued | Standard 0-prefix range | Standard 0-prefix range |
| Barcode format produced | UPC-A (GTIN-12) | UPC-A (GTIN-12) |
| Accepted at US retailers (Walmart, Kroger, Target) | Yes | Yes |
| Accepted at Amazon US | Yes | Yes |
| Accepted at Amazon CA | Yes | Yes |
| Accepted at Canadian retailers (Loblaws, Sobeys, Shoppers) | Yes | Yes |
| GS1 GEPIR validation (Amazon/Walmart check) | Pass — registered to your company | Pass — registered to your company |
| Annual membership fee | Paid to GS1 US (USD) | Paid to GS1 Canada (CAD) |
| Prefix managed by | GS1 US (Lawrenceville, NJ) | GS1 Canada (Ottawa) |
The only reason to choose one over the other is where your business is incorporated. If your business is based in the United States, register with GS1 US. If incorporated in Canada, register with GS1 Canada. You do not need to register in both countries regardless of where you sell.
Step-by-Step: Registering with GS1 US
Go to gs1us.org and click Get a Barcode. GS1 US membership packages are based on the number of unique products (GTINs) you need to identify. Select the package that covers your current catalogue with room to expand — you cannot change your prefix length later, only purchase an additional one. Packages range from 10 GTINs to 100,000+ GTINs.
Complete the registration form. Provide your legal business name exactly as it should appear in GS1's global registry — this is the name Amazon and Walmart will validate your listings against. A discrepancy between the name you register under and the brand name on your listings is the leading cause of marketplace listing rejections and Amazon GTIN validation errors.
Pay the membership fee and receive your Company Prefix. GS1 US charges a one-time registration fee plus an annual renewal fee. After payment, you receive your Company Prefix — a sequence of 6 to 10 digits that is permanently assigned to your business. This prefix is the foundation of every GTIN you will ever assign under this brand.
Assign Item Reference Numbers to each product. Append a unique item reference number to your Company Prefix for each distinct product variant. The combined prefix + item reference must total 11 digits before the check digit is added. Keep a spreadsheet recording every assignment — this is your private GTIN register. Each size, colour, flavour, and configuration is a separate variant requiring its own unique number.
Generate barcode images with BatchPrintGTIN. Select UPC-A, enter your 11-digit prefix + item reference, and the generator appends the correct check digit and renders the barcode. Download as SVG for packaging artwork or PNG at 300 DPI for label printing. Use the GTIN Builder tab to generate your entire product range at once from your prefix.
Optionally register your products in GS1 US's product registry. GS1 US provides access to the GS1 Registry Platform where you can formally publish product descriptions, images, and specifications against each GTIN. This strengthens GTIN validation at retailers and makes your products discoverable by retail buyers sourcing through GS1's global database. It also improves match rates in Google Shopping's product knowledge graph.
Understanding Your GS1 US Company Prefix
Your Company Prefix length determines how many GTINs you can generate. GS1 assigns shorter prefixes (fewer digits) to companies that need more GTINs, and longer prefixes to companies that need fewer. The total of prefix digits + item reference digits always equals 11 before the check digit:
| Package size | Prefix length | Item reference digits | Total unique GTINs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 GTINs | 10 digits | 1 digit | 10 |
| 100 GTINs | 9 digits | 2 digits | 100 |
| 1,000 GTINs | 8 digits | 3 digits | 1,000 |
| 10,000 GTINs | 7 digits | 4 digits | 10,000 |
| 100,000 GTINs | 6 digits | 5 digits | 100,000 |
Choose your package based on the total number of unique product variants you expect to sell under this brand — not just your current catalogue, but the number you may reach over the next several years. Each size, colour, flavour, and configuration is a separate variant requiring its own GTIN. A clothing line with 10 styles in 5 sizes and 4 colours each needs 200 GTINs. A food brand with 6 SKUs in 3 sizes needs 18 GTINs.
Selling Internationally: US GTINs at Non-US Retailers
US businesses frequently ask whether their GS1 US barcodes will scan and validate correctly when selling internationally — in Canada, Europe, Australia, or on international Amazon marketplaces. The answer is yes — with no additional registration required.
When Walmart Canada, Amazon UK, or any international retailer validates a GTIN, they query GS1's global GEPIR database. GEPIR contains records from all GS1 member organisations worldwide including GS1 US. Your US Company Prefix and its registered company name will appear correctly in GEPIR for any retailer or marketplace system performing validation globally. The prefix country of issue does not affect where the product can be sold.
