If you sell products anywhere, you have run into GTINs and UPCs, and probably wondered whether they are the same thing. The short answer is that they are closely related but not equal: a UPC is one type of GTIN.
This guide clears up the confusion for good, with labeled examples, a side-by-side comparison, every version of each code, where they are actually used, and what you need to list products on Amazon.
GTIN vs UPC: Main Differences
GTIN and UPC are related to each other. A UPC is a GTIN, but not every GTIN is a UPC. The following table clarifies everything on the go.
What is a GTIN?
A GTIN, or Global Trade Item Number, is the globally unique number that identifies a product in the supply chain. It is managed by GS1, the international standards organization, and it comes in four lengths (8, 12, 13, and 14 digits) for different uses.
The key thing to understand is that a GTIN is a number, not a barcode. The barcode you see on a package is just the visual symbol that encodes that number so a scanner can read it.
What is a UPC?
A UPC, or Universal Product Code, is the familiar 12-digit barcode used on retail products in the United States and Canada. Technically, it is called UPC-A, and it is the symbol that encodes a 12-digit GTIN. When a cashier scans a product at checkout, they are scanning a UPC.
It is the most recognized barcode in North American retail, which is exactly why people often use "UPC" as a catch-all term, even when the right word is GTIN.
Is a UPC the Same as a GTIN?
This is the question that trips everyone up, so here is the clearest way to think about it. GTIN is the umbrella standard. UPC-A is one of the barcodes that lives under it, specifically the 12-digit version known as GTIN-12.
GTIN is the umbrella standard. The UPC (UPC-A) is the 12-digit version, GTIN-12.
So every UPC is a GTIN, but not every GTIN is a UPC. An 8-digit code on a tiny lip balm or a 13-digit code on a product made in Europe is still a GTIN, just not a UPC.|
What Does a UPC Look Like? (Anatomy and Example)
Every UPC-A is made of 12 digits split into meaningful parts. Take the example 0 36000 29145 2, broken down below.
A real UPC-A broken into its four parts. The final digit is a calculated check digit.
- Number system digit: the first digit, signaling the product type (0, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are standard retail goods).
- Company prefix: the GS1-assigned block that identifies the manufacturer or brand.
- Product number: the manufacturer's own reference for that specific item.
- Check digit: the last digit, calculated by a formula from the other eleven so scanners can catch errors.
The check digit is not random. It is derived from the preceding digits using a fixed math formula, so if a scan misreads a digit, the math no longer adds up, and the system flags it. This is what makes barcodes so reliable at the register.
UPC-A vs UPC-E
The UPC itself has two forms. UPC-A is the standard full-length 12-digit barcode you see most often. UPC-E is a compressed version that suppresses zeros to fit on small packages like a tube of lip balm or a pack of gum.
A UPC-E barcode expands back into a full 12-digit UPC-A when scanned, so it identifies the same product, just in a smaller footprint.
The Four Types of GTIN (GTIN-8, GTIN-12, GTIN-13, GTIN-14)
GTIN is not one code but a family of four, each a different length encoded in a different barcode. The UPC is just the GTIN-12 row of this table.
A neat detail: these nest inside each other. The UPC 036000291452 becomes the GTIN-13 0036000291452 by adding a leading zero, and a case-level GTIN-14 by adding one more indicator digit in front. It is the same product identity, padded to the length a given system expects.
GTIN vs UPC vs EAN: What Is the Difference?
Once you understand GTIN, EAN falls into place easily. EAN, now formally the International Article Number, is the 13-digit barcode (EAN-13, a GTIN-13) used across most of the world outside North America.
A UPC-A is essentially an EAN-13 with a leading zero, which is why the two are so closely related. JAN is simply the name for EAN barcodes used in Japan, and an ISBN on a book is a GTIN-13 that begins with 978 or 979. All of them are GTINs at heart, differing mainly by length and region.
GTIN vs ASIN vs SKU: How They Differ?
GTINs are easy to confuse with the other codes attached to a product, especially on Amazon.
They are not interchangeable, and knowing which is which prevents a lot of listing headaches.
In short, a GTIN identifies the product to the whole world, an ASIN identifies it inside Amazon's catalog, and a SKU is your own private label for tracking stock. A single product can carry all of these at once without any conflict.
Where Are GTINs and UPCs Used?
These codes show up at nearly every stage between a factory and a customer. The most common places you will encounter them:
- Retail checkout: UPC-A in the US and Canada, EAN-13 across the rest of the world.
- Online marketplaces: Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Google require a GTIN to create and match product listings.
- Warehousing and logistics: GTIN-14 codes on cases and pallets track inventory in bulk.
