The GS1 Logistic Label: SSCC Structure, GS1-128 Layout, Barcode Size and Where to Place It on Pallets and Cases
A retailer's receiving dock wants to scan one barcode on the pallet and know everything about it: which order, which products, how many, which lots. The GS1 logistic label does exactly that. The barcode is the SSCC, a serial number for the pallet; the product and quantity data travel electronically in the despatch advice, and can also be printed on the label so the pallet is usable when the EDI message is late. This guide is the layout side: how the number is built, how the label is divided, how big the barcode is, and where it goes.
Key points
- SSCC: 18 digits — extension digit + GS1 Company Prefix + serial reference (16 digits together) + mod-10 check digit — encoded in GS1-128 with AI (00).
- The label has three sections: free text on top, HRI in the middle, barcodes at the bottom with the SSCC symbol lowest.
- Common extra AIs: (02) GTIN of contents + (37) count, (10) lot, (17)/(15) dates, (400) order number, (410) ship-to GLN.
- GS1-128 on logistic units: X-dimension 0.495–1.016 mm, bars ≥32 mm, quiet zones 10X. Label A6 (4×6 in) minimum, often A5.
- Pallets: barcode bottom edge 400–800 mm above the floor, ≥50 mm from vertical edges, on two adjacent sides. Cases: ≥32 mm from base, ≥19 mm from edges.
1. The SSCC
| Position | Part | Digits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Extension digit | 1 | 0–9, assigned by you; effectively multiplies your serial capacity by ten |
| 2 → 17 | GS1 Company Prefix + serial reference | 16 in total | The longer your prefix, the fewer serial digits you have; a 7-digit prefix leaves 9 serial digits |
| 18 | Check digit | 1 | GS1 mod-10 over the first 17 digits |
Example with a 7-digit prefix 0614141: extension 0, prefix 0614141, serial reference 123456789, check digit 0 → 00614141123456789 0, encoded as (00)006141411234567890. Each SSCC is used once; GS1 requires that it not be reissued for at least a year, and most companies never reuse. Mixed pallets, homogeneous pallets and single cases each get their own SSCC — the SSCC identifies the physical unit, not what is in it.
2. The three sections
| Section | Content | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Free text: shipper name and address, consignee, order or delivery number, handling instructions | Any font; this is for people and for the carrier |
| Middle | Human-readable interpretation of everything encoded below, one AI per line | Text at least 3 mm high; AI numbers in parentheses, e.g. SSCC (00) 0 0614141 123456789 0 |
| Bottom | The GS1-128 barcodes. If several, the SSCC symbol is always the lowest | Quiet zones kept clear; nothing printed within 10X of the bars |
The reason the SSCC sits lowest is scanning ergonomics: a driver aims at the bottom of the label first, and the SSCC is the one symbol every partner needs. If the label carries a second symbol with (02)(37)(10)(17), it sits directly above.
3. Which application identifiers to add
| AI | Meaning | Length | When to include |
|---|---|---|---|
| (00) | SSCC | 18 fixed | Always — the one mandatory element |
| (02) + (37) | GTIN of the trade items inside + count | 14 fixed + up to 8 | Homogeneous units; (37) must accompany (02) and vice versa |
| (10) | Batch or lot | up to 20 | Lot-controlled goods; food, pharma, chemicals |
| (17) / (15) / (11) | Expiry / best-before / production date, YYMMDD | 6 fixed | Perishables; whichever date the retailer specifies |
| (400) | Customer purchase order number | up to 30 | When the retailer requires it on the label |
| (410) / (413) | Ship-to GLN / ship-for GLN | 13 fixed | Cross-docking and DC routing |
| (420) | Ship-to postal code | up to 20 | Parcel-style routing within one country |
| (401) | GINC (consignment number) | up to 30 | Freight forwarders grouping several units |
Two encoding rules keep symbols readable. A GS1-128 symbol holds at most 48 data characters; put the SSCC alone in one symbol and the rest in a second. Within a symbol, fixed-length AIs come first — (02), (37) is technically variable but usually short, (17) — and the variable-length AI such as (10) comes last, or is followed by an FNC1 separator. The barcode generator's GS1-128 mode handles the FNC1 and check digits when you enter the AIs in parentheses.
