How do I look up a UPC code?

There is no central database for the hundreds of millions of UPCs that exist.  Each vendor registers the UPC to the product information (type, price, etc.) in their own database based on the scanner/POS system they have setup. However, there are large databases that include a fair amount of information about UPC codes that you can lookup.  Many codes may return no result even though they are active since the database hasn’t crawled it, or the owner hasn’t yet registered the UPC code.

You can look up a Universal Product Code (UPC) by using several methods and online resources. Here are some common ways to do it:

• Online UPC Databases:
  • Below are a list of places to look up UPC codes:
    • Barcode Report
    • Barcode Lookup
    • GS1 Prefix Lookup
    • UPCitemdb.com

    There are many other databases.  If you type the UPC number into Google or into Amazon you can also find more results.  Note: if the code doesn’t return any result, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is invalid, it may simply mean it hasn’t been registered yet.

• Retailer Websites:
  • Retailer websites like Amazon, Walmart, or eBay often allow you to search for products by UPC. Just go to the website, enter the UPC code in the search bar, and you should find information about the product.
• Mobile Apps:
  • There are mobile apps available for both Android and iOS devices that can scan UPC barcodes and provide product information. Examples include “Barcode Scanner” for Android and “ScanLife Barcode & QR Reader” for iOS.
• Barcode Scanner Devices:
  • Some handheld barcode scanner devices can read UPC codes and provide product information, assuming the UPC is in their system. These are often used in retail or inventory management.
• Search Engines:
  • You can also use regular search engines like Google or Bing. Simply type the UPC code into the search bar, and Google will often provide information about the product.
• Manufacturer’s Website:
  • Visit the manufacturer’s website of the product and see if they have a search feature that allows you to input the UPC code to find more details.
• UPC Database APIs:
  • If you need to perform UPC lookups programmatically, you can use UPC database APIs. These APIs allow you to integrate UPC lookup functionality into your software or website, and also allow for bulk UPC lookup.

Remember that UPC codes are unique to each product and are used for inventory tracking and point-of-sale purposes. They typically contain 12 digits, but there are also variations with 8 or 14 digits. Using any of the methods above, you should be able to retrieve information about a product associated with a given UPC code.

If you need assistance looking up a UPC code, reach out to us and we’re glad to help at UPCs.com.