Different types of GTINs

GTIN-13

The most common type of GTIN consists of 13 digits and is called GTIN-13. These are the numbers below the barcode that you see on a product in a shop. This format is used in almost the whole world.

GTIN-13 consists of three components:

The GS1 Company Prefix consists of different numbers of digits depending on how many GTINs you want to create. Your GS1 Company Prefix is globally unique to your company and is always the first part of your numbers.

Serial numbers that you choose yourself. It can be from 000 to 999 if you have ordered 1 000 numbers. We recommend that you number in numerical order without trying to insert any logic.

The check digit is the last digit of a GTIN and can be obtained either in one of our services My products or Generate number in MyGS1, or by using the Check digit calculatort.

GTIN-8

If the product you want to label is very small, you may need a smaller barcode to fit it on the packaging. The GTIN of these barcodes has 8 digits and is called GTIN-8. Please contact our customer service to discuss if this is an option for your product.

GTIN-14

There is a GTIN which consists of 14 digits and is therefore called GTIN-14. It is mainly used to identify packages containing several products, usually for transportation. You can choose to identify your packages with either GTIN-14 or GTIN-13. A GTIN-14 is created from the GTIN-13 of the products inside (without a check digit), an initial digit between 1 and 8 (logistic variant), and a new check digit. The logistic variant allows you to create up to 8 packaging levels for the same product. It is also possible to identify transport packages with a unique GTIN-13 for each level.

Packaging with GTIN-13

Packaging with GTIN-14

_{There is also a 12-digit code called GTIN-12 used in the United States and Canada. Although shops there are increasingly able to handle GTIN-13, you may want to check with your retailer if you are selling products in the US market. You order GTIN-12 from GS1 US.}

Guidelines for the use of GTINs

GTIN rules

A new GTIN is always required for a new product, but you often need to assign a new GTIN when you have made changes to a product, such as major changes to the ingredients or changes in size or color.

The GTIN rules describe which changes to an item require a new GTIN and which changes do not require a change of GTIN.

For more detailed information on when to change your GTIN, see the GTIN rules.

GTIN management rules
GTIN decision support tool

Allocation of GTINs

In short, the person who guarantees the characteristics of an article is the one who will assign it a GTIN. This is usually the brand owner, regardless of where and by whom the product is manufactured. The brand owner can be one of the following:

• The manufacturer or supplier who makes the article or has it made and sells it under his own brand
• The importer or wholesaler who has the article manufactured and sells it under his own brand or the importer/wholesaler who modifies an article (e.g. by changing the packaging)
• The retailer who has the item manufactured and sells it under his own brand.

In all cases, however, an item should not be assigned a new GTIN unless changes have been made to the item that require a new GTIN.