Whether you’re selling your products in store or online, you’ll need a specific number to identify your product. This is a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) – the number you see under a barcode – also known as an EAN or UPC.
GS1 UK is the only authorised provider of unique GTINs. Our GTINs and barcodes are used and accepted by retailers and marketplaces across the world, making it easy to sell your products anywhere.
Why are barcodes important?
You need barcodes to sell your products. But they also help your products move through the supply chain. They are as important to your business as your website domain or your business bank account. So it’s important to get them right. GS1 barcodes and GTINs are unique to you and give your customers valuable information about your products.
Why join GS1 UK to get your barcodes?
GS1 is the only place to get authentic, authorised GTINs and barcode numbers
As a member you’ll get free support – by phone or online
Our GTINs and barcodes are globally recognised and accepted by all retailers and marketplaces, including Amazon, eBay and Google shopping
You’ll have access to training and education about our standards and how they can benefit your business
In fact, without a GS1 barcode, you can’t trade on Amazon
You’ll be introduced to other GS1 standards that your business might need, like Global Location Numbers (GLNs)
GS1 barcodes and GTINs can improve your visibility on search engines
You’ll get a unique portal to manage your numbers and product data online
Get a barcode in three simple steps
1. Sign up to GS1 UK
Sign up in minutes to access exclusive member benefits, including unique GTINs and barcodes for your products.
2. Log in to My GS1
Create new GTINs and barcodes, add and manage your product data and other GS1 identification numbers.
3. Start selling
Add barcodes to your physical products or your online listings and start selling straight away.
How many GTINs and barcodes do you need?
10 T-shirts
9 colours
4 sizes
360 GTINs/barcodes
2 cereal bars
2 sizes
1 multipack
5 GTINs/barcodes
GTIN calculation tool
This tool has been created to help you calculate how many GTINs and barcodes you will need for your products and will help you select the right membership plan below.
Pricing plans
We base our fee structure on annual turnover, which means it's easier for smaller businesses to enter the market and start selling.
Starter 10
For businesses with a turnover of up to £100,000 and one or two products only
Starter 100
For businesses with a turnover of up to £500,000 and who have a range of products who are looking to grow
Standard membership
For all businesses
Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs)
10
100
Starts from 1,000*
Barcode image credits
10
100
3
Global Location Numbers (GLNs)
10
100
Starts from 1,000*
Global company prefix (GCP)
1
1
1
Company entry in the global GEPIR database which is used by Amazon to check listings
My GS1 and My Numberbank to manage numbers and product data
Create barcodes for your products
Create barcodes for your outer packaging, boxes and cases
Free online and phone support
Free webinars and training
Access to our partner network
View all features
Ways to pay
Price
Starter 10For businesses with a turnover of up to £100,000 and one or two products only Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs)
10
Barcode image credits
10
Global Location Numbers (GLNs)
10
Global company prefix (GCP)
1
Company entry in the global GEPIR database which is used by Amazon to check listings
My GS1 and My Numberbank to manage numbers and product data
Create barcodes for your products
Create barcodes for your outer packaging, boxes and cases
Free online and phone support
Free webinars and training
Access to our partner network
Access to productDNA freemiumClick here to learn more
Use of GS1 standards Click here to learn more
All 23 standards
View all features
Ways to pay
 Price
|
Starter 100For businesses with a turnover of up to £500,000 and who have a range of products who are looking to grow Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs)
100
Barcode image credits
100
Global Location Numbers (GLNs)
100
Global company prefix (GCP)
1
Company entry in the global GEPIR database which is used by Amazon to check listings
My GS1 and My Numberbank to manage numbers and product data
Create barcodes for your products
Create barcodes for your outer packaging, boxes and cases
Free online and phone support
Free webinars and training
Access to our partner network
Access to productDNA freemiumClick here to learn more
Use of GS1 standards Click here to learn more
All 23 standards
View all features
Ways to pay
 Price
|
Standard membershipFor all businesses Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs)
Starts from 1,000*
Barcode image credits
3
Global Location Numbers (GLNs)
Starts from 1,000*
Global company prefix (GCP)
1
Company entry in the global GEPIR database which is used by Amazon to check listings
My GS1 and My Numberbank to manage numbers and product data
Create barcodes for your products
Create barcodes for your outer packaging, boxes and cases
Free online and phone support
Free webinars and training
Access to our partner network
Access to productDNA freemiumClick here to learn more
Use of GS1 standards Click here to learn more
All 23 standards
View all features
Ways to pay
 Price
|
*Annual membership example calculated based on a business with a turnover under £500,000. Click here to see fees for all turnover bands
We verify the authenticity of product identifiers by checking the GS1 database. EANs/UPCs that do not match the information provided by GS1 will be considered invalid. We recommend obtaining your product identifiers directly from GS1 (and not from other third parties selling EAN/UPC licences) to ensure that the appropriate information is reflected in the GS1 database."
Amazon
on why sellers need barcodes for their products
Global success for Mammy Jamia’s premium fruit preserves
By using GS1 barcodes, Mammy Jamia’s got their premium fruit preserves on the shelves of Waitrose and Tesco and broke into new overseas markets too.
Frequently asked questions
A Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is a number that uniquely identifies a product. You see them beneath the barcodes on almost every product in the world. Which is why they’re often called ‘barcode numbers’. In the UK and Europe they’re usually 13 digits long, in the US 12. You might see shorter 8 digit numbers, used on smaller products. There are even 14 digit versions, to identify cases of products. The same numbers are used to identify products sold online too. The important thing to know is that they are all licensed from GS1 organisations around the world – to guarantee their uniqueness. When you join GS1 UK you can create all the GTINs you need.
When you become a member of GS1 UK, you automatically receive a number of free barcode image credits. This allows you to download your barcodes, print them and apply them to your products. If needed, you can purchase more barcode images credits.
Find out more about barcode image credits
If you don't want to create barcode images yourself, then you can get in touch with one of our approved partners, who are specialists in creating barcode images for businesses.
If you’ve researched barcode numbers online you may have come across websites offering you barcodes at a cheap one-off rate. These operators are not part of the GS1 network and are not authorised to sell GS1 numbers. Their uniqueness cannot be guaranteed.
