SSCC Barcode Formatting Guide

What is an SSCC?

The Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) is the GS1 standard for identifying individual logistics units, such as pallets, cases, or containers. Unlike a GTIN which identifies a product type, the SSCC identifies a specific unique unit of transport.

Interactive SSCC Generator

Use the tool below to generate compliant SSCC strings for single pallets or entire shipments. The Pallet UDI Builder will handle the mandatory (00) identifier and checksum calculation for you. You can also create SSCC barcodes with our free barcode generator.

The 18-Digit Structure

The SSCC is always exactly 18 digits long and is identified by the Application Identifier (00). It consists of four distinct parts:

1. Extension Digit (1 digit): Used to increase the capacity of the Serial Reference.
2. GS1 Company Prefix: The unique identifier for your company.
3. Serial Reference: A unique number assigned by the company to the logistics unit.
4. Check Digit (1 digit): A mandatory mathematical verification digit.

SSCC vs. GTIN: What's the Difference?

These two GS1 identifiers get confused constantly because they often sit on the same pallet label. A GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) identifies a product type — every can of a particular soda has the same GTIN. An SSCC identifies one specific, physical logistics unit — this exact pallet, right now, as it moves through the supply chain. Two pallets carrying the identical product will share a GTIN in their manifest but must have two different SSCCs.

Encoding an SSCC: GS1-128 vs. GS1 DataMatrix

The SSCC number itself isn't a barcode — it has to be encoded into one. For standard pallet and carton labels, the GS1-128 symbology is the long-established default under the GS1 Logistics Label specification, since its high density comfortably fits the AI (00) plus 18 digits on a standard 4"x6" label. On smaller units where linear barcode length is a constraint, a GS1 DataMatrix encoding the same AI (00) data is increasingly accepted as an alternative.