GLN Numbers (Global Location Numbers)

A GLN, or Global Location Number, is a unique 13-digit identifier that identifies a location or business rather than a product. Some retailers and distributors ask suppliers for one during onboarding.

We supply GLN numbers for a one-off cost with no annual fees, and email them to you within minutes of purchase.

Not sure whether you need one? Everything below explains what a GLN does, who actually needs one, and where ours are accepted.

What is a GLN number?

Where a retail barcode identifies what a product is, a GLN identifies where something is or who a party in a transaction is. It’s 13 digits, the same length as an EAN-13, but it isn’t printed on packaging and scanned at a checkout. It travels inside paperwork and electronic messages between trading partners.

The number is made up of three parts: a company prefix, a location reference that you assign, and a final check digit calculated from the twelve digits before it. That check digit is what lets a computer system spot a mistyped number straight away.

What is a GLN number used for?

A GLN can identify three different things:

• A legal entity — your company as a trading party, used on invoices, purchase orders and EDI messages
• A physical location — a warehouse, factory, loading dock, retail store, or even a specific shelf or bin
• A digital location — an electronic address such as an EDI gateway or mailbox

In practice, most of our customers obtain a GLN when a retailer or distributor requests one during supplier onboarding. It replaces the ambiguity of a postal address: rather than a shipment being routed by a text address that might be entered three different ways, it’s routed by a number that can’t be misread.

The common uses are electronic data interchange, advance shipping notices, invoice matching, and identifying delivery points across a supply chain with multiple sites.

GLN vs GTIN: what’s the difference?

The two get confused constantly because both are 13-digit numbers from the same family.

A GTIN (the number behind your EAN-13 or UPC-A retail barcode) answers “what is this product?” It’s printed as a barcode and scanned.

A GLN answers “where is this, or who is this?” It usually isn’t printed at all.

You need a GTIN for every product and variation you sell. You need a GLN only if a trading partner asks for one, and then usually just one for your business, plus extras if you ship from several locations.

Do I need a GLN number?

Most sellers never need one. If you supply retailers who order via email or through a simple portal, a GLN won’t appear.

You’ll need one if:

• A retailer or distributor asks for a GLN during supplier setup
• You’re being onboarded to an EDI system and asked for a location identifier
• You ship from multiple sites, and your customer needs to distinguish between them

How many GLN numbers do I need?

Start with one. A single GLN identifying your business as a legal entity covers most supplier onboarding requests.

Add more only when you genuinely need to distinguish between places: one per warehouse, per distribution centre, or per delivery point that a trading partner needs to address separately. There’s no benefit in buying a block you won’t assign, though our pricing drops steeply if you do need volume.

Where our GLN numbers are accepted

Our GLN numbers are correctly structured 13-digit location identifiers with a valid check digit. They work in systems that need a unique number to identify a location — internal warehouse management, ERP records, your own labelling and paperwork, and trading partners who simply need a consistent identifier from you.

Some retailers and most regulated supply chains don’t just want a well-formed number; they check it against GS1’s database. That applies to GDSN data pools, some large-chain EDI onboarding systems, and regulated sectors such as pharmaceutical and food traceability. If your customer validates against the registry, you’ll need to go to GS1 directly.

So before you buy, ask your retailer one question: do you validate the GLN against the GS1 registry? If they do, you will need to obtain a GLN directly from GS1.

Our barcode acceptance page covers which retailers have GS1 requirements.

How to buy a GLN number

Choose your quantity at the top of this page, then check out with a credit card or PayPal. Our shop is automated, so your GLN number is emailed to you within a few minutes of payment clearing. You’ll receive the number itself and confirmation of ownership.

There are no annual fees. Once you’ve bought a GLN number from us, it’s yours to keep and use for as long as you need it.

GLN number FAQs

Is a GLN number the same as a barcode?

Not quite. A GLN is a number that usually appears in your paperwork and electronic messages rather than being printed. It can be encoded as a barcode if a partner requests it, but most of the time it’s just supplied as digits.

Does a GLN expire?

Ours don’t. There are no renewal fees, and the number stays yours. GLNs also shouldn’t be reused for a different location once retired, which is why it’s worth keeping a simple record of what you’ve assigned each number to.

Can I use my retail barcode number as a GLN?

No. They’re separate identifiers with separate purposes, and using a product number as a location identifier will cause problems in any system that handles both.

How do I check a GLN is valid?

Recalculate the check digit against the first twelve digits. Our GTIN validator uses the same modulo-10 calculation, so it will confirm whether a 13-digit GLN is correctly formed.

What if my retailer rejects the number?

Contact us. If a retailer has told you they need a GS1-registered GLN, we’ll refund you under our refund policy rather than leave you with a number you can’t use.

Still not sure?

If you’ve been asked for a GLN and you’re not certain what your customer actually needs, send us the email they sent you, and we’ll tell you whether ours will work. We answer our own emails and reply within one business day.

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