If you’re looking to start selling on Amazon then you need to learn about Amazon UPC codes.
Online sellers need a UPC code because they use it in the product ID section of their new Amazon listing. Without a code in the Amazon Product ID section you can’t list your product.
Amazon’s only requirement is that you need to buy a “GS1 UPC code” to finalize your product listing and start selling on Amazon. Remember, you cannot create your own Amazon UPC code.
Keep reading below to learn the basics of buying a UPC code for Amazon and where to get them at a discount. (We have a 20% discount code below)
Table of Contents
Let’s begin:
What is a UPC Number?
A UPC (Universal Product Code) or “Barcode” is a 12 digit code that is unique to the product being sold in a store or online. It’s used to scan products at the point of sale and follows the GS1 specifications. GS1 is a global standard for barcodes and if your code doesn’t follow the GS1 standard then it’s not legitimate and can violate Amazon’s terms of service.
Do You Need a UPC Code to Sell on Amazon?
You need a UPC code for Amazon to fill out the product ID field when listing a new product to sell. In the “Product ID” section you need to select “UPC” from the drop-down menu. It’s not possible to list a product for sale on Amazon without the UPC code.
Another name for UPC code is “Barcode”. So, if your product already has one because you’re re-selling something then you can enter that code in the product ID area.
What Goes Into the Amazon Product ID Section?
UPCs and EANs are the most common Amazon product ID’s.
The United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and other Western European countries commonly use UPC’s and EAN’s
Where to buy UPC codes for Amazon?
People commonly purchase cheap UPC codes from shady sellers on eBay. Most likely they’re recycled UPC codes. Amazon will think your products are fraudulent and shut down your account.
You can avoid this and buy UPC codes for Amazon from legitimate GS1 resellers.
We recommend UPCs.com because they purchase their UPC codes from GS1 directly in bulk.
That way they can pass the savings to us because they joined the GS1 database before GS1 started charging renewal fees every year.
UPCs.com stands by their codes and offers a 100% money back guarantee if the code doesn’t work for any reason when you’re listing a product to sell on Amazon. You can either reach out to them of email us and we’ll help you right away!
How to buy a UPC code for Amazon (with Images)
Go to a reputable website that sells UPC Codes (Recommended: UPCs.com)
Click on “Buy UPC codes Now”
Enter the number of barcodes you want to purchase
Download the JPEG Images of your barcode and Excel spreadsheet
Create an Amazon Product Listing
Enter the UPC code you purchased in the “product ID field” to verify it’s unique
Finalize your new Amazon product listing
Now:
Let’s define some common terms you will see in the Amazon product ID section of your product listing.
Understanding Different Barcode Types
ASIN
Stands for Amazon Standard Identification Number. This 10-character alphanumeric unique catalog number is assigned by Amazon but isn’t generated until you’ve actually listed your product already.
When you create a new product listing using a UPC code, Amazon will then assign your listing an ASIN number. This is how Amazon’s system keeps it straight when multiple Sellers are listing offers for the same product.
GCID
(Not Important for Beginners) When you create your own brand on Amazon they will give your brand a unique identifier for you to list your products. Amazon will assign that number to your products.
You can only use this ID when adding a new product that is part of your approved registered Brand list.
You can save money and completely eliminate having to buy UPC codes for Amazon by registering your brand on Amazon. Consider it after making your initial sales.
GTIN
GTINs are a part of codes you might use, such as UPCs or EANs. They’re 14 digit codes used to identify items, product, or services. Think of it as an umbrella that holds the entire family of GS1 barcodes, including the UPC codes we’re going to use.
To make things simple, new product listings will require UPC codes. Keep that as standard practice.
Here are the most common questions we get:
UPC Codes for Amazon Sellers FAQ
How many UPC codes do I need to list one item on Amazon?
You only need to buy one UPC code for one new product listing on Amazon. One UPC code for the “Tee Shirt” no matter how many “Tee Shirts” you’re selling.
I have never sold on Amazon and want to start a private label business. When I click “create new product listing” it asks for product I.D. Is this where I enter the UPC code?
Yes, in creating a new product listing the product ID is required. Select UPC from the drop-down and enter the whole number from left to right.
Are UPC codes the same for the same product?
If it’s the same product then yes they are the same. You can use the same UPC code for any number of the same product. If the product has already been listed then simply change the amount of products you have for sale.
My product is already listed on Amazon and I want to list the same product do I need to purchase a UPC code?
If the item is already on Amazon and it is the exact same item, you should piggyback on that detail page rather than start a new page. You wouldn’t need to purchase a UPC code if the item is already on the site. Select ASIN on the product ID dropdown and enter the active listing ASIN number.
