ITF-14 is the barcode you see on shipping cartons. If a retailer asked for a ‘case code’, this is usually what they mean.
What ITF-14 is for
ITF-14 lets warehouses and retailers scan a whole case at once instead of each unit. It encodes a GTIN-14, which is your product number with a leading ‘packaging indicator’ digit.
It’s printed large on corrugated cardboard because it must scan reliably on rough surfaces.
How it relates to your UPC
Your retail unit keeps its normal UPC/EAN. The case of, say, 12 units gets an ITF-14 derived from that same product number.
So the two coexist: UPC on the item, ITF-14 on the box.
Do you need one?
Only if you ship cases to retailers that require case-level barcodes. Pure online sellers shipping single units do not.
Check your retailer’s vendor guide — it will specify if ITF-14 is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ITF-14 the same as my product UPC?
No — it’s a case-level code derived from your product GTIN, used on cartons.
How many digits is ITF-14?
14 digits.
Do online sellers need ITF-14?
Generally no, unless shipping cases to a retailer that requires it.
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