By Hovercode, a GS1 US Executive Solution Partner
GS1 Company Prefix: what it is and how it works
Your GS1 Company Prefix is the start of every product number you create. It tells the world which company a GTIN belongs to.
What is a GS1 Company Prefix?
A GS1 Company Prefix is a string of digits that GS1 licenses to one company. Every GTIN that company creates starts with it, followed by an item reference the company chooses for each product, and a check digit.
Because the prefix is registered to you, anyone who reads one of your GTINs, whether a retailer, a marketplace or a checkout, can trace it back to your company.
Anatomy of a 12-digit UPC (GTIN-12)
- Company Prefix (here 10 digits)
- Item reference, chosen by you for each product
- Check digit
Why prefixes are different lengths
GS1 Company Prefixes range from four to twelve digits. The length decides how many products you can number.
In a 12-digit UPC, the prefix and the item reference share 11 digits, with the check digit last. A longer prefix leaves fewer digits for item references, so fewer products. A 10-digit prefix leaves one digit, which is 10 products. A 9-digit prefix leaves two digits, which is 100 products, and so on.
| Prefix length (in a UPC) | Item reference digits | Products you can number |
|---|---|---|
| 10 digits | 1 | 10 |
| 9 digits | 2 | 100 |
| 8 digits | 3 | 1,000 |
| 7 digits | 4 | 10,000 |
| 6 digits | 5 | 100,000 |
So a shorter prefix isn't better or worse. It just means more room for products, and it costs more.
Do you need a prefix, or just a single GTIN?
In the US, GS1 US offers both.
- A single GS1 US GTIN is one product number, bought one at a time, with no annual fee. It suits companies with only a few products. GS1 US says it can't be used for some products, including pharmaceuticals, variable-measure products and mixed cases.
- A GS1 Company Prefix gives you a block of numbers to assign yourself. You can number your products, your cases and pallets, and your locations from the same prefix. It has an annual renewal fee.
Remember that every size, flavour, colour and pack quantity needs its own GTIN. Ten products with three sizes each is 30 GTINs, plus any cases you ship. Count those, and leave room to grow, before you choose.
How much a GS1 Company Prefix costs
GS1 US prices its prefixes by how many products they cover:
| Products needing a GTIN | Initial fee | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (single GS1 US GTIN, not a prefix) | $30 | $0 |
| Up to 10 | $250 | $50 |
| Up to 100 | $750 | $150 |
| Up to 1,000 | $2,500 | $500 |
| Up to 10,000 | $6,500 | $1,300 |
| Up to 100,000 | $10,500 | $2,100 |
GS1 US pricing as listed in October 2026. GS1 US can change its prices, so check their site before you buy. Outside the US, prefixes come from your country's GS1 organization, with its own pricing.
Keeping your prefix
A prefix is licensed, not bought outright, and the license renews every year. GS1 US says that as long as you renew, your product data stays linked to your company information. That link is what retailers and marketplaces check.
Use of a prefix is governed by GS1 US's license agreement. If you're thinking of letting a prefix lapse, or you're buying or selling a business that holds one, talk to GS1 US first.
How to look up a GS1 Company Prefix
To see which company a GTIN, GLN or other GS1 number is registered to, use Verified by GS1, GS1's official lookup. It replaced the older GEPIR service at the end of 2023. GS1 says it's free for up to 30 searches a day, and your local GS1 office offers bulk and API access.
It's worth checking any barcode numbers you didn't get directly from GS1. If a number comes back registered to a different company, retailers checking it will see that too.
Your prefix in a QR code
When you put a GTIN in a QR code using GS1 Digital Link, your prefix travels with it, so the code is identifiably yours wherever it's scanned. Retail checkouts are being prepared to read these codes through Sunrise 2027, and shoppers can scan them with a phone to reach your product page.
GS1 US Solution Partner
Turn your GTINs into GS1 QR codes
Use the Hovercode GS1 QR code generator one product at a time, or upload a spreadsheet of your whole range. We check every GTIN before anything is created, and you can change where each code goes after printing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a GS1 Company Prefix?
How many digits is a GS1 Company Prefix?
How much does a GS1 Company Prefix cost?
How do I look up who owns a company prefix or GTIN?
Is a single GTIN enough, or do I need a prefix?
Can I use my prefix for locations and shipping cases?
Sources: GS1 US, get started guide; GS1, checking a GTIN. Last reviewed October 2026.
Create your GS1 QR codes with Hovercode
Hovercode is a GS1 US Solution Partner, used by thousands of businesses.
- Edit after printing. Change where a code goes without reprinting the pack.
- A product page for every code. No website needed; we build one you can edit.
- Bulk and API. Upload your whole range from a spreadsheet, or create codes through our API.
- Your own domain. The printed URL carries your brand.