Товары с переменными мерами: штрихкоды веса, длины и цены
How to encode weight, count, and price in barcodes for variable-measure products — GS1 prefix 2x, GS1 DataBar Expanded, and scale integration.
Variable Measure Items: Weight, Length & Price Barcodes
Variable-measure products like fresh produce, deli meats, and bulk hardware cannot use standard fixed-price barcodes because their price depends on weight, length, or count. Special barcode formats encode this variable data for automated checkout.
GS1 Prefix 2x: In-Store Variable Measure
Barcodes starting with prefix 02 or 20-29 are reserved for in-store use with variable-measure items. The retailer defines the format:
Common format (weight-based):
2 [Item Code (5 digits)] [Price (5 digits)] [Check Digit]
Example: 2 12345 00499 8 = Item 12345, $4.99
This format is not standardized across retailers. The same barcode may mean different things at different stores.
GS1 DataBar Expanded for Variable Measure
GS1 DataBar Expanded enables standardized variable-measure encoding using Application Identifiers:
(01)02012345678906(3103)001500
GTIN 1.500 kg
This format carries the actual GS1 Standards & Identifiers">GTIN plus the weight (or price), making it interoperable across supply chain partners.
Scale Integration
In-store scales generate barcodes for variable-weight items:
- Operator places the item on the scale
- Selects the product (by PLU or barcode scan of a reference label)
- Scale weighs the item
- Label printer produces a barcode encoding the product identifier plus weight or price
- Customer takes the labeled item to checkout
Modern scales support both prefix-2x and GS1 DataBar Expanded formats.
Application Identifier Encoding for Measures
| AI | Measure | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| (3100) | Net weight, kg, 0 decimal | N6 | 001500 = 1500 kg |
| (3103) | Net weight, kg, 3 decimals | N6 | 001500 = 1.500 kg |
| (3200) | Net weight, lb, 0 decimal | N6 | 000003 = 3 lb |
| (3203) | Net weight, lb, 3 decimals | N6 | 001500 = 1.500 lb |
| (3920) | Price, no decimal | N..15 | 499 = $4.99 (if 2 implied) |
| (3922) | Price, 2 decimals | N..15 | 000499 = $4.99 |
The last digit of the AI indicates the decimal point position.
Fresh Produce Labeling
For loose produce sold by weight:
- PLU code (4-5 digits): Industry-standard identifier managed by IFPS
- Prefix-2x barcode: Store-specific encoding with weight or price
- GS1 DataBar: Standardized encoding with GTIN + weight
Many stores are transitioning from PLU stickers to GS1 DataBar labels printed by in-store scales.
Random-Weight vs Fixed-Weight
| Type | Price Basis | Barcode Format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed-weight | Per unit | EAN-13 | Packaged 500g cheese |
| Random-weight | Per kg/lb | Prefix-2x or GS1 DataBar | Deli-sliced cheese |
| Count-based | Per unit (variable) | Prefix-2x | Bag of 6 donuts |
Implementation Recommendations
- Use GS1 DataBar Expanded for new implementations (standard, interoperable)
- Support prefix-2x for legacy compatibility
- Calibrate scales regularly (inaccurate weights create pricing errors)
- Train staff on the label-to-POS data flow to troubleshoot pricing issues