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, clearly related, clearly 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, and neither does the retailer’s system. 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 products that grouped numbers save you admin
How to get one
There are two ways.
You can license a prefix from GS1 Ireland, which means paying a joining fee and then 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. Each block comes with its own prefix, for a one-off price, and you own it permanently. Most resellers don’t offer this. Their numbers usually come from a shared pool.
Single barcodes don’t come with a prefix. Nobody can offer that, including us, because a prefix only exists when there’s a block of numbers behind it.
What each block size gives you
A barcode number has 13 digits. The last one is always a check digit, calculated from the others. Everything between your prefix and the check digit changes from product to product.
| You buy | Your company prefix | Digits that change | Products covered | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 barcodes | first 11 digits | 12th digit, 0–9 | 10 | €150 |
| 100 barcodes | first 10 digits | 11th–12th, 00–99 | 100 | €400 |
| 1,000 barcodes | first 9 digits | 10th–12th, 000–999 | 1,000 | €800 |
| 10,000 barcodes | first 8 digits | 9th–12th, 0000–9999 | 10,000 | Ask us |
The larger the block, the shorter the prefix, because you need more digits to number the products inside it.
A worked example. Buy 10 barcodes, and you might receive numbers running from 061234567890x to 061234567899x. The first 11 digits are yours and never change. The 12th digit counts your products. The last (x) is the check digit.
If you buy a quantity that isn’t a round block, such as 20 barcodes, 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 the same either way. You’re paying for organisation, not function.
A prefix won’t satisfy Amazon. This catches people out. Amazon checks numbers against the GS1 database 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 Amazon’s requirements 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 and 1,000 are on our retail barcodes page. One payment, no annual fees, delivered within minutes. Every number comes as both an EAN-13 and a UPC-A.
Need a block of 10,000, or not sure which size suits you? Email us and tell us how many products you’re planning. We’re a small team, and we answer emails Monday to Friday.
Frequently asked questions
What is a barcode company prefix?
The first digits of a barcode number, which identify the company rather than the product. All of a company’s products can share a prefix, so their numbers group together.
Do I need my own company prefix?
Most small sellers don’t. A barcode scans the same 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 when 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 the block size. A block of 10 gives you an 11-digit prefix. A block of 10,000 gives you an 8-digit prefix because you need more digits to number the products inside it.
Is it the same as a GS1 Ireland prefix?
It works the same way, but the first digits are different. GS1 Ireland prefixes start with 539, while ours start with 06 or 07. The first digits show where the number was issued, not where your product is made. More on country codes.
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 with its own separate prefix rather than extending the first one.