How many barcodes do I need?

In essence, a barcode number is similar to a passport or social security number that can be used to identify a particular product line.

This means that a particular brand, let’s say Colgate, which brings out a new toothpaste in a small tube and a large tube will have to register for two additional barcodes. Every different flavour, colour, size and variation of product needs to have its own unique barcode number assigned to it.

This unique code allows the retailers who are selling your product to identify exactly what the customer has purchased with one scan of the barcode. The barcode number pulls up the relevant product information which they have loaded onto their individual point of sale system; and controls what description will appear on the customer’s till slip; the price they will be charged; and at the same time also updates the shop’s inventory so they can be notified before they run out of a particular product. This means that if one of your products – say a 240ml can of orange juice – is selling particularly well, they can order more of that specific product line before they run out of stock.


If the question of how many barcodes you need for your product range still confuses you, our friendly and knowledgeable staff are ready and waiting to answer your questions and provide further clarity into the barcoding industry. Contact us and we’ll be glad to assist you.

Image source