Does the Amazon UPC code have to physically be on each product I list? What if I’m listing 50 products?
You can use 1 single UPC code to list as many of the same item as you want. If you’re selling 100 hair brushes when creating the product listing you only need 1 UPC code for all 100 hair brushes. The UPC code does not have to be on your products.
When you create your product listing, Amazon gives you a unique identifier for each item and that would need to be placed on your product. The UPC code is only for product listing purposes.
People say I need GS1 barcodes to sell on Amazon. What does GS1 mean?
GS1 is an organization that developed the standard barcode for business communication. When you buy a GS1 barcode you are buying a unique identifier that can be traced back only to your business and product. Amazon only accepts barcodes that meet the GS1 Standards.
What’s the bottom line?
Wrapping this up…
You only need UPC codes to initially list your product on Amazon. They do not need to physically be on each product and you only need one UPC code for one variation of a product.
You’re not going to need UPC codes when you’re selling via retail arbitrage. The products come with their own barcodes and you can use that to list the product.
Remember that at the end of the day you’re trying to sell on Amazon, you’re not a UPC code or logistics expert. Going deeper into the UPC code discussion is not necessary and this is only a small portion of ranking your products and starting an Amazon business.
So, the idea behind this post is to give you a quick primer into understanding what you need to do because people get confused about the technical side of starting an Amazon business and never know where or how to start researching products.
There’s a huge section on understanding UPC Codes and creating Amazon listing in our brand new Amazon business course that teaches first time entrepreneurs how to launch their very own physical product Amazon business. If you want to check that out and see if it’s right for you click here…
Will Mitchell is a serial entrepreneur and Founder of StartupBros. You can learn more about him at the Startupbros about page. If you have any questions or comments for him, just send an email or leave a comment!
after I get the barcodes from the website now I go to the listing and type the code in the id field, and would I not get flagged for the “brand name”.. ???????
Bad recommendation i used snapupc and they never send me the barcode instead they send me a link to a number!!!
Hey Ed, the barcode image is linked in your account. But to sell on Amazon you don’t need the image of the barcode you only need the number.
Thanks so much for all of this wonderful information. DO you sell a book that has all of this useful information in one place. I am looking for a book that shows examples and specifics about things from how to use spreadsheets and organize my Amazon business, to photographing items and branding. I ordered one already, but it was just a basic book with info I can easily find online. I am looking for something more comprehensive with resources as well =-)
Thanks so much!
Hey Leah, thank you so much for reading the article and for the kind words. We don’t have a book about this but we have a free presentation and the most in-depth step by step video course that covers everything from first sample order to launching a successful brand. If you want to know more and want the links email me will@startupbros(dot)com I would love to talk more about everything we can help you with.
My products have GSI UPC barcodes and I’ve been selling them in US stores. When I try to list them on Amazon, I get an error message saying that the barcode is not valid. Any help would be appreciated.
Hey charles, we can help you out for sure. Where did you get your UPC codes from?
I read from an Amazon web page “We verify the authenticity of product UPCs by checking the GS1 database. UPCs that do not match the information provided by GS1 will be considered invalid. We recommend obtaining your UPCs directly from GS1 (and not from other third parties selling UPC licenses) to ensure the appropriate information is reflected in the GS1 database.” Are you sure that Snapupc is 100% safe for me to use?
Thanks for reaching out. We’re fully aware of Amazon’s terms of service and that’s why we don’t recommend buying UPC codes from anywhere. Every single UPC sold by SnapUPC is verified and if the code doesn’t work they will give you 100% of your money back. We wouldn’t recommend them if we didn’t trust them. We have hundreds of Amazon sellers in our Facebook group that recommend snapUPC as well.
how?
Hey Vince, we updated the post to include screenshots on exact steps to buy a upc code and where to place them in Amazon.
I am buying a product from China that has a barcode. Do I need to buy UPC or I can put their barcode
If you’re going to sell it on Amazon then yes you should buy a single bar code and use that to list the product.
from where i get a upc code for non brands products example ear ring and medicene
Hey Fahad, are you trying to list products on Amazon? All UPC codes work for any product. Remember you only need to UPC code to create the listing.
What if my product comes in many different sents? Would I need a different UPC for each sent? Like the shirt sizes? What about if I have a 5oz, 10oz, and 20oz size would I need 3 UPC’s?