The UPC-A barcode generated from a GS1 US GTIN scans at Canadian grocery checkout identically to one generated from a GS1 Canada GTIN. For European and international markets that require EAN-13, prepend a leading zero to your 12-digit UPC-A to produce the equivalent 13-digit GTIN-13 — the number is globally valid and the same product registered under one GS1 US prefix covers all markets.
US Retailers — Barcode Requirements
Every major US grocery chain, pharmacy, and mass merchandise retailer requires GS1-registered UPC-A barcodes on products supplied to their distribution centres. Walmart, Kroger, Costco, Target, Walgreens, CVS, and Whole Foods all validate GTINs through GS1's global database before accepting a supplier. The barcode image requirements are consistent with GS1 General Specifications: minimum 80% of nominal size, 300 DPI minimum print resolution, dark bars on a light background, quiet zones maintained on all four sides.
Amazon US validates GTINs against GS1's GEPIR database when you create a new product listing. If your GS1 Company Prefix is not registered in GEPIR, or the company name on record does not match your brand, Amazon will return a GTIN validation error and block listing creation. GS1 registration may take up to 48 hours to propagate into GEPIR after payment — allow for this delay before attempting to create listings on Amazon immediately after registration.
Generating GS1-Compliant Barcode Images
Once you have your Company Prefix and item reference numbers assigned, use BatchPrintGTIN's GTIN Builder tab for the most efficient workflow. Enter your GS1 US Company Prefix, add your products with labels, and the Builder generates all UPC-A barcodes simultaneously. Export as a CSV (containing full GTIN, prefix, item reference, check digit, and label for each product) for import into your inventory or e-commerce system, plus a ZIP of PNG or SVG barcode images for print production.
For individual barcodes, use the single generator — select UPC-A, enter your 11-digit number (the check digit appends automatically), and download as SVG for your packaging designer or PNG at 300 DPI for label printing. For shipping cartons, use ITF-14 to encode a GTIN-14 derived from your same Company Prefix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register with GS1 Canada if I sell in Canada?
No. A GS1 US Company Prefix produces GTINs that are accepted everywhere GS1 Canada GTINs are accepted — including Canadian retail chains, Amazon CA, Walmart Canada, and all Canadian online marketplaces. You register once, with GS1 US based on where your business is incorporated, and your barcodes work globally. There is no need to register with both organisations.
Can I use the same barcode in the US and internationally?
Yes. A UPC-A barcode generated from a GS1 US GTIN scans correctly at US and Canadian retail checkout, is accepted on Amazon US, Amazon CA, and other Amazon marketplaces, and is valid on Walmart US and Walmart Canada. For international markets requiring EAN-13, prepend a leading zero to your UPC-A to produce the GTIN-13 equivalent — both point to the same product. One GS1 US registration covers all markets.
What is the GS1 US annual fee?
GS1 US fees change periodically. Visit gs1us.org for current pricing. Fees are charged in US dollars and include an initial registration fee plus an annual renewal fee to maintain your prefix and access to GS1 US's registry platform. The fee scales with the size of the prefix package you purchase.
I am a small business with fewer than 10 products. Is there a cheaper option than GS1 US?
GS1 US is the only organisation that can issue GTINs that pass Amazon, Walmart, and major retailer GTIN validation. Third-party barcode resellers offer pre-assigned UPC codes at lower prices, but these codes are registered to the reseller's company name — not yours — in GS1's database. Amazon, Walmart, and Google Shopping all validate GTINs against GS1's registry, and a brand-name mismatch causes listing rejection. For retail and marketplace use, GS1 US registration is required regardless of catalogue size.
How long does GS1 US registration take?
Online registration through gs1us.org is typically completed the same day — you receive your Company Prefix after payment is processed. Allow up to 48 hours for your prefix to appear in GS1's global GEPIR database, which is what Amazon and Walmart query during listing creation. Once your prefix is active in GEPIR, you can create product listings on all major marketplaces immediately.
What happens if I let my GS1 US membership lapse?
GS1 US does not immediately reclaim lapsed prefixes, but your company record in GEPIR may be marked as inactive or removed over time. This can cause GTIN validation failures at Amazon and Walmart for products you already have listed. To avoid disruption, maintain your annual membership as long as you sell products using those GTINs. Renew before the expiry date shown in your GS1 US account.