How to Get a GS1 Company Prefix and Start Assigning GTINs

Before you can put a barcode (or a GS1 Digital Link QR code) on your product, you need a GS1 Company Prefix. This is the number that identifies your company within the global barcode system.

Here's exactly how to get one and start assigning GTINs to your products.

What is a GS1 Company Prefix?

A GS1 Company Prefix is a unique string of digits assigned to your company by GS1. It forms the first part of every GTIN you create. When a scanner reads any of your product barcodes, the prefix tells the system "this product belongs to this company."

The prefix length varies (typically 6 to 12 digits). A shorter prefix means you can create more unique product numbers. GS1 assigns the length based on how many GTINs you need.

Step 1: Decide how many GTINs you need

Before registering, count how many unique products you sell. Remember: each variation (size, flavor, color, pack count) needs its own GTIN.

These are GS1 US prices as of 2026. Pricing varies by country. Check your local GS1 office for exact numbers.

Tip: Start with the tier that fits your current catalog plus room for a few new products. You can always upgrade to a larger prefix later.

Step 2: Register with GS1

In the United States

Go to gs1us.org and click "Get a barcode." The registration process takes about 10 to 15 minutes:

1. Create a GS1 US account
2. Select your GTIN capacity tier
3. Provide your company information (legal name, address, contact)
4. Pay the initial fee
5. Receive your GS1 Company Prefix (usually within 1 to 2 business days)

Outside the United States

Search for your country's GS1 Member Organization at gs1.org. Each country has its own registration process and pricing.

What about third-party barcode sellers?

You may find websites selling "individual barcodes" for $5 to $30 each. These are usually resold numbers from a shared GS1 Company Prefix. We strongly recommend against this. Problems include:

• Major retailers (Walmart, Amazon, Target) require barcodes from your own GS1 Company Prefix
• Resold barcodes may conflict with other products using numbers from the same shared prefix
• You have no control over the prefix and can't manage your numbers in the GS1 registry
• GS1 Digital Link resolvers require verifiable, properly registered GTINs

The GS1 Company Prefix is the legitimate path. The $250 starting cost pays for itself the first time a retailer accepts your product.

Step 3: Assign GTINs to your products

Once you have your prefix, you assign item reference numbers to create GTINs. GS1 US provides an online tool called GS1 US Data Hub to manage this.

For each product:

1. Log into GS1 US Data Hub
2. Enter the product name and description
3. The system assigns the next available item reference number
4. It calculates the check digit automatically
5. Your complete GTIN is ready to use

Assign GTINs systematically

You have flexibility in how you assign item reference numbers, but keep it organized:

• Use a spreadsheet to track which item reference goes to which product
• Don't reuse GTINs from discontinued products (ever)
• Assign sequentially unless you have a good reason not to
• Document variations clearly (e.g., "Vanilla 12oz = GTIN ending 001, Vanilla 16oz = GTIN ending 002")

Step 4: Generate your barcodes

With GTINs assigned, you can generate barcodes. For traditional barcodes (UPC/EAN), GS1 US Data Hub includes a barcode generator.

For GS1 Digital Link QR codes, you need a resolver service to host the destination URLs. SunriseQR handles this: enter your GTIN, configure your link destinations, and download a print-ready QR code.

Generate your first QR code →

Common mistakes to avoid

• Skipping GS1 registration — Registering directly with GS1 is the only way to get a legitimate, globally unique prefix.
• Using one GTIN for multiple products — Each variation needs its own number. A retailer's system has no way to distinguish "Vanilla 12oz" from "Vanilla 16oz" if they share a GTIN.
• Forgetting to renew — GS1 Company Prefixes require annual renewal. If you let it lapse, your prefix could be reassigned. Set a calendar reminder.
• Not zero-padding — GTINs in a GS1 Digital Link URI need to be 14 digits with leading zeros. SunriseQR handles this automatically when you set up your products.

What comes next

Once your GTINs are assigned:

1. Create GS1 Digital Link QR codes for your products
2. Set up your link destinations (product pages, traceability data, etc.)
3. Add the QR codes to your packaging

New to GTINs? Start with What Is a GTIN? for the basics.