GTIN stands for Global Trade Item Number — but there isn't just one format. Which length you use depends on where and how the product is sold.
The four GTIN formats
| Format | Digits | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| GTIN-8 | 8 | Small packaging where a full barcode won't physically fit (e.g. small cosmetics, single-serve items) |
| GTIN-12 (UPC-A) | 12 | Primarily North American retail |
| GTIN-13 (EAN-13) | 13 | The standard format most Indian and international retail products use |
| GTIN-14 | 14 | Case/carton-level identification for shipping and logistics, not individual retail units |
Which one applies to you
Most businesses registering through GS1 India for retail sale will use GTIN-13 for individual products. GTIN-14 becomes relevant once you're shipping in bulk cartons and want the case itself to carry a scannable identity separate from the units inside it.
Every variant needs its own GTIN
A common mistake: assuming one product name equals one GTIN. In reality, every combination of size, flavor, color, or pack count that a customer could distinguish at the shelf needs a distinct GTIN — a 250ml and 500ml bottle of the same product are two separate GTINs, not one.
The check digit
The final digit of any GTIN is a check digit, calculated from the preceding digits using a fixed formula. Scanners use it to catch misreads — if a barcode is smudged or partially unreadable, a check-digit mismatch flags the scan as invalid rather than accepting a wrong product number.
Not sure how many GTINs your product line needs?
See the worked breakdown for variants, sizes, and multipacks in the blog.
Work out your GTIN count →