About barcode generator
Barcodes carry a short number or text in a pattern of bars that a scanner reads quickly. Each type has its own rules for length and characters, so picking the right one avoids rejected labels.
Which barcode type
- CODE128: general purpose, handles letters and numbers. Good for internal labels and shipping.
- EAN-13 and EAN-8: retail products. EAN-13 needs 12 digits plus a check digit.
- UPC: the North American retail equivalent, with 12 digits.
- CODE39: older, uppercase letters, digits and a few symbols, common in industry.
- ITF-14: outer cartons and cases. MSI and Pharmacode serve warehouse and pharmaceutical packaging.
Check digits
Retail codes end in a check digit calculated from the other digits, so a scanner can detect misreads. If you enter a full number with the wrong check digit, the code is invalid and a scanner may refuse it.
Printing
- Print at a size and resolution that keeps the bars crisp. Blurred bars fail to scan.
- Keep a quiet blank margin on both sides of the bars.
- Use dark bars on a light background and test with a real scanner.
- Products sold in shops need numbers issued by the GS1 organisation, since arbitrary numbers can clash with other products.
Made in your browser
The code is created on your device, so what you type is not sent to our servers.