4. Barcode size and label format
| Parameter | Requirement for logistic units | Practical setting |
|---|---|---|
| X-dimension | 0.495 mm min · 1.016 mm max | 0.495 mm target = 4 dots at 203 dpi, 6 dots (0.508 mm) at 300 dpi |
| Bar height | ≥32 mm | 32 mm; 40 mm if the symbol will be scanned by fixed-mount readers at distance |
| Quiet zones | 10X each side | ≥5 mm at X = 0.495 mm; keep text and lines out of it |
| (00) symbol width | — | About 100 mm at X = 0.495 mm — this decides the label width |
| Label size | Not mandated | A6 / 105 × 148 mm (4 × 6 in) for SSCC + one more symbol; A5 / 148 × 210 mm when several AIs and text are needed |
| Print quality | ISO/IEC 15416 grade 1.5 (C) minimum | Verify a sample from each printer and stock |
Thermal printers. Most pallet labels come off 203 dpi direct-thermal printers. Set X to exactly 4 dots (0.500 mm) so every bar is a whole number of dots; 0.495 mm requested from a 203 dpi driver rounds unpredictably. Use thermal-transfer with a resin ribbon if pallets sit outdoors or in cold stores for weeks — direct thermal fades.
5. Where the label goes
| Unit | Height | Distance from vertical edge | Faces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pallet | Bottom edge of the barcode between 400 mm and 800 mm above the base | ≥50 mm | Two adjacent sides; conventionally the right side and the front in the direction of travel |
| Case / carton | Bottom edge of the barcode ≥32 mm above the base | ≥19 mm | One side minimum; two adjacent sides preferred |
| Pallet under 400 mm tall | As high as possible | ≥50 mm | Two adjacent sides |
Height matters because a handheld scanner is used from standing height; a label taped to the top deck or at floor level costs seconds per pallet and gets missed. Do not stretch-wrap over the barcode — either apply the label over the film, or leave a window; film glare and wrinkles are a top cause of read failures, as covered in why barcodes fail to scan. Keep the GS1 label clear of the carrier's label so the two are never scanned as one.
6. How the label links to the ASN
The SSCC is the "license plate". Before the truck arrives, the supplier sends a despatch advice (EDI DESADV, X12 856 ASN, or a portal upload) that lists each SSCC with its GTINs, quantities, lots and dates. Receiving scans (00), the system pulls the record, and the goods are booked in without counting. When the ASN fails to arrive in time, the (02)(37)(10)(17) data printed on the label lets the dock receive manually — which is the argument for printing more than the bare SSCC even when the retailer only mandates the SSCC.
Generate GS1-128 with (00) SSCC and other AIs
Type the AIs in parentheses — (00)006141411234567890 or (02)…(37)…(10)… — and the tool inserts FNC1, computes check digits and renders at a whole-dot X-dimension. Batch mode produces a numbered SSCC series from a list. Open the tool →
References
- GS1 General Specifications — SSCC (section 3.3), GS1-128 symbol specification, logistic unit label placement (section 6.6)
- GS1 Logistic Label Guideline
- GS1 — SSCC identification key
Frequently asked questions
What is an SSCC and how is it built?
The Serial Shipping Container Code is an 18-digit GS1 key that uniquely identifies one logistic unit — a pallet, a case or a parcel. It is an extension digit (0–9, chosen by you to extend capacity), followed by your GS1 Company Prefix and a serial reference that together make 16 digits, and a mod-10 check digit. It is encoded in GS1-128 with application identifier (00) and must not be reused for at least a year after the shipment.
How big does the SSCC barcode need to be?
GS1-128 on logistic units uses an X-dimension between 0.495 mm and 1.016 mm (0.495 mm target, which is 4 dots at 203 dpi) with bars at least 32 mm high and quiet zones of 10X on each side. At 0.495 mm the (00) symbol is about 100 mm wide, which is why the label is A6 (4 × 6 in) at minimum and often A5.
Where should the label go on a pallet?
On at least two adjacent sides — the right side and the front in the direction of travel are conventional. The bottom edge of the barcode must be between 400 mm and 800 mm above the base of the pallet and at least 50 mm from any vertical edge, so a forklift driver with a handheld scanner reaches it without bending. On cases the barcode sits at least 32 mm from the base and 19 mm from vertical edges.
What is the difference between a GS1 logistic label and a carrier shipping label?
The GS1 label identifies the logistic unit for the trading partners — supplier, 3PL, retailer — and links to the despatch advice through the SSCC. Carrier labels (UPS, FedEx, DHL, national posts) carry the carrier's own routing data in MaxiCode, PDF417 or Code 128 and are generated by the carrier's system. A pallet going to a retailer via a carrier normally carries both, on different faces or clearly separated.
Can I put GTIN and quantity on the same label as the SSCC?
Yes, and for homogeneous pallets you should: AI (02) with the GTIN of the contained trade items and AI (37) with the count, plus (10) lot and (17) or (15) date if the retailer requires them. Keep the SSCC in its own GS1-128 symbol at the bottom of the label; the other AIs can share a second symbol above it, up to 48 data characters per symbol.