Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)

What is GTIN?

GTIN stands for Global Trade Item Number and is a GS1 number used to give products and packaging a globally unique identity. The number identifies products worldwide with 6 billion transactions per day – both in stores and online. For over 50 years, companies have been able to easily communicate about products using GTIN as a common language.

Watch the video about GTIN

The GTIN contains information on:

• product identification number
• in which country the number is issued,
• your company identity,

Basically all commercial products have their own GTIN which ensures that trade items are not mixed up with each other. You create GTIN with your GS1 Company prefix which you receive by becoming a customer of GS1.

Who uses GTIN?

GTIN is used globally, which makes it easier to do business both locally and abroad. GTIN most often occurs in the CPG and retail industry, online , food service , construction , technical industry and healthcare .

Brand owner

Företag som behöver identifiera sina artiklar. Ofta leverantörer av produkter.

Data receivers

Företag som tar emot data om artiklar. Ofta återförsäljare, e-handlare eller grossister.

Consumers

Slutanvändare av produkten. Till exempel konsumenter eller patienter.

Benefits for consumers and businesses

The number ensures that products are not mixed up and helps you create barcodes or EPC / RFID tags.

• Higher data quality in product catalogs when everyone receives correct information.

• Simplifies when ordering goods and at the checkout.

• Products with globally unique numbers can not be mixed up.

• Products can be tracked and traced by everyone in the supply chain.

• Barcodes can be scanned anywhere in the world.

• Easier to manage inventory balance and sales statistics.

• Better visibility and searchability for consumers online.

How to use GTIN

GS1 Trade Item Number (GTIN) can be used to identify types of products at different packaging levels such as: consumer unit, inner pack, case or pallet.

Identify products

GTIN is a GS1 standard for identification and is used to create unique numbers for products or packaging.

Read more about identification

Create barcodes

Use GTIN to create a barcode, 2D code or RFID tag for trade items to be sold in store or online.

Get started with barcodes

Share information

With a GTIN, a supplier can easily share trade item information to a retailer who is going to sell or share data about the product.

Get started sharing

Trace products

Thanks to the unique identity numbers, you can get traceability, transparency and security in the supply chain.

More about traceability

Toolbox for brand owners

Step-by-step guides with videos, checklists and other resources to start using GTIN.

Create barcodes

Follow the steps in the wizard to create common barcode types such as EAN-13, GS1-128 or ITF-14.

Check digit calculator

Digital online tool for generating the check digit which is the last digit in your GTIN.

Related

ServiceMy products

Service to allocate GTINs and link them to basic information about your products.

ServiceCheck digit calculator

Use our free tool to calculate your check digit.

StandardEAN-13 and EAN-8

The EAN code is the most established and most commonly used of all GS1 barcodes.