GS1 DataBar Limited barcode
The narrowest GS1 DataBar, for very small items whose GTIN begins with 0 or 1.
Also known as: RSS Limited
What is GS1 DataBar Limited?
GS1 DataBar Limited is the smallest member of the DataBar family, a 74-module-wide symbol that carries a GTIN-14 whose indicator digit is 0 or 1. It exists for items too small even for DataBar Stacked, such as small healthcare products and jewelry, and is approved for point of sale but is not omnidirectional, so it depends on an imager or an aimed scan.
Encodes: A GTIN-14 with a leading indicator digit of 0 or 1, AI (01) implied.
How GS1 DataBar Limited is structured
DataBar Limited drops the range of the GTIN it can carry in exchange for width, which is why the first digit may only be 0 or 1.
| Part | Length | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Left guard | 1X | Opens the symbol. |
| Left data character | 26 modules | Encodes the first half of the restricted GTIN. |
| Check character | 18 modules | A finder-style pattern that carries the symbol checksum. |
| Right data character | 26 modules | Encodes the second half. |
| Right guard | 1X plus 5X quiet zone | Closes the symbol. |
Specifications
- Data
- 14 digits (GTIN-14) with indicator digit 0 or 1 only
- Width
- 74X plus quiet zones
- Height
- 10X minimum
- Quiet zones
- 1X left, 5X right
- X-dimension
- 0.264 mm to 0.660 mm at POS
- Scanning
- Not omnidirectional; imager or aimed handheld
- Typical use
- Small healthcare and small retail items
Dimensions are GS1 General Specifications targets. Confirm against the retailer’s current routing guide before a print run.
Where it is used
- Small healthcare items sold at retail pharmacies
- Jewelry, watch, and cosmetic items with very little label area
- Any consumer unit where DataBar Stacked will not fit and the GTIN begins 0 or 1
A last-resort size, set into the label once
DataBar Limited is chosen when nothing else fits. The GTIN on the product record is unchanged; only the carrier shrinks. Because the indicator digit must be 0 or 1, brands that plan tiny formats keep their GTIN-14 allocations in that range for those items.
Retailers whose routing guides call for it
Each retailer page covers the transaction sets, labeling rules, and reported chargebacks behind the requirement.
Mistakes that cost money
A GTIN with indicator 2 to 9
Limited cannot encode it. Use DataBar Omnidirectional or Stacked, or allocate the item a 0- or 1-indicator GTIN-14.
Expecting omnidirectional scanning
Limited reads in one orientation. On a belt scanner without an imager it misses; confirm the retailer’s lanes.
Ignoring the 5X right quiet zone
The asymmetric margin is part of the specification. Text set tight to the right edge stops the read.
How Endless handles GS1 DataBar Limited
Endless stores the GTIN-14 with its indicator digit on the product record and flags a Limited-carrier variant whose GTIN falls outside the 0 or 1 range before artwork goes to print.
Frequently asked questions
When should I use DataBar Limited instead of DataBar Stacked?
When the label is too narrow even for the 50-module Stacked symbol and the GTIN begins with 0 or 1. If the GTIN does not qualify, Stacked is the fallback.
Related symbologies
- GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional→
The compact GTIN-14 barcode on produce stickers and small items, in four shapes for different spaces.
- GS1 DataBar Expanded→
The DataBar that carries weight, price, expiry, and lot alongside the GTIN, on fresh food and coupons.
- EAN-8→
The eight-digit retail barcode GS1 issues for packages too small to carry an EAN-13.
Definitions in the glossary
- GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)→
A globally unique product identifier used across trading partners and marketplaces.
Browse the full barcode symbology guide.
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