Product labels
Print a label from a UPC you already have
A label tool draws a barcode for a code you already have. It does not buy a GS1 prefix or register the product. Start from the assigned 12-digit UPC-A, or from 11 digits when you still need the check digit filled in.
The retail preset used for ordinary labels sets the narrow bar, the X-dimension, at 0.330 mm. The quiet zone on each side is at least nine of those bars, which is 2.97 mm at that size. The main bars are 22.85 mm tall. Those measurements describe the preset. A browser preview is not a scan test of the printed sticker.
| Item | Preset |
|---|---|
| X-dimension | 0.330 mm |
| Allowed X range in the preset | 0.264 mm to 0.660 mm |
| Quiet zone, each side | at least 9X, 2.97 mm at 0.330 mm |
| Main bar height | 22.85 mm |
| Print scaling | 100%, actual size |
Before you print a sheet
Keep the human-readable digits and the quiet zones inside the label, not in the margin the printer clips. Leave product names outside the barcode area. Print black bars on a white background, at actual size, and scan a sample before you print the batch.
The demonstration body 03600029145 completes to 036000291452. That check confirms the arithmetic. It does not say the code is yours to assign to a new product.
- Keep leading zeros. A spreadsheet can delete them if the column is numeric.
- Reject a 12-digit code whose last digit does not match the calculated check digit.
- Do not crop the bars to force a label to fit.
When a printed code will not scan
Scaling, low contrast, a quiet zone that was trimmed, a coarse print, or a damaged sticker can all fail at the scanner even when the digits are valid. Check the printer dialog for “fit to page” or a percentage other than 100. Letter and A4 sheets also need the template’s margins, not a guess from the preview thumbnail.
Sources and tools
Related guides
Common questions
Does this issue a new UPC?
No. Enter a code that was assigned to the product. The tool can complete or check the final digit and draw a label.
Should I enter 11 digits or 12?
Enter 11 to calculate the check digit, or 12 to validate a code you already have. Keep leading zeros.