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Barcode encyclopedia : Symbology upc-a

UPC-A, UPC-E, UPC Supplementals


UPC-A is used for marking products which are sold at retail in the USA.
The UPC-A Code and the assignment of manufacturer ID numbers is controlled in the U.S.A. by the Uniform Code Council located in Dayton, Ohio.

UPC-A is 12 digit symbology. UPC-A consist 11 digits and one check digit. The first digit is a number system digit that normally represents the type of product being identified. The following 5 digits are a manufacturers code and next 5 digits identify specific product.

UPC-E is smaller UPC symbology, only 7 digits for number system 0.It is often for small retail items. Contains only 6 digits, 7th digith is checksum.

UPC-A and UPC-E can contain two or five digits as supplemental digits to main code. This is used for periodicals nad publications. This symbol is added to right side of main symbol.

UPC-E is a variation of the UPC-A symbol that is used for number system 0. By suppressing zeroes, UPC-E codes can be printed in a very small space and are used for labeling small items.

Differences between UPC-A nad UPC-E


UPC-E is zero supperssed UPC, bacause compresses a normal UPC-A from 12 digit into 6 digit code, trailing zeros in the manufacturers code and leading zeros in the product identification part of barcode. 7th digit is checksum, UPC-E can be restored into 12 digit UPC-A symbology.

Table to converting UPC-A to UPC-E


APC-A NumberEquivalent UPC-ENotes
0ab00000cdeXabcde0XManufacturer code must have 2 leading digits with 3 trailing zeros and the item number is limited to 3 digits (000 to 999).
0ab10000cdeXabcde1XManufacturer code must have 3 leadings digits ending with "1" and 2 trailing zeros. The item number is limited to 3 digits.
0ab20000cdeXabcde2XManufacturer code must have 3 leading digits ending with "2" and 2 trailing zeros. The item number is limited to 3 digits.
0abc00000deXabcde3XManufacturer code must have 3 leadingsd digits nad 2 trailing zeros. The item number is limited to 2 digits (00 to 99).
0abcd00000eXabcde4XManufacturer code must have 4 leading digits with 1 trailing zero and the item number is limited to 1 digit (0 to 9).
0abcde00005Xabcde5XManufacturer code has all 5 digits. The item number is limited to a single digit consisting of either 5,6,7,8,9.
0abcde00006Xabcde6X
0abcde00007Xabcde7X
0abcde00008Xabcde8X
0abcde00009Xabcde9X

UPC-A
 UPC-E1
UPC-E1
 UPC-Shipping