Hey Josh, any variation at all would be a different UPC code. So if you have 6 different scented candles then you need 6 UPC codes. If you have a lavender scented candle that 5 oz, 10oz, and 20oz then you would need 3 UPC codes for the different sizes. Hope that makes sense. 🙂
I need UPC Urgent
Hey Ravi, have you tried SnapUPC?
Is a UPC code required if selling FBM?
Hey Siobhan, a UPC is required to list a product on Amazon even if it’s FBM. But you wouldn’t need one if you create a listing using a similar listings ASIN. If you take the second route you won’t be able to customize any part of your listing other than price.
Interesting answer. After 2 weeks of practically 24/4 struggling on Amazon’s site and not getting anywhere with its support, now finding simple answers like these. Refreshing! Makes one wonder why they cant do this so straightforward. QUESTION: Where can those “similar listings ASIN” numbers be found? Can the (brand) name of the product be changed too? We want to sell, say, bumper stickers. Buying hundreds of separate UPC codes for every bumper sticker that has its own different text and slogan (at 150- dollars fee for EACH !! plus monthly fees, plus -plus as what they apparently want you to do) is just ridiculous. Thank you!
Hey Rudolf, I completely understand where you’re coming from. Finding help for issues on Amazon can be extremely frustrating. To answer your question you can find the ASIN of any product listing under the “Additional Information” section. You can also do ctrl + f and search “asin” and it comes right up. If you’re selling the exact same product and you want to create a new product listing you can use that ASIN instead of using a UPC code. That original listing will be owned by that ASIN owner but you will appear under “other seller on Amazon” next to the buy box. The listing will belong to the ASIN owner but when the person looking to buy the product sees the “other selers” section and clicks through your brand name will show up with the price and product description.
You’re absolutely right, when you have a ton of different variations of a product it can get expensive buying UPC codes. If you have any more questions at all please let me know and I will answer ASAP!
I’m going to buy off snap UPC because I trust you after reading your straightforward well broken down comments on this subject matter
Hey Richard, awesome. All we want to do is provide a ton of value and give you the best information possible! Glad you enjoyed the article 🙂
Thank goodness I found your page nobody else broke it down as simplistic and straightforward well done
Hey Richard, glad the article made sense! If you run into any issues let us know 🙂
do we need to update the codes annually?
Nope, you buy them once and that’s it 🙂 But you cannot reuse them once they are assigned to a product!
I just purchased 5 UPC code to use and when I try to use it I get the message that product code in invalid.
Hey Florence, thanks for reaching out! That’s weird that happened. We trust Snap UPC because they are the most reliable UPC code supplier. If you reach out to their support staff I know they will be more than happy to help fix the issue you had. One of the most common issues is that when you buy a code that you enter it as an EAN rather than UPC on Amazon. Make sure the drop-down on Amazon is selected as UPC.
Great post! Do you know if a new UPC is required for bulk products. For example, if there is an existing code for a t-shirt, but I am selling a 10 pack of that shirt will it need a new code? Or, if I am selling that same shirt along with a hat, will it need a unique code if its all packaged together?
Hey Matt thanks for reaching out. UPC codes are for different products or single packaged products. So if you have 10 shirts in a bag then only 1 UPC code is needed. But if you had 10 different types of shirts individually packaged then you need 10 different UPC codes. If the hat and the shirt are sold in the same box or package then only one UPC code is needed. But if there is a shirt sold and a hat sold but you “bundle” them together you need 2 UPC codes. When you have an Amazon listing you can bundle products from two listings together and that sounds more like your example.
What if I’m listing a new private label product? Such a product is already sold by another brand on amazon. Should I get a newc UPC or copy their ASIN?
Hey Satvik, truthfully, it’s completely up to you. You can start by listing under their ASIN and then if you see some sales you can create your own listing and buy your own UPC code. When you use someone else’s listing you can’t improve on what they’re doing. You can’t take better pictures or do anything better than that seller because you don’t have control of that listing. If you get your own UPC code and list the product with a new Amazon listing then you can create a better listing than the best seller and beat them 🙂
Thanks for the coupon code !
Of course! 🙂 If you have any questions at all please let me know!
Is it allowe to buy a barcode from 3rd party if you sell on Amazon?
Amazone says:
Valid UPCs
We verify the authenticity of product UPCs by checking the GS1 database. UPCs that do not match the information provided by GS1 will be considered invalid. We recommend obtaining your UPCs directly from GS1 (and not from other third parties selling UPC licenses) to ensure the appropriate information is reflected in the GS1 database.
Important: All invalid product UPC listings will be removed and may result in your ASIN creation or selling privileges being temporarily or permanently removed. For more information on licensing UPCs from GS1, see the GSI standard website.
