# Is there a way to do reverse lookup on UPC codes, to find what it was? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-reverse-lookup-on-upc-codes-to-find-what-it-was/806608 "2018-01-14T16:48:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brakecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@brakecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brakecane)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-reverse-lookup-on-upc-codes-to-find-what-it-was/806608/1 "2018-01-14T16:48:24Z")
I have receipts that I let pile up and then when I have to get reimbursed I can’t figure out what they were for. I have the UPC code on the receipt, but the description is too vague. (Lately I had one that said “white standard” which I have no clue what it is. Something at Office Max. Paper? Whiteout? Wastebasket? Storage boxes?) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-reverse-lookup-on-upc-codes-to-find-what-it-was/806608/2 "2018-01-14T16:56:31Z")
Google “upc lookup”, there’s a ton of sites. [Here’s one,](https://www.barcodelookup.com/) just at random. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2018, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-reverse-lookup-on-upc-codes-to-find-what-it-was/806608/3 "2018-01-14T22:05:13Z")
You can usually just type the UPC into [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) edit: or [google shopping](https://www.google.com/shopping) ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2018, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-reverse-lookup-on-upc-codes-to-find-what-it-was/806608/4 "2018-01-14T22:49:45Z")
I know my Android phone has an icon to scan a UPC and search for it - it’s part of the Microsoft Launcher “desktop”\* \*not the right word, but I can’t bring the right term to mind at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![pdhenry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pdhenry/32/5561_2.png) [@pdhenry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pdhenry)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2018, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-reverse-lookup-on-upc-codes-to-find-what-it-was/806608/5 "2018-01-15T03:37:54Z")
For a food item you can scan the UPC barcode with the MyFitnessPal app. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2018, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-reverse-lookup-on-upc-codes-to-find-what-it-was/806608/6 "2018-01-15T14:48:30Z")
> [@pdhenry](#): > > For a food item you can scan the UPC barcode with the MyFitnessPal app. Receipts don’t have the bar code, just the number. ---
**Author:** ![pdhenry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pdhenry/32/5561_2.png) [@pdhenry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pdhenry)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-reverse-lookup-on-upc-codes-to-find-what-it-was/806608/7 "2018-01-16T04:31:31Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Receipts don’t have the bar code, just the number. I’ve never seen a receipt with the UPC number (usually it’s been converted to a shorthand product description) but IIRC you can type the number into MyFitnessPal as well. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-reverse-lookup-on-upc-codes-to-find-what-it-was/806608/8 "2018-01-16T05:02:00Z")
I’m thinking what you have on the receipt is a SKU or item number rather than a UPC. Often those can be looked up in the retailer’s website, if they still sell the product.