GS1 Barcode Guide: How to Get a Company Prefix and Register Your Products

There’s a distinction that trips up a lot of first-time sellers: generating a barcode image is free and takes 30 seconds. Getting a barcode number that major retailers will accept is a different process entirely.

The number is what GS1 provides. The image is just a visual encoding of that number — any barcode generator can create it. This distinction matters because a barcode that scans correctly but isn’t registered to your company will get your products rejected at Walmart, Amazon, and most major retail systems.

Here’s how the GS1 system works and what you actually need to do.

---

What Is GS1?

GS1 is a non-profit international organization that manages the global system of product identification standards. Founded in 1974, GS1 operates in over 115 countries and is the authority behind every barcode you see on supermarket shelves.

The GS1 system ensures that every product barcode in the world is globally unique — meaning no two different products can ever share the same number. This is what allows a barcode scanner in a Japanese supermarket to correctly identify an American product, and why retailers like Walmart and Amazon require GS1-sourced barcodes.

GS1 does not manufacture barcodes. What GS1 does is assign unique number sequences. The barcode image (the black-and-white bars) is just a visual encoding of that number — which you can generate with any barcode generator, including ours.

---

Key Terms You Need to Know

GS1 Company Prefix

A GS1 Company Prefix is a unique sequence of digits assigned exclusively to your company. It typically ranges from 6 to 12 digits. All the product barcodes you create will start with this prefix, ensuring they are globally unique.

The length of your prefix determines how many individual products (GTINs) you can create:

• 6-digit prefix → up to 100,000 products
• 7-digit prefix → up to 10,000 products
• 8-digit prefix → up to 1,000 products
• 9-digit prefix → up to 100 products

GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)

A GTIN is the full product identification number. It’s the number encoded in your barcode. For retail products:

• GTIN-13 = EAN-13 barcode (international standard)
• GTIN-12 = UPC-A barcode (North American standard)

A GTIN-13 consists of: [GS1 Company Prefix] + [Product Reference] + [Check Digit]

Check Digit

The last digit of every EAN/UPC barcode is a mathematically calculated check digit, derived from the preceding digits. It allows scanners to verify the barcode was read correctly. Our barcode generator calculates this automatically — you never need to compute it manually.

---

Do You Actually Need GS1 Registration?

The answer depends entirely on how you’ll use the barcode.

You need official GS1 registration if:

• Selling in physical retail stores (grocery, pharmacy, big box)
• Selling on Amazon (required for most categories as of 2024)
• Selling on Walmart.com, Target.com, or other major marketplaces
• Exporting products internationally
• Working with any distributor or retailer that requires verified GTINs

You do NOT need GS1 registration if:

• Creating barcodes for internal use (inventory, warehouse, asset tracking)
• Generating barcodes for events, tickets, or loyalty cards
• Building a barcode system where you control all the scanners
• Testing or prototyping a product before commercial launch
• Creating library, document, or shipment tracking codes

For internal use, you can generate any barcode data you choose with a free generator. GS1 registration is only required when your barcode numbers must be globally recognized.

---

How to Get a GS1 Company Prefix

Step 1: Find Your National GS1 Organization

GS1 is organized nationally. You should register with the GS1 organization in your country:

Country	Organization	Website
United States	GS1 US	gs1us.org
United Kingdom	GS1 UK	gs1uk.org
Canada	GS1 Canada	gs1ca.org
Australia	GS1 Australia	gs1au.org
Germany	GS1 Germany	gs1-germany.de
China	GS1 China	ancc.org.cn

If your country isn’t listed, visit gs1.org to find your local member organization.

Step 2: Choose Your Prefix Length

When you apply, you’ll choose how many products you need to identify. Be realistic but give yourself room to grow. Most small businesses start with a 7 or 8-digit prefix.