Hey Nika,
Yes, it’s absolutely allowed to buy 3rd party UPC codes to sell on Amazon. We’re very careful about the UPC code companies that we recommend. SnapUPC works to make sure that all of their UPC codes are valid on Amazon and eBay.
Do I need a company to be able to buy a UPC code and create a listing on Amazon?
Hey Rafael, no you don’t need a company to buy a UPC code. You also don’t need a company to create an Amazon listing. Buy the UPC code and use it to create the Amazon listing!
after I get the barcodes from the website now I go to the listing and type the code in the id field, and would I not get flagged for the “brand name”.. ???????
Bad recommendation i used snapupc and they never send me the barcode instead they send me a link to a number!!!
Hey Ed, the barcode image is linked in your account. But to sell on Amazon you don’t need the image of the barcode you only need the number.
Thanks so much for all of this wonderful information. DO you sell a book that has all of this useful information in one place. I am looking for a book that shows examples and specifics about things from how to use spreadsheets and organize my Amazon business, to photographing items and branding. I ordered one already, but it was just a basic book with info I can easily find online. I am looking for something more comprehensive with resources as well =-)
Thanks so much!
Hey Leah, thank you so much for reading the article and for the kind words. We don’t have a book about this but we have a free presentation and the most in-depth step by step video course that covers everything from first sample order to launching a successful brand. If you want to know more and want the links email me will@startupbros(dot)com I would love to talk more about everything we can help you with.
My products have GSI UPC barcodes and I’ve been selling them in US stores. When I try to list them on Amazon, I get an error message saying that the barcode is not valid. Any help would be appreciated.
Hey charles, we can help you out for sure. Where did you get your UPC codes from?
I read from an Amazon web page “We verify the authenticity of product UPCs by checking the GS1 database. UPCs that do not match the information provided by GS1 will be considered invalid. We recommend obtaining your UPCs directly from GS1 (and not from other third parties selling UPC licenses) to ensure the appropriate information is reflected in the GS1 database.” Are you sure that Snapupc is 100% safe for me to use?
Thanks for reaching out. We’re fully aware of Amazon’s terms of service and that’s why we don’t recommend buying UPC codes from anywhere. Every single UPC sold by SnapUPC is verified and if the code doesn’t work they will give you 100% of your money back. We wouldn’t recommend them if we didn’t trust them. We have hundreds of Amazon sellers in our Facebook group that recommend snapUPC as well.
how?
Hey Vince, we updated the post to include screenshots on exact steps to buy a upc code and where to place them in Amazon.
I am buying a product from China that has a barcode. Do I need to buy UPC or I can put their barcode
If you’re going to sell it on Amazon then yes you should buy a single bar code and use that to list the product.
from where i get a upc code for non brands products example ear ring and medicene
Hey Fahad, are you trying to list products on Amazon? All UPC codes work for any product. Remember you only need to UPC code to create the listing.
What if my product comes in many different sents? Would I need a different UPC for each sent? Like the shirt sizes? What about if I have a 5oz, 10oz, and 20oz size would I need 3 UPC’s?
Hey Josh, any variation at all would be a different UPC code. So if you have 6 different scented candles then you need 6 UPC codes. If you have a lavender scented candle that 5 oz, 10oz, and 20oz then you would need 3 UPC codes for the different sizes. Hope that makes sense. 🙂
I need UPC Urgent
Hey Ravi, have you tried SnapUPC?
Is a UPC code required if selling FBM?
Hey Siobhan, a UPC is required to list a product on Amazon even if it’s FBM. But you wouldn’t need one if you create a listing using a similar listings ASIN. If you take the second route you won’t be able to customize any part of your listing other than price.
Interesting answer. After 2 weeks of practically 24/4 struggling on Amazon’s site and not getting anywhere with its support, now finding simple answers like these. Refreshing! Makes one wonder why they cant do this so straightforward. QUESTION: Where can those “similar listings ASIN” numbers be found? Can the (brand) name of the product be changed too? We want to sell, say, bumper stickers. Buying hundreds of separate UPC codes for every bumper sticker that has its own different text and slogan (at 150- dollars fee for EACH !! plus monthly fees, plus -plus as what they apparently want you to do) is just ridiculous. Thank you!
Hey Rudolf, I completely understand where you’re coming from. Finding help for issues on Amazon can be extremely frustrating. To answer your question you can find the ASIN of any product listing under the “Additional Information” section. You can also do ctrl + f and search “asin” and it comes right up. If you’re selling the exact same product and you want to create a new product listing you can use that ASIN instead of using a UPC code. That original listing will be owned by that ASIN owner but you will appear under “other seller on Amazon” next to the buy box. The listing will belong to the ASIN owner but when the person looking to buy the product sees the “other selers” section and clicks through your brand name will show up with the price and product description.
