Global Trade Item Number
A Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is any of the GS1 family of product identifiers (GTIN-8, -12, -13, -14) used worldwide to identify items and cases.
Why it matters for ecommerce brands
GTINs are how retailers, marketplaces, and warehouses recognize your product, so a wrong or missing code blocks listings and slows receiving. Each sellable unit, inner pack, and case that is ordered or scanned separately needs its own GTIN, and GTIN-14 identifies cases and inner packs. For example, a candle sold singly, in a 6-unit inner pack, and in a 24-unit case needs three codes, so a 3PL scanning the case GTIN receives 24 units instead of 1. License your company prefix from GS1 so the codes trace back to your brand.
Origin
The Uniform Code Council coined the GTIN name as an umbrella for UPC and EAN numbers, and it took hold through the Sunrise 2005 transition, as the code bodies unified under GS1.
Common questions
- Is a GTIN the same as a UPC?
- A UPC is one type of GTIN. GTIN is the GS1 family of product identifiers that includes the 12-digit UPC (GTIN-12), the 13-digit EAN (GTIN-13), and the 14-digit case-level GTIN-14.
- How do I get a GTIN for my product?
- Buy barcodes from GS1 US, either as single GTINs or as a company prefix that lets you assign many numbers. Codes resold by third parties may not be linked to your brand in the GS1 database, which Amazon and retailers check.
- What is the difference between a GTIN-12 and a GTIN-14?
- A GTIN-12 is the 12-digit UPC used on consumer units at retail checkout. A GTIN-14 adds an indicator digit to identify a packaging level such as an inner pack or case, and is usually printed as an ITF-14 or GS1-128 barcode.