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Barcode Hang Tags for Clothing: UPC, SKU & QR Code Guide
Adding a barcode to a clothing hang tag sounds simple — until you have four sizes, three colors, different quantities, and suddenly a whole list of barcode versions to organize.
We see this quite often.
The good news is that it doesn’t need to be complicated. The important part is knowing which code belongs to which product variant and making that information clear before production starts.
Here’s a practical guide to preparing custom barcode hang tags for clothing.
If you’re still deciding what information belongs on the tag overall, see our guide to what to put on a clothing hang tag.
What Can Go on a Barcode Hang Tag?
A clothing hang tag can include much more than just a barcode.
Common information includes:
- Brand logo
- Product name
- Size and color
- SKU
- UPC / GTIN barcode
- QR code
- Price
- Website
- Short product details
For most brands, keeping the front cleaner for branding and using the back for barcode, SKU, size and other retail information works well.
There’s no need to squeeze everything onto one side just because you can.
UPC, SKU and QR Code: What’s the Difference?
If you’re ordering custom barcode hang tags, these three terms can easily get mixed together. They may appear on the same tag, but they do different jobs.
| Type | What It Does | Usually Provided By |
|---|---|---|
| UPC / GTIN | Identifies a specific retail product or variant | Your brand / GS1 system |
| SKU | Helps you manage products internally | Your brand |
| QR Code | Connects customers to digital content | Your brand |
UPC / GTIN
A UPC / GTIN is used to identify a specific retail product.
If your retailer, marketplace or distribution system requires one, the code should already be confirmed before your hang tags go into production.
UPPERLABELS can print the barcode information you provide, but we do not issue official UPC or GTIN numbers.
SKU
An SKU is your own internal product code.
For example:
TEE-BLK-M
could mean T-shirt / Black / Medium.
It helps your team identify products, but it is not the same thing as an official UPC / GTIN.
QR Code
QR codes are more customer-facing.
They can link to:
- a product page
- care instructions
- your website
- a collection
- a campaign or brand story
A QR code and a regular barcode can also appear on the same hang tag if the layout leaves enough room for both.
Do Different Clothing Sizes Need Different Barcodes?
For GS1 GTINs, different product variations — including different sizes and colors — require their own GTINs. A single GTIN can then be printed repeatedly on units of that same product variant.
So if you sell one black T-shirt in four sizes, your setup might look like this:
| Variant | Barcode |
|---|---|
| Black / S | Barcode A |
| Black / M | Barcode B |
| Black / L | Barcode C |
| Black / XL | Barcode D |
From our production side, this means four barcode versions.
It does not mean every individual hang tag needs a different barcode.
For example:
Black / S — Barcode A — 500 pcs
All 500 Small tags can use Barcode A.
That’s the distinction that matters when you send us your order details.
How UPPERLABELS Handles Multiple Barcode Versions
UPPERLABELS supports variant-based barcode versions for custom hang tags.
For example:
- S / Barcode A — 500 pcs
- M / Barcode B — 300 pcs
- L / Barcode C — 200 pcs
- XL / Barcode D — 200 pcs
The overall hang tag design can stay the same while the size, SKU, barcode or product code changes between versions.
We prepare these as separate production versions.
One important limitation:
Our standard production does not currently provide piece-level serialization, where every individual hang tag receives its own unique barcode.
If your project requires that, tell us before ordering so we can review it separately.
Where Should the Barcode Go on a Hang Tag?
For many hang tags with barcode information, the back is the easiest place to keep the layout clean.
A simple setup might be:
Front
- Logo
- Brand name
- Visual design
Back
- Size
- SKU
- Barcode
- Price
- QR code
This keeps the front focused on branding while leaving the retail information together on the back.
UPPERLABELS already supports double-sided hang tag layouts for barcode, QR code, size, price and other product information.
For paper, size, finish and attachment options, see our custom hang tags for clothing page.
Can You Put a Barcode and QR Code on the Same Hang Tag?
Yes.
They serve different purposes:
Barcode → product / retail identification
QR Code → website or digital content
So using both is completely reasonable.
The main thing is space.
If the back of your hang tag is already crowded, increasing the tag size or using both sides usually looks better than making everything tiny.
A Few Things to Check Before Printing
Use good contrast.
Leave clear space around the barcode.
Keep it away from the hole and cut edges.
Don’t stretch or squeeze the barcode just to make it fit.
And always confirm that the correct barcode is matched to the correct size or color before bulk production.
GS1 also identifies quiet zones, contrast and correct barcode dimensions as important factors in barcode quality. See the GS1 barcode quality guidance for more technical details.
A perfectly printed barcode with the wrong product data is still the wrong barcode.
What Should You Send for a Custom Barcode Hang Tag Quote?
You don’t need to prepare anything complicated.
Send us:
- Hang tag artwork
- Finished size
- Total quantity
- Size / color variants
- Barcode or SKU for each variant
- Quantity for each barcode version
- QR code or destination URL, if needed
- Paper and finish preferences
- String / eyelet requirements
- Shipping country
A simple list like this is completely fine:
S — Barcode A — 500 pcs
M — Barcode B — 300 pcs
L — Barcode C — 200 pcs
If your artwork is not production-ready yet, send what you have and we can review it first.
Need Custom Barcode Hang Tags?
If your barcode information is ready, send us your hang tag artwork + barcode versions + quantity for each version.
We’ll review the size, layout, paper, finish and attachment requirements before quoting.
Send Your Artwork & Barcode Versions
Share your artwork, barcode versions and quantities. We’ll review the details before quoting.
FAQ
Yes. We can print barcode, SKU, size, product code and QR code information on custom hang tags.
When using GS1 GTINs, each product variation such as a different size or color requires its own GTIN.
No. We print the UPC / GTIN information you provide, but we do not issue official UPC or GTIN numbers.
Our standard production supports different barcode versions by product variant — for example S, M, L and XL — rather than a different unique barcode for every individual tag.