Step 3: Complete the Application

The GS1 US application process, for example, involves:

1. Creating an account on gs1us.org
2. Providing your company name and address (exactly as you want them to appear in the GS1 database)
3. Selecting the number of GTINs you need
4. Paying the registration fee

Step 4: Pay the Annual License Fee

GS1 registration involves an initial registration fee plus an annual renewal fee. As of 2025, GS1 US pricing approximately:

GTINs Needed	Initial Fee	Annual Fee
Up to 10	~$30	~$30
Up to 100	~$250	~$50
Up to 1,000	~$750	~$150
Up to 10,000	~$2,500	~$500
Up to 100,000	~$10,500	~$2,100

Fees vary by country and are updated periodically. Check your national GS1 organization for current pricing.

Step 5: Assign GTINs to Your Products

Once you have your Company Prefix, you assign product references yourself. For example, if your prefix is 614141, you might assign:

• Product A → 6141410001 (GTIN-10, padded to GTIN-13: 0006141410001 + check digit)
• Product B → 6141410002
• Product C → 6141410003

You decide the product numbering scheme — GS1 only governs the prefix.

---

Generating Your Barcode Image

Once you have a valid GTIN, generating the barcode image is straightforward:

1. Go to the EAN-13 Barcode Generator or UPC Barcode Generator
2. Enter your 12-digit GTIN (for EAN-13, the 13th check digit is calculated automatically)
3. Download as SVG for print use (vector, scalable to any size without quality loss)

For retail product labels, always download SVG and provide it to your label printer or packaging designer. SVG files scale perfectly to the required physical dimensions.

---

GS1 Database Registration

After generating your GTINs, GS1 recommends registering each product in the GS1 Registry (formerly Verified by GS1). This online database allows retailers and distributors to look up your product information by barcode.

While not always mandatory, major retailers increasingly require products to be registered in the GS1 Registry before listing. Amazon, for example, uses GS1 data to verify product authenticity.

---

Common GS1 Mistakes to Avoid

Buying barcodes from resellers Search “buy barcodes” and you’ll find sites selling EAN-13 numbers for $1–5 each. What you’re getting is a number from someone else’s GS1 company prefix. The barcode image will scan. But the GS1 database shows it belongs to a different company.

Amazon has been enforcing this since 2016 and periodically purges listings with non-GS1-originating barcodes. Walmart and most major grocery chains verify prefix ownership. For internal use, reseller barcodes are fine. For retail, they’re a liability.

Using the same barcode for product variants Each unique product variation (different size, color, flavor) requires its own GTIN. A 500ml red wine and a 750ml red wine are two separate products requiring two separate GTINs.

Letting the annual license lapse GS1 US sends renewal reminders, but if you miss them, your company prefix gets put into a pool for reassignment. GS1 says they don’t immediately reassign lapsed prefixes, but you lose database verification — which is enough to get products rejected at retailers. Set a calendar reminder well before your renewal date.

Not accounting for packaging levels In retail supply chains, each level of packaging typically needs its own barcode:

• Individual consumer unit → GTIN-13 (EAN-13)
• Inner pack (6 units) → GTIN-13
• Outer shipping case → GTIN-14 (ITF-14 barcode)

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a barcode generator to create GS1 barcodes? Yes. Once you have a valid GTIN from GS1, you use any barcode generator to create the visual image. The “GS1 barcode” is just the number — the black bars are the encoding. Our EAN-13 generator creates fully compliant images from your GS1-assigned GTIN.

How long does GS1 registration take? Online registration is typically processed within 1-3 business days. In some countries, the process is instant after payment.

Do I need a GS1 barcode for Amazon? Amazon has tightened its requirements significantly. As of 2024, most product categories require GTINs that are verifiable in the GS1 database. Some categories still accept brand exemptions, but these are increasingly restricted. Check Amazon’s current GTIN requirements for your specific category.

Can I use UPC or EAN — which is correct for my market? For North American retail, use UPC-A (GTIN-12). For international use or if you’re unsure, use EAN-13 (GTIN-13) — most North American scanners accept both. If you have a GTIN-12, you can convert it to a GTIN-13 by adding a leading zero.

What’s the difference between a GTIN and a barcode? A GTIN is the number. A barcode is the visual representation of that number. One GTIN can be represented as multiple barcode types (EAN-13, DataMatrix, QR Code, etc.). Retailers typically specify which barcode type they require.