Is it legal to print my own barcode?
Yes, for use inside your own shop. A barcode is just a number drawn as bars; printing a code that only your own billing software reads is an ordinary price-tag practice, not something GS1 registration is needed for.
The line you should not cross is using a number that belongs to someone else. Do not print codes that start with 890 unless GS1 India allotted them to you: GS1 India says it is the only authorised provider of 890 barcodes and mentions a court order against unauthorised sellers. Also do not put your home-made code on goods that you sell to other shops; their software may read it as a different product.
When do I need a GS1 India barcode?
You need GS1 barcodes when your packed product will be scanned in someone else's system: supermarket chains, modern trade, and online marketplaces. GS1 India's own pages name Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit, Myntra and BigBasket among the marketplaces that prefer GS1 codes.
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| Loose or unbranded items sold only in your shop (garments, stationery, gifts) | In-store codes printed by your billing app or a free tool |
| Branded goods that already carry a maker's barcode | Nothing new: save the maker's barcode on the item and scan it |
| Your own brand sold only in your own shops | In-store codes are enough |
| Your own brand sold to other retailers or supermarket chains | GS1 India barcodes |
| Your products listed on online marketplaces | GS1 India barcodes (check the marketplace's current rule) |
| Export | GS1 barcodes; ask your buyer what they require |
Based on gs1india.org pages checked 16 October 2026. Marketplace rules change, so read the seller help page of the marketplace you list on.
How much does a GS1 India barcode cost?
The fee depends on your annual turnover, how many codes you take and for how many years. For the smallest pack, 100 barcodes for one year with sales up to ₹5 crore, GS1 India's fee structure effective 1 October 2026 adds up to ₹50,200, of which ₹3,000 is a refundable deposit.
Bigger packs and higher turnover cost more, and multi-year subscriptions are offered for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 10 years. The registration page asks for PAN, turnover proof, a request letter on letterhead, proof of business status such as GST registration, and a cancelled cheque. Use the calculator on gs1india.org for your exact fee before you apply; prices you see quoted on forums are often old.
EAN-13 vs Code 128: which should I use in-store?
Use Code 128 for your own item codes, because it can hold letters and numbers such as KUR-BLU-L. Use EAN-13 when the code is a 13-digit number, such as a maker's barcode or an in-store number starting with 20.
| EAN-13 | Code 128 | |
|---|---|---|
| Holds | 13 digits only | Letters, digits and symbols |
| Typical use | Packed goods, GS1 codes, in-store numbers starting 20 | Your own SKU or item code |
| Label width | Fixed, fits small tags | Grows with code length |
| Scans on normal USB or Bluetooth scanners | Yes | Yes |
Both scan on any normal retail scanner. Keep Code 128 codes short (8 to 10 characters) so they fit on small garment tags.
I have 2,000 items without barcodes: how do I label them fast?
Do it in batches by category, not one by one. Put the item list into your billing software or a spreadsheet, let it number the items, print one category's labels at a time and tag that rack before moving on.
- Clean the item list One row per item or per size-colour variant, with name, MRP and quantity in stock. Excel is fine.
- Mark items that already have a barcode Packed goods usually have a maker's EAN-13. Scan it into the item instead of printing a new one.
- Generate codes for the rest Let the software assign a code to every item without one, or use in-store numbers in a free tool.
- Print labels by category Print quantity = stock on hand, so every piece on the rack gets a label.
- Tag and test Stick labels rack by rack and scan five random items at the counter to check name and price.
Finishing one category fully before starting the next keeps the counter working while you label. For a printing walk-through, see how to print barcode labels for your retail shop.
Which label printer and label size should I use?
For a few hundred labels a month, A4 label sheets on a laser printer are cheapest to start. For thousands a month, a thermal label printer with 50 × 25 mm or 38 × 25 mm rolls is faster.
On A4, 65 labels per sheet (38 × 21 mm) suits garment and stationery tags; 24 or 48 per sheet gives room for a bigger price. Whatever you use, print at 100% scale, never "fit to page", or the bars may not scan.
Can a box and a piece have different barcodes?
Yes. Give the piece its own barcode and the box (or carton) a second barcode linked to the same item with a conversion such as 1 box = 12 pieces. Scanning the box code bills the whole box at the box price, and stock still stays correct in pieces.
If a carton already has its own outer barcode from the maker, save that as the box code instead of printing a new one. See box and piece unit billing.