How To Register Upc With Amazon

As an Amazon seller, you should already be familiar with UPC codes and what they entail. Amazon requires sellers to take unique product codes (also called UPC codes) to listing their products.

At that place is merely one legitimate global producer of UPC codes: GS1. GS1 (Global Standard 1) is a non-profit organization that has set the global standard for supply chain barcoding.

GS1 US is the organization that provides UPC codes to Us-based businesses, just there are more than 100 GS1 organizations effectually the world. GS1 issues unique prefixes to brand owners so that they tin create their own unique barcodes with the prefix number given to them by GS1.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about Amazon's UPC lawmaking policies and how to buy UPC codes for Amazon in 2021.

Jump to a department beneath:

ane. What is a GTIN?

2. What are UPC Codes?

3. What are EAN Codes?

4. Where to Buy Your UPC Codes

five. Steps to Ownership a UPC Code

6. Amazon's UPC Lawmaking Requirements

seven. What is an FNSKU?

viii. When Don't I Have to Purchase a UPC Code for Amazon?

What is a GTIN?

A GTIN is a Global Merchandise Detail Number that identifies individual products – not to be confused with an bodily production barcode . GTINs are a combination of GS1 Usa-issued company prefix numbers and a unique product number, plus a check digit that helps to ensure the GTIN is created correctly.

GTINs tin can be encoded into dissimilar types of barcodes:

UPCs (Unique Product Codes)
EANs (European Commodity Numbers)

It's important to assign each production a unique GTIN, and you must ensure that every variation of an item is assigned a globally unique number.

Keep in mind, in about Amazon categories, sellers are required to use a split UPC for multi-pack products , and they must also bespeak the " item parcel quantity " when listing multi-packs. Production bundles (aka Amazon production bundling) are composed of different products (not multiples of the aforementioned product) and each bundle requires its own unique UPC (or EAN). For more info, cheque out Amazon'southward Product Bundling Policy and How Products are Defined .

A GTIN, along with a UPC code, can be used anywhere in the world. GS1 is the simply official global provider of GS1 GTINs and EAN and UPC barcodes.

UPC codes

Amazon UPC Code

What are UPC Codes?

The UPC code was the original format for production barcodes. In that location are two principal types of UPC codes: UPC-E and UPC-A. UPC-A is essentially identical to UPC-Due east; notwithstanding, UPC-Eastward does not include 0s. That means you volition not really see the 0s within the barcode, only within the corresponding GTIN.

Amazon UPC Code

Amazon UPC code

UPC barcodes are currently the primary barcodes used within the The states and Canada. Although other countries tin scan and read UPC codes, about countries outside of the US and Canada employ EANs.

When supply and need in Europe, Asia, and Australia increased, at that place was a need to distinguish each seller by location. GS1 and so began allocating specific prefixes for dissimilar GS1 member organizations.

While certain prefixes place the GS1 co-operative where the prefix was licensed, it does non necessarily specify where that product was made. For instance, there is a misconception that all barcode prefixes on American-fabricated products will first with a zero or one.

What are EAN Codes?

EAN or European Article Numbers (also called International Article Numbers or IANs) are GS1-issued barcodes that include company prefixes at the starting time of the numeric GTIN. Two main forms of EANs are popular among Amazon sellers: EAN-13 and EAN-viii, which encode a GTIN-13 and GTIN-8, respectively.

Like UPC codes, EANs don't necessarily identify the country where the product was made.

Amazon UPC code

Amazon UPC Codes

Likewise similar to UPCs, the blazon of EAN you utilise depends on various factors, such as product category and product distribution channel.

Where to Purchase UPC Codes for Amazon

Amazon requires every seller to register a GTIN with each production listing available on their marketplace. Amazon sellers can either buy legitimized UPC codes directly from GS1 or purchase through a reseller.

There are various UPC and EAN resellers out there who will effort to sell replicated UPC codes to satisfy Amazon'southward UPC lawmaking requirements. Many sellers purchase their UPC codes from third-party websites due to their cheaper prices — merely using resold Amazon UPC codes can crusade more impairment than adept in the long run.

If yous don't purchase your UPC code from GS1 and buy a inexpensive replicated UPC code that doesn't lucifer the information constitute in the GS1 database, Amazon tin remove your listing and potentially suspend your seller business relationship .