You’re absolutely right, when you have a ton of different variations of a product it can get expensive buying UPC codes. If you have any more questions at all please let me know and I will answer ASAP!
I’m going to buy off snap UPC because I trust you after reading your straightforward well broken down comments on this subject matter
Hey Richard, awesome. All we want to do is provide a ton of value and give you the best information possible! Glad you enjoyed the article 🙂
Thank goodness I found your page nobody else broke it down as simplistic and straightforward well done
Hey Richard, glad the article made sense! If you run into any issues let us know 🙂
do we need to update the codes annually?
Nope, you buy them once and that’s it 🙂 But you cannot reuse them once they are assigned to a product!
I just purchased 5 UPC code to use and when I try to use it I get the message that product code in invalid.
Hey Florence, thanks for reaching out! That’s weird that happened. We trust Snap UPC because they are the most reliable UPC code supplier. If you reach out to their support staff I know they will be more than happy to help fix the issue you had. One of the most common issues is that when you buy a code that you enter it as an EAN rather than UPC on Amazon. Make sure the drop-down on Amazon is selected as UPC.
Great post! Do you know if a new UPC is required for bulk products. For example, if there is an existing code for a t-shirt, but I am selling a 10 pack of that shirt will it need a new code? Or, if I am selling that same shirt along with a hat, will it need a unique code if its all packaged together?
Hey Matt thanks for reaching out. UPC codes are for different products or single packaged products. So if you have 10 shirts in a bag then only 1 UPC code is needed. But if you had 10 different types of shirts individually packaged then you need 10 different UPC codes. If the hat and the shirt are sold in the same box or package then only one UPC code is needed. But if there is a shirt sold and a hat sold but you “bundle” them together you need 2 UPC codes. When you have an Amazon listing you can bundle products from two listings together and that sounds more like your example.
What if I’m listing a new private label product? Such a product is already sold by another brand on amazon. Should I get a newc UPC or copy their ASIN?
Hey Satvik, truthfully, it’s completely up to you. You can start by listing under their ASIN and then if you see some sales you can create your own listing and buy your own UPC code. When you use someone else’s listing you can’t improve on what they’re doing. You can’t take better pictures or do anything better than that seller because you don’t have control of that listing. If you get your own UPC code and list the product with a new Amazon listing then you can create a better listing than the best seller and beat them 🙂
Thanks for the coupon code !
Of course! 🙂 If you have any questions at all please let me know!
Is it allowe to buy a barcode from 3rd party if you sell on Amazon?
Amazone says:
Valid UPCs
We verify the authenticity of product UPCs by checking the GS1 database. UPCs that do not match the information provided by GS1 will be considered invalid. We recommend obtaining your UPCs directly from GS1 (and not from other third parties selling UPC licenses) to ensure the appropriate information is reflected in the GS1 database.
Important: All invalid product UPC listings will be removed and may result in your ASIN creation or selling privileges being temporarily or permanently removed. For more information on licensing UPCs from GS1, see the GSI standard website.
Hey Nika,
Yes, it’s absolutely allowed to buy 3rd party UPC codes to sell on Amazon. We’re very careful about the UPC code companies that we recommend. SnapUPC works to make sure that all of their UPC codes are valid on Amazon and eBay.
Do I need a company to be able to buy a UPC code and create a listing on Amazon?
Hey Rafael, no you don’t need a company to buy a UPC code. You also don’t need a company to create an Amazon listing. Buy the UPC code and use it to create the Amazon listing!
We cover how to create an Amazon listing here at Startupbros in this post: https://startupbros.com/how-to-sell-on-amazon-fba/
Very helpful. I ordered mine.
Thanks.
Awesome, glad to hear it! 🙂
I WANT TO ORDER UPC CODE FOR AMAZON IN INDIA..
Hey Aman, you should still be able to do it through SnapUPC because barcodes are a global standard.
I have used snapUPC before, all savings count at the end of the day.
Saving money is awesome! It’s how you keep your startup costs low 🙂
I wish I could read it earlier! Last week I spent almost two days to get my head around how UPC works.
Awesome to hear Calvin! We thought there wasn’t enough information out there for UPC codes!
One of the best article ever seen on upc codes. Love the concept and idea you presented in your article.Very helpful article.
Thanks!
Thanks for checking out the article 🙂