- Healthcare: Medicines and medical devices carry GTINs for traceability and patient safety.
- Books and media: The ISBN printed on a book is a GTIN-13 in disguise.
If you sell on Walmart as well as Amazon, it's worth verifying any product's UPC before you list it. A free Walmart UPC lookup tool confirms the GTIN, exact product name, and marketplace status in seconds, so you avoid listing errors and catalog mismatches.
Do I Need a GTIN or UPC to Sell on Amazon?
For most categories, yes. Amazon requires a valid product identifier to create a listing, and that identifier is a GTIN, whether it takes the form of a UPC, EAN, ISBN, or JAN. There is one rule that catches sellers out: as of 2026, Amazon validates every code against the GS1 database.
If your barcode was not issued by GS1, or the brand on file does not match your account, Amazon can treat it as invalid and suppress the listing or block new ASINs.
That makes cheap third-party barcodes a false economy. The safe source is GS1 itself. If your products genuinely have no barcodes, for example handmade goods, custom bundles, or private-label items, you may qualify for an Amazon GTIN exemption, which lets you list without one.
The exemption is not available to brands that already use GS1 barcodes, and it works best as a short-term step rather than a long-term plan. When you are working through supplier lists, SmartScout UPC Scanner can match codes to live Amazon products in bulk and flag the profitable ones before you commit.
How to Get a GTIN or UPC (and Where to Find One)
To get legitimate codes, go straight to GS1 at gs1.org. You have two main options: license a GS1 Company Prefix if you plan to barcode many products, or buy individual GS1 GTINs if you only need a handful. Both register your brand in the GS1 database that Amazon and major retailers check. Avoid barcode resellers if you sell online, since their codes increasingly fail validation.
Finding an existing code is easier: it is the row of numbers printed directly beneath the barcode on a product's packaging. That string of digits is the GTIN, and on a North American retail product, it is the UPC.
How Much Does a UPC or GTIN Cost?
Pricing from GS1 US depends on how many codes you need. A single GS1 GTIN costs a one-time $30 with no annual renewal fee, which suits sellers with only a handful of products. If you are building a product line, a GS1 Company Prefix lets you generate many codes under your own registered prefix, with an initial fee that ranges from roughly $250 to $10,500 based on capacity, plus an annual renewal to keep it active.
One detail catches people off guard: every variation of a product needs its own GTIN. A shirt in three sizes and four colors counts as twelve separate products in the eyes of the system, so plan your barcode budget around variations, not just product lines.
Source: GS1 US
Common GTIN and UPC Mistakes to Avoid
A few errors come up again and again, and each one can suppress a listing or scramble your inventory. Watch for these:
- Reusing one code across variations. Each size, color, or pack count is a distinct product and needs its own unique GTIN.
- Recycling a retired GTIN for a new product. GS1 rules restrict reusing an old code for years, so always issue a fresh one rather than repurposing a number you no longer sell.
- Losing the leading zero. Spreadsheets like Excel often strip the leading 0 from a 12-digit UPC and convert it to a plain number, which breaks the code. Format the column as text before pasting.
- Confusing your SKU with the GTIN. The internal SKU you use to track stock is not a product identifier, so entering it where a GTIN belongs will cause the listing to fail.
The Bottom Line
GTIN and UPC are not rivals; they are a family and one of its members. GTIN is the global standard for identifying products, and the UPC is the 12-digit barcode that brings it to life at North American checkouts.
Once you see the UPC as a GTIN-12 sitting alongside EAN-13 and the others, the whole system clicks into place, and choosing the right code for retail, international trade, or an Amazon listing becomes straightforward.
FAQs
Is a GTIN the same as a UPC?
A UPC is one type of GTIN. GTIN is the umbrella standard, and the UPC (UPC-A) is its 12-digit version, GTIN-12. Every UPC is a GTIN, but not every GTIN is a UPC.
How many digits is a GTIN versus a UPC?
A GTIN can be 8, 12, 13, or 14 digits depending on the version. A UPC is always 12 digits.
Is a barcode a GTIN?
The barcode is the visual symbol, and the GTIN is the number it encodes. UPC-A, EAN-13, and ITF-14 are barcodes that carry a GTIN.
Can I convert a UPC to a GTIN?
A UPC already is a GTIN-12. To express it as a GTIN-13 or GTIN-14, you simply add leading zeros or an indicator digit. The core product identity does not change.
Where do I get a GTIN or UPC for Amazon?
You can get them from GS1 directly. Amazon validates codes against the GS1 database, so codes from third-party resellers can be rejected.
