Home › GTIN Barcode Generator
Free GTIN Barcode Generator — Structure, Check Digit, and All Formats
GTIN — Global Trade Item Number — is the GS1 numbering standard that underlies every retail barcode in the world. Whether you are looking at a UPC-A on a cereal box, an EAN-13 on a bottle of wine, or an ITF-14 on a shipping carton, each is a different visual representation of the same thing: a GTIN with a specific number of digits. This page explains how GTINs are structured, how the check digit works, and how to generate the barcode image once you have your number.
The Four GTIN Formats
| Format | Digits | Barcode Type | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTIN-8 | 8 | EAN-8 | Small consumer packaging where EAN-13 won't fit |
| GTIN-12 | 12 | UPC-A | Retail products in the US and Canada |
| GTIN-13 | 13 | EAN-13 | Retail products internationally |
| GTIN-14 | 14 | ITF-14 or GS1-128 | Cases, cartons, and pallets in the supply chain |
All four formats follow the same structure: GS1 Company Prefix + Item Reference + Check Digit. The company prefix is issued by a GS1 member organisation. The item reference is assigned by you — one per unique product or packaging level. The check digit is calculated from the other digits.
How to Read a GTIN Structure
Take this real-format GTIN-13: 5 01234 56789 0
- 5 01234 — GS1 Company Prefix (issued by GS1 UK to the brand owner)
- 56789 — Item Reference (assigned by the brand owner to this specific product)
- 0 — Check Digit (calculated from the 12 preceding digits)
The length of the prefix depends on the GS1 package you purchased. A 6-digit prefix supports up to 99,999 item references. A 9-digit prefix supports 999. Smaller companies with few products often buy a longer prefix to keep costs down.
Check Digit Calculation — Step by Step
The check digit is the last digit of any GTIN. It is calculated using the GS1 modulo-10 algorithm and prevents scanning errors. Here is a worked example for GTIN-13 501234567890? — we calculate the missing final digit.
Starting from the rightmost digit of the data portion (excluding the check digit), alternately multiply each digit by 3 and 1, moving left:
Digit position (right to left, data only):
0 × 3 = 0
9 × 1 = 9
8 × 3 = 24
7 × 1 = 7
6 × 3 = 18
5 × 1 = 5
4 × 3 = 12
3 × 1 = 3
2 × 3 = 6
1 × 1 = 1
0 × 3 = 0
5 × 1 = 5
Sum = 0+9+24+7+18+5+12+3+6+1+0+5 = 90
Check digit = (10 − (90 mod 10)) mod 10 = (10 − 0) mod 10 = 0The complete GTIN-13 is 5012345678900. The BatchPrintGTIN generator performs this calculation automatically — enter the first 12 digits and the check digit is appended before the barcode is drawn.
Getting a GS1 Company Prefix
For retail use, GTIN numbers must be registered with a GS1 member organisation. In the US: GS1 US. In Canada: GS1 Canada. In the UK: GS1 UK. Annual membership fees vary by the number of GTINs you need.
For internal use — warehouse management, asset tracking, event ticketing, library systems — no GS1 registration is needed. GS1 permanently reserves the prefix range 200–299 for internal use. Any number beginning with 2 will never be assigned to a retail product, so you can use these freely for internal applications.
GTIN-14 for Cases and Cartons
A GTIN-14 identifies a case or carton containing multiple consumer units. It is constructed by prepending a single packaging indicator digit (1–8) to a GTIN-13. The indicator 1 typically means "case of 12," but the specific meaning is defined by the brand owner. A retail unit with GTIN-13 5012345678900 packed 12 to a case would have GTIN-14 15012345678907 — note the new check digit recalculated for the 14-digit string.
GTIN-14 is encoded as ITF-14 on corrugated cardboard, or as GS1-128 when additional data (lot number, expiry date) must travel alongside the case identifier.
Generating the Barcode Image
Select the barcode tab in the generator, choose the format matching your GTIN digit count (UPC-A for GTIN-12, EAN-13 for GTIN-13, ITF-14 for GTIN-14), and enter your number. The check digit is validated on entry. Download as SVG for packaging artwork, or PNG for web listings and label printing.
Generate a GTIN Barcode