From Amazon :

"We verify the authenticity of production UPCs by checking the GS1 database. UPCs that practice not lucifer the data provided past GS1 will be considered invalid. Nosotros recommend obtaining your UPCs directly from GS1 (and not from other third parties selling UPC licenses) to ensure the appropriate data is reflected in the GS1 database."

As our in-house Amazon skilful David Cooley advises, "It'southward important to stay upward to date on Amazon'south policies effectually UPCs."

The bottom line – since GS1 is the creator of the GTIN system, they are the only legitimate resources to check barcode validity.

If yous are buying a reseller's UPC code from a 3rd-party website, that UPC code was probably originally assigned to another visitor. If those replicated UPC codes belong to another company, Amazon won't associate your company with your products.

How to Purchase a UPC Lawmaking for Amazon

GS1 lays out 4 steps to buying your UPC lawmaking for Amazon.

Step ane: Determine if yous should purchase a unmarried GTIN or utilise for a GS1 company prefix

GS1 U.s. offers ii options. For small-scale companies that only sell a few products, at that place is a unmarried Global Merchandise Item Number (GTIN) option. This ways each UPC or barcode is only $30 with no almanac renewal fee. Even so, for those businesses that meet their production lines growing over the next few years, the Company Prefix option might be best.

The first vi to nine digits of your barcode are your company prefix . The company prefix is a unique identifier of the production's manufacturer. As a supplier, your company prefix volition remain the aforementioned on each barcode for all of your different products. Each product that y'all offer will so be assigned a unique product lawmaking that follows your company prefix.

Again, make sure that your single GTIN or company prefix can be traced back to your business past buying your prefix and Amazon UPC codes directly from GS1. To purchase your UPC codes from GS1, y'all need to make full out an application on their website.

Figure out how many barcodes yous'll need. How many unique products do you have? Each combination of size and color variation needs its own barcode. As illustrated in the graphic below, this means that if you lot offer an particular in three different sizes, and each size is available in three different colors, yous would need nine barcodes—one for each size and color combination. Yous can use GS1's barcode estimator to get a more accurate picture.

Next, figure out which pricing plan makes the most sense for you. GS1 offers a variety of pricing tiers based on how many dissimilar barcodes you plan to purchase:

Step 2: Identify each production with a GTIN

The next stride is to assign your products unique product numbers, aka GTINs .

Your GTIN should be a combination of your visitor prefix, a unique product number that you assign, and a "bank check digit" that helps brand certain that your GTIN is created correctly.

On Amazon, UPC codes must always full 12 digits (GTIN-12): xi digits, plus that "check digit." Your "check digit" is calculated past GS1 based on the previous 11 digits of your barcode.

Step three: Decide your barcode type

The barcode type you demand depends on where your product will be sold or scanned. Products scanned at a brick-and-mortar point-of-sale need different barcodes than products scanned in a distribution centre or a warehouse.

If you sell in both brick-and-mortar stores and online, you should use the same GTIN online and in physical stores
If you lot apply Amazon FBA to fulfill your Amazon orders, Amazon typically requires that yous place FNSKU codes on your items; nosotros encompass these in greater detail below. FBA uses FNSKU barcodes to rail inventory throughout the guild fulfillment process. If a particular particular is exclusively available from you, Amazon may exist able to use the UPC code solitary to identify you lot as the seller, merely we recommend always using the FNSKU every bit well to ensure at that place are no current or future issues

Because nosotros're talking most barcodes for Amazon, we'll skip to the online and ecommerce retail store requirements.

Pace 4: Place barcode on your product

Last, but definitely non to the lowest degree: put your barcode on your product!

If y'all haven't packaged or designed your labels for your product, you lot can obtain a digital barcode file directly from GS1 to incorporate it into the packaging and labeling of your product.

Almost all manufacturers will exist comfortable with the idea of working with UPC codes and sympathize how to incorporate them from a digital file. If you accept already packaged and labeled your products, you can society adhesive barcode labels to stick onto your product or packaging.

Every bit an Amazon seller, it's important to place your barcode in a place that is visible and scannable.

Avoid placing your barcode on the border of the package, and make sure there's plenty white space around the barcode so it'southward scannable. Make sure that the barcodes yous use are printed clearly, sized correctly, and match the information on the GS1 database.

Amazon UPC Requirements

Amazon has specific requirements for sellers when information technology comes to UPC and/or FNSKU lawmaking placement. The easier you lot make information technology for FBA warehouses to accept, process, and runway your inventory, the better gear up for success you'll be .

