UPC vs EAN vs GTIN: what the difference really is
By mise · Updated September 29, 2026
Quick answer: GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) is the umbrella name. A UPC is a 12-digit GTIN used in the US and Canada; an EAN-13 is a 13-digit GTIN used in the rest of the world; EAN-8 and UPC-E are short versions for small packs; GTIN-14 identifies cases and pallets. A UPC is the same number as an EAN-13 with a leading zero.
Three acronyms, one system. If you buy from US and European suppliers, count stock or list products online, you will run into all three — and mixing them up is how the same product ends up in your system twice.
The short version
| Name | Digits | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| UPC-A (GTIN-12) | 12 | Consumer products in the US and Canada |
| EAN-13 (GTIN-13) | 13 | Consumer products in the UK, Europe, Latin America, Asia |
| EAN-8 / UPC-E (GTIN-8) | 8 | Small packs: gum, cigarettes, lip balm |
| GTIN-14 (ITF-14, "case code") | 14 | Outer cases and shipping units from distributors |
| ISBN (978/979) | 13 | Books — an EAN-13 with the "Bookland" prefix |
GTIN is the family, UPC and EAN are members
GS1, the non-profit that runs the system, calls every product number a GTIN. The format just changes the length. When a marketplace or supplier form asks for a "GTIN", it will accept your UPC or your EAN — you don't need a new code.
A UPC is an EAN with a zero in front
The UPC was created in the US in 1974; the EAN came three years later in Europe and added one digit for the country. To stay compatible, every UPC can be written as an EAN-13 by adding a leading zero: 036000291452 becomes 0036000291452. The check digit doesn't change. Scanners outside North America read UPCs without any problem.
Case codes: GTIN-14
A case of 24 cans has its own number, different from the can. It usually starts with an "indicator" digit (1–8), followed by the unit's code without its check digit, and a new check digit at the end. When you receive a pallet, you scan the case code; on the shelf, you count units. Mixing the two is a classic source of counts that are off by a factor of 12 or 24.
Look up a UPC or EAN now
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Do you need to buy barcodes?
Only if you make your own products (private label, bottled sauces, bakery items for resale). Codes must come from GS1 in your country — GS1 US or GS1 UK — so they are unique worldwide. Cheap "resold" codes often trace back to another company and get rejected by big retailers and Amazon. For items you only sell inside your store, an in-store code starting with 2 is enough.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a GTIN the same as a UPC?
A UPC is one kind of GTIN — the 12-digit one (GTIN-12). GTIN is the general name for all GS1 product numbers: 8, 12, 13 or 14 digits.
Can I use an EAN in the US?
Yes. US retail scanners have read EAN-13 codes since 2005. Retailers and marketplaces accept both.
How do I convert a UPC to an EAN?
Add a zero in front. The 12-digit UPC 012345678905 is the 13-digit EAN 0012345678905. The check digit stays the same.
What is an ITF-14 barcode?
It is the barcode symbol usually printed on outer cases, and it carries a GTIN-14 — the number for the case, not for the unit inside.