Barcode Company Prefix
Every retail barcode number splits into two parts. The front identifies the company. The back identifies the product.
That front part is the company prefix. If all your products share one, their barcode numbers sit together as a block: consecutive, obviously related, obviously yours.
Do you need one?
Probably not, and it’s worth being clear about that before you spend more than you need to.
A single barcode scans exactly the same as one from a block of a thousand. The till doesn’t care. The retailer’s system doesn’t care. If you have one product, or three, buy the numbers you need and don’t think about prefixes.
A shared prefix starts to earn its cost when:
- you’re launching a range and want the numbers to look organised on a spec sheet
- a distributor or buyer has asked whether your products share a prefix
- you expect to add products steadily and want room set aside
- you’re managing enough SKUs that grouped numbers save you admin
How to get one
Two routes exist.
You can license a GS1 prefix, which involves a joining fee and an annual fee for as long as you use the numbers.
Or you can buy barcodes from us in a block of 10 or more. Blocks come with their own prefix at a one-off price and are permanently owned. Most resellers don’t offer this. The numbers usually come from a shared pool.
Single barcodes don’t come with a prefix. Nobody can offer that, ours included, because a prefix only exists if there’s a block of numbers sitting behind it.
What each block size gives you
The barcode number is 13 digits. The last is always a check digit, calculated from the others. Everything between your prefix and that check digit is what varies from product to product.
| You buy | Your company prefix | Digits that vary | Products covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 barcodes | first 11 digits | 12th digit, 0–9 | 10 |
| 100 barcodes | first 10 digits | 11th–12th, 00–99 | 100 |
| 1,000 barcodes | first 9 digits | 10th–12th, 000–999 | 1,000 |
| 10,000 barcodes | first 8 digits | 9th–12th, 0000–9999 | 10,000 |
The larger the block, the shorter the prefix, because more digits are needed to number the products within it.
A worked example. Buy 10 barcodes, and you might receive numbers running from 93123456780x to 93123456789x. The first eleven digits are yours and never change. The twelfth counts your products. The last is the check digit.
Buy in a quantity that isn’t a round block, for example, 20 barcodes, and you’ll receive two prefixes of ten rather than one prefix of twenty.
Before you buy a block
A prefix doesn’t change how a barcode works. It scans either way identically. You’re buying organisation, not function.
A prefix won’t satisfy Amazon. This one catches people out. Amazon checks numbers against the GS1 database and looks for a match to your brand, and a block prefix from any reseller won’t create that match. If Amazon is your main channel, read what Amazon actually requires before you buy anything.
You can’t extend a prefix later. Buy 10 now and 10 more next year and you’ll have two separate prefixes, not one block of 20. If you know a range is coming, buying the larger block up front is cheaper and tidier.
Ready to buy?
Blocks of 10, 100, 1,000 and 10,000 are on our retail barcode packages page. One payment, no annual fees, delivered within minutes.
Not sure which size suits? Email us to let us know how many products you’re planning. We’re a small team, and we answer our own emails, Monday to Friday.
Frequently asked questions
What is a barcode company prefix? The first digits of a barcode number that identify the company rather than the product. All products from one company can share a prefix, so their numbers group together.
Do I need my own company prefix? Most small sellers don’t. A barcode can be scanned with or without one. A prefix is useful when you’re launching a range, a buyer has asked about it, or you’re managing enough products that grouped numbers help.
Can I get a company prefix with a single barcode? No. A prefix only exists where there’s a block of numbers behind it, so it comes with blocks of 10 or more.
How long is a company prefix? It depends on block size. A block of 10 leaves you an 11-digit prefix; a block of 10,000 leaves 8 digits. Larger blocks need more digits to number the products inside them.
Will a company prefix get my products approved on Amazon? No. Amazon checks the GS1 database for a number registered to your brand, and a reseller prefix won’t produce that match.
Can I add more barcodes to my prefix later? No. A later purchase comes as its own separate prefix rather than extending the first one.