How to Create Product Barcode Labels for Your Small Business

You made a product. Now you need to label it — with a barcode that retailers will accept, Amazon will not reject, and that scans cleanly every time at checkout. For small business owners navigating barcodes for the first time, the terminology alone is confusing.

This guide cuts through it. Whether you are selling at a local market, through Amazon, or trying to get into Target — here is exactly what type of barcode you need and how to generate it for free.

What Kind of Barcode Does Your Product Need?

The answer depends entirely on where you plan to sell:

Selling Channel	Barcode Required	GS1 Required?
Local craft market / pop-up	None (or internal CODE128)	No
Your own website	None required	No
Amazon FBA (most categories)	UPC-A or EAN-13	Yes (Amazon verifies)
Etsy (shipping label only)	Not a retail barcode	No
Independent boutique	UPC-A or EAN-13 if they scan checkout	Usually yes
Major retailers (Target, Walmart)	UPC-A or EAN-13	Yes — mandatory

If you are only selling direct-to-consumer (your own site, farmers markets, craft fairs), you do not need a registered GS1 barcode. If you are going into any retail channel that scans at checkout, you do.

Getting a GS1 Company Prefix

GS1 is the nonprofit organization that manages the global barcode system. They assign unique company prefixes that ensure no two products on the planet share the same barcode number.

• In the US: purchase from GS1 US (gs1us.org) — not reseller sites
• Cost: ~$50-125/yr for a single-product prefix
• What you get: a company prefix + the right to create unique GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers) for your products

Warning about reseller barcodes: Many sites sell "GS1 barcodes" cheaply. These are barcodes from prefixes registered to someone else. Amazon now checks GS1 registry ownership and rejects products with reseller barcodes. Always register directly with GS1.

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How to Generate Your Product Barcode

1. Once you have your GS1 prefix, assign a product reference number for each item (the digits that complete your 12-digit UPC or 12-digit EAN base)
2. Open the barcode generator and select UPC (for US/Canada retail) or EAN13 (for international)
3. Enter your 11-digit company+product number (leave off the check digit)
4. The check digit is calculated automatically
5. Set bar height to at least 25mm equivalent (69px at standard scale)
6. Download as SVG for use in label design

Where to Put the Barcode on Your Product

GS1 placement guidelines for consumer packaged goods:

• Back or bottom of the package — never on the front
• Flat surface — barcodes on curved surfaces are harder to scan
• White or light background — do not print on colored backgrounds without a white box
• Away from edges — at least 8mm from any package edge
• Not near seams — scanner beams can split across seams causing misreads

For small products (lip balm, spice jars, small cosmetics) where there is not enough flat space, a barcode on the bottom is standard. Check your retail partner or marketplace requirements — Amazon has specific barcode placement rules for FBA.

Barcode Requirements for Amazon and Etsy

Amazon FBA:

• Products need a scannable barcode on the product or polybag
• Amazon accepts UPC, EAN, ISBN, and ASIN-based FNSKU labels
• For most new sellers, Amazon issues an FNSKU (Fulfillment Network SKU) — you print this Amazon-specific CODE128 label and affix it to your product before sending to FBA
• The FNSKU replaces the need for a UPC on the FBA label (but you still need a UPC to create the Amazon listing)

Etsy:

• Etsy does not require product barcodes for listings
• Etsy shipping labels use standard carrier barcodes generated automatically — not something you create
• No barcode needed to sell on Etsy itself

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a free barcode generator for my retail products?

Yes — this tool generates the barcode image for free. The cost comes from GS1 registration (purchasing your company prefix), not from generating the barcode image. The image itself can be created with any barcode generator, including this one.

How many different barcodes do I need for product variations?

Each distinct product variant (different size, color, flavor) needs its own unique barcode number. A t-shirt in 4 sizes and 3 colors = 12 different barcodes. You can create all of them free using this generator once you have your GS1 prefix.

What if I want to sell internationally — do I need a different barcode?

No. EAN-13 is accepted globally including in the US. If you are going international, generate EAN-13 instead of UPC-A. US retailers accept EAN-13 barcodes since 2005. One EAN-13 barcode works everywhere.