Can Amazon's Brand Registry be Used equally an Culling to UPCs?

Previously, if yous enrolled your brand in Amazon'due south Brand Registry, Amazon would provide you with a GCID (Global Catalog Identifier) that yous could use as the unique identifier in your listing, in identify of a UPC.

But, as of Apr 17, 2018, GCIDs can no longer exist used in place of a UPC, EAN, January, or ISBN to create ASINs (Amazon Standard Identification Numbers). If your make has been approved for the Make Registry program and yous don't have UPCs, EANs, JANs (Nippon Commodity Numbers – Japanese equivalent of EANs), or ISBNs (International Standard Volume Numbers – only applies to books) for your products, use for GTIN exemption .

What is an FNSKU?

An FNSKU—or Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit—is an Amazon fulfillment-specific number. If you are leveraging FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) rather than shipping out products to customers yourself, you will need to affix an FNSKU barcode to all items you transport to an Amazon fulfillment centre. If yous are not using FBA, an FNSKU is not required.

When a squad member at the Amazon fulfillment centre receives your shipment, they will scan the FNSKU barcodes to determine which Amazon seller sent the shipped products. Amazon requires that this number exist added to every product they're fulfilling, and that information technology is easily scannable to streamline the process. The FNSKU is and so important considering it lets Amazon know which seller to credit when a auction takes place. It also allows Amazon to trace each particular back to the Seller of record if there is always a quality outcome, and helps prevent co-mingling of stock.

"Although it does add together some other procedure to shipment preparation, we do recommend that all Sellers apply the Amazon FNSKU labels to their cartons. This extra effort not only allows for sales tracking, but it serves as a level of protection against counterfeits. Once received into the Amazon network, a Seller'due south product is traceable through every stride of the ecommerce process."

— Nancy Hebert, Senior Specialist, Marketplace Operations at Tinuiti

Nancy Hebert

If the items you're selling are in a box or other packaging, yous can affix the FNSKU in an hands-identifiable location on the outside of the package. If your item doesn't include packaging—such every bit a unmarried t-shirt—the FNSKU tin can be added to any tags on the particular, including the size tag itself.

Where do I get an FNSKU?

FNSKU numbers will be automatically generated for your products when y'all opt to print your shipping labels in Seller Central; a different FNSKU will be issued for every product variation.

At this stage, y'all will select who is affixing the labels from the dropdown (yous, or Amazon). FNSKU labels tin can be added to items individually—or, if you oasis't still had your packaging created—yous tin include them correct in your packaging pattern.

If you are unable to add the FNSKU labels yourself, Amazon can affix the labels on sellers' behalf for a fee. In that location is no cost associated with the FNSKU numbers themselves.

**When Don't I Have to Buy a UPC Code for Amazon?**

UPC codes help Amazon, and shoppers, understand exactly which item you are selling. This is peculiarly important in a crowded marketplace where there may be hundreds of items that look like, but are indeed different.

If you have created your own new product, or are planning to private label products you accept purchased or had manufactured on your behalf, yous will demand to assign unique UPC codes to each variation of these items. In a sense, they don't be yet in a way that retailers and shoppers can identify them with a concrete numerical 'check,' and giving them a UPC code is a scrap like assigning them the item version of a Social Security Number. This number becomes a source of truth that retailers and shoppers tin can utilise to search for and/or identify an particular

If you are reselling products that already have UPC codes assigned to them—these volition typically be on the back of the item itself, or its packaging—you volition not need to purchase a new UPC code. You can cull the UPC option, and add together this existing number to the product ID field when you listing your particular for sale

If the exact item you're selling is already available for sale on Amazon, you lot won't exist required to create a new page to support your item. You lot tin choose the ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) option from the product ID dropdown, and input the ASIN of the existing, active Amazon listing

If the items you're offering for auction aren't in your physical possession (ie. dropshipping), you can contact your supplier or the manufacturer to obtain the correct UPC lawmaking. In some instances, you may besides be able to find the UPC code yourself by simply locating the product in-store or online, though we encourage you to exist completely certain the detail you're selling is an verbal friction match. If you're at all unsure, verify with your supplier or the manufacturer before using the code

Looking for an agency to assist you with your Amazon selling endeavors? Cheque out our Amazon bureau buying guide to learn how to choose the right agency for you – and why Tinuiti might exist that agency.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in July 2016 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.