How-to guide
How to get GS1 barcodes (UPC/EAN) for your Shopify products
When marketplaces demand real GTINs: GS1 registration step by step, what it costs in 2026, the reseller trap, and how to get licensed numbers into Shopify and onto printed labels.
By Bastien HugonFounder & Engineer8 min readPublished July 9, 2026
TL;DR
Buy GTINs directly from GS1 (gs1us.org in the US, your national GS1 elsewhere): $30 for a single GTIN with no renewal, or a 10-number prefix at $250 + $50/year. Enter each licensed number in Shopify's variant barcode field, and print it as a UPC-A/EAN-13 label. Skip third-party 'cheap UPC' resellers entirely for marketplace products — recycled prefixes fail Amazon's GS1 database check.
You only reach this guide when a channel forces the issue: Amazon wants a Product ID, Google Shopping wants a GTIN, a wholesale buyer wants 'real barcodes'. The UPC vs EAN reference explains the system; this is the purchasing and setup walkthrough — with the prices GS1 actually charges and the one shortcut that reliably backfires.
Do you even need GS1 numbers?
- Own store + POS only → no. Free internal Code 128 does everything you need.
- Reselling other brands' products → no new numbers: the manufacturer's existing UPC/EAN goes in your barcode field as-is.
- Your own brand on Amazon, Google, or into retail → yes: GTINs licensed to *your* company, one per variant (size and color each get their own).
GS1 US pricing, July 2026
| Option | Up-front | Annual renewal | Right when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single GTIN | $30 each | none | ≤ ~5 marketplace variants, ever |
| Prefix — 10 GTINs | $250 | $50 | Small catalog headed to marketplaces |
| Prefix — 100 GTINs | $750 | $150 | Full catalog, several variants per product |
| Prefix — 1,000 GTINs | $2,500 | $500 | Large catalogs / frequent launches |
Two details that change the math: single GTINs never renew (fire-and-forget for a couple of hero products), and a prefix's annual fee covers the whole block — 100 variants cost $1.50/year each after year one. Outside the US, your national GS1 member organisation (GS1 UK, GS1 France…) sells the same numbers with local pricing; numbers from any member organisation work worldwide.
Registration to printed label, step by step
- 01
License at GS1
gs1us.org → GS1 US Data Hub: choose single GTINs or a prefix sized to your variant count (count variants, not products — every size/color needs its own number). Checkout is same-day.
- 02
Assign numbers to variants in Data Hub
For each variant, create the product entry (brand, description, packaging) and Data Hub issues the full 12-digit GTIN with its check digit. Export the list as CSV.
- 03
Enter GTINs in Shopify
Variant page → barcode field, or in bulk: export products to CSV, fill the Variant Barcode column from the GS1 export, re-import. One GTIN, one variant, no reuse — ever, even after discontinuation.
- 04
Verify with Verified by GS1
Spot-check a few numbers on GS1's public verifier: your company must appear as the licensee. This is exactly the check Amazon automates.
- 05
Print the labels
Your label app renders the GTIN from the barcode field as UPC-A/EAN-13 — [full-size, quiet zones, 100% scale](/guides/barcode-labels-wont-scan-fixes), same printing rules as any barcode.
- 06
Feed the same GTIN to the channels
Amazon (Product ID = the GTIN), Google Merchant Center (gtin attribute), wholesale line sheets — one number everywhere is the whole point of the system.
Doing this with Solvi Barcode Labels
Solvi Barcode Labels prints whatever your barcode field holds: GS1 GTINs render as retail-standard symbols, and variants without numbers can get internal Code 128 values (checked catalog-wide) for everything that never leaves your store. Mixed catalogs are the norm, not the exception — marketplace products on GTINs, stockroom-only products on internal codes, one label run.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a UPC code cost from GS1?
GS1 US charges $30 for a single GTIN with no annual fee, or prefix blocks: 10 numbers for $250 + $50/year, 100 for $750 + $150/year, 1,000 for $2,500 + $500/year (July 2026 list prices). Per-variant cost drops fast with prefix size.
Can Amazon really tell if my UPC is not from GS1?
Yes — Amazon validates Product IDs against the GS1 database and compares the registered brand owner with your listing's brand. Recycled reseller UPCs are registered to another company, so the check fails, typically as listing suppression with a request for a GS1 certificate.
Do I need a new GTIN for every size and color?
Yes. A GTIN identifies the exact sellable variant — Medium/Black and Large/Black are two GTINs. Count variants before choosing a prefix size; a 20-product apparel catalog with 6 variants each needs 120 numbers, i.e. the 100-prefix is already too small.
I sell internationally — UPC or EAN?
License once from your local GS1 and stop worrying: UPC-A and EAN-13 encode the same GTIN, and scanners worldwide read both. US-licensed numbers print naturally as UPC-A, European ones as EAN-13; every marketplace accepts either form of a valid GTIN.
Related guides
Reference
UPC vs EAN vs Code 128: which barcode does your store need?
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The 5 best Shopify barcode label apps in 2026, tested
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Do this in minutes with Solvi Barcode Labels
Print barcode labels right the first time: unique codes, true-size sheets, ready in minutes.