SSCC and serial number range generator
Generate SSCC ranges with check digit from your extension digit and GS1 company prefix, or random or sequential serial numbers for a GTIN, and compare the guess probability with the 1-in-10,000 threshold. Everything is generated in your browser, for test data.
0–9; a single digit chosen by the company.
4–12 digits; the prefix issued to you by GS1 (its length depends on the allocation). The default 9506000 is one of GS1's demonstration prefixes (950) and does not belong to a real company.
Counts up as a number; padded with leading zeros.
The serial reference has 9 digits; this prefix allows 1,000,000,000 SSCCs.
Production serial numbers must be generated and recorded in your own serial number management system (and under the rules of national systems such as Turkey's ITS). This tool is for testing and sample data only; its output is not recorded in any system.
Generation runs in your browser; neither the values you enter nor the generated ones are sent to a server. Results are a preliminary assessment and not legal or technical advice.
Would you like to set up serial number generation and management together with your line, ERP and national systems? Let's talk about your current processes.
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How to use it
A
For SSCC enter the extension digit, your GS1 company prefix, the starting serial reference and the quantity; for serial numbers choose the GTIN, quantity, length and character set.
B
Press “Generate”; the capacity, overflow and guess-probability checks appear with the result.
C
Copy the list or download it as TXT/CSV and use it in your test environment.
02
How is an SSCC built?
The SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code, application identifier 00) is an 18-digit number that identifies logistic units such as pallets and cartons one by one. The first digit is an extension digit the company chooses, followed by the GS1 company prefix, then the serial reference the company assigns; the last digit is the mod-10 check digit.
Prefix and serial reference together fill 16 digits: the longer the prefix, the fewer digits remain for the serial reference. A 7-digit prefix leaves 9 digits (one billion numbers), a 10-digit prefix leaves 6 (one million numbers). If your range exceeds the capacity, the tool warns of an overflow.
03
Random or sequential serial numbers?
Sequential numbers (SN000001, SN000002…) make production easier to follow but are predictable: whoever knows one number knows the next. The purpose of serialisation against counterfeiting is to make guessing a valid number practically impossible, so sequential numbering is not compatible with that purpose.
In random mode the tool uses the browser's secure random number generator (crypto.getRandomValues). So that every character is equally likely, random values that do not fit the size of the set are discarded (rejection sampling), and duplicates are removed. To reduce read errors, look-alike characters such as 0/O and 1/I/l can be excluded.
04
Guess probability and the 1-in-10,000 threshold
The guess probability is the number of serial numbers issued for one product code divided by the number of possible serial numbers. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/161, Article 4(b), requires the probability of guessing a serial number to be negligible and in any case lower than one in ten thousand. The tool shows this ratio and compares it with the threshold.
This is a preliminary assessment. For which quantity to use (batch, year, product lifetime) and for the serial number rules of national systems such as Turkey's ITS, consult the relevant guidance; the tool is not legal advice.
FAQ
- Are the values I enter or generate sent anywhere?
- No. Generation runs entirely in code inside your browser; the values are neither transmitted to a server nor stored.
- Can I use these serial numbers in production?
- No, the tool is for testing and sample data. Production serial numbers must be generated and recorded, with duplicate checking, in your serial number management system and under the rules of the relevant national system.
- Which company prefix should I enter for an SSCC?
- Enter the company prefix issued by your GS1 member organisation (its length depends on the allocation; this tool accepts 4–12 digits). The default 9506000 is one of GS1's demonstration prefixes and is only an example.
- What does cryptographically random mean?
- The numbers are drawn from the browser's secure random number generator (crypto.getRandomValues); unlike pseudo-random generators, the next value cannot be predicted from earlier output. Duplicates are removed.
- How do I choose a length that passes the threshold?
- The possible space must be at least 10,000 times the quantity. For one million numbers you need at least ten billion (10^10) possible numbers; 11 digits are enough with digits only, 7 characters with uppercase letters and digits. See the “Serial number randomisation calculator” tool for details.
Set up serial number management properly
We build serial number generation, recording and reporting to national systems, integrated with your line and ERP. Let's talk about your processes in a free discovery call.