Is a style number the same as a SKU?
William Smith
Updated on April 05, 2026
Style numbers are for people, primarily you but also buyers. UPC and SKU numbers are mostly for computers. One product will have several numbers assigned to it and you need to keep track of them. Style numbers are yours and can be whatever works for you.
What is the difference between a UPC and a SKU?
They are both numeric-based codes assigned to products, but UPCs, or Universal Product Codes are standardized for business use and provide a product description that, once scanned, anyone could read. Another difference is that SKUs are typically eight alpha-numeric digits, while UPCs are 12 digits, numeric only.
Can I use UPC as SKU?
Since an SKU is unique to a company, a product would have different SKUs if sold by different companies — but they would have the same UPC. While many use the terms “SKU” and “UPC” interchangeably, they are actually very different.
What is UPC in fashion?
The Universal Product Code (UPC) is a barcode symbology that is widely used in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and in other countries for tracking trade items in stores. UPC (technically refers to UPC-A) consists of 12 numerical digits, that are uniquely assigned to each trade item.
Does each product have a different SKU?
Every product you sell needs a unique identifier—called a stock keeping unit (SKU)—that helps you differentiate one product from another. It’s not enough to have one SKU for a t-shirt, for instance. Each variant of a product should have different SKUs.
What is SKU and Asin?
Concepts. SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) is a special code, you can create for the listing, for example, item-001, item-002. This is like your second product code, only on Amazon’s fulfillment system. ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) is an Amazon generated unique product code.
Do I need a SKU or UPC?
SKU numbers are unique to individual retailers, whereas UPC barcodes are used universally and remain constant for a product no matter which retailer is selling it. For this reason, a product will retain one UPC code even if it’s assigned different SKU numbers by different companies.
Is UPC unique?
The UPC number is the twelve-digit number that runs along the bottom of the barcode and, as the name implies, is a universal number. It also means that the UPC is not unique to a store. If two companies are selling the same item, those items will have different SKUs, but the same UPC.
How do I find the UPC on my clothes?
The UPC bar code of an item is usually found printed on the label or package of an item. Because the bar code allows fast product entry at the cash register, this information is always found in an easily accessible spot on the outside of a product.
What does style number mean?
Style Number Guide The style numbers help you identify the specific garment. When you are a small company it is easy for you to keep track of every style and its specifics.
Where do I find my style number?
Looks like you are searching for the style ID of your garment. That can be found on the small tag behind the washing instructions. It is a 7-digit number like 1618371.
What is the difference between a SKU and an UPC?
UPC or known as Universal Product Code is a standardized bar code that gives a vivid description of the products.
Is a SKU and UPC the same thing?
Briefly, SKU numbers are internal product inventory codes unique to a particular company, while UPC barcodes are external product tracking codes that are standardized for universal use by any company. SKU and UPC codes are different but have many of the same uses and best practices.
What is the difference between product and SKU?
The product is a more generic definition of something that is made available in your store, such as “Shirt”. SKUs are the variations of this product. Products can vary by shape, color, size etc.
How many numbers in SKU?
For example, one company may use the 10 character identifier supplied by the manufacturer as the SKU of an external hard drive. Another company may use a proprietary 6-digit number as the SKU to identify the part.