Barcode Generator
Generate Code 128, EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 39, ITF-14, and 6 more barcode formats. Customize size and colors, download PNG or SVG. Free, instant, no watermark.
Most versatile linear barcode. Supports all 128 ASCII characters with automatic encoding mode switching for maximum density.
Enter any text, numbers, or symbols
Enter data above to generate barcode
Type Capacity Comparison
Max characters each barcode type can encode
Which Barcode for Which Industry?
Retail
Point-of-sale scanning at supermarket checkouts
Logistics
Shipping containers, pallets, and warehouse labels
Healthcare
Patient wristbands and lab specimen tracking
Manufacturing
Work-in-progress tracking on production lines
Libraries
Book check-out, media, and asset management
Pharmaceutical
Drug packaging, blister packs, and dispensing
Everything in One Barcode Generator
10 formats. No sign-up. No watermarks. No expiry. Just clean, scannable barcodes.
10 Barcode Formats
Code 128, Code 39, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, ITF-14, Codabar, MSI, and Pharmacode all in one tool.
Instant Generation
Barcode updates in real-time as you type — see the result immediately with zero delay.
Auto Check Digits
EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, and ITF-14 check digits are calculated and appended automatically.
Custom Colors
Set any bar color and background color. Useful for branded labels — just test scannability first.
Size Control
Adjust bar width (1–4px) and bar height (40–200px) to fit any label size requirement.
PNG + SVG Export
PNG at 3× resolution for print-ready output. SVG vector for infinite scale quality.
Clipboard Copy
Copy the barcode image directly to clipboard to paste into documents or design tools.
100% Private
All generation is client-side. Your product codes and data never leave your browser.
No Watermarks Ever
Clean barcode output with no branding, no expiry, no subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything about barcode formats, scanning, printing, and choosing the right type.
What is the best barcode format for retail products?
For retail products sold globally, use EAN-13 (13 digits). For products sold only in North America (US and Canada), use UPC-A (12 digits). EAN-13 and UPC-A are compatible — most scanners can read both. If space is very limited (e.g., small confectionery), use EAN-8 (8 digits) or UPC-E (6 digits).
What is Code 128 and when should I use it?
Code 128 is the most versatile linear barcode. It supports all 128 ASCII characters (letters, numbers, symbols) and automatically switches encoding modes to maximize density. Use Code 128 for shipping labels, inventory tags, employee ID badges, asset tracking, healthcare wristbands, and any application where you need to encode alphanumeric text. It's the default choice when EAN/UPC retail compatibility is not required.
What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
EAN-13 (European Article Number, 13 digits) is the international retail standard used globally. UPC-A (Universal Product Code, 12 digits) is the North American standard. A UPC-A barcode is actually a subset of EAN-13 — UPC-A is the same as EAN-13 starting with 0. For example, UPC-A '012345678905' is identical to EAN-13 '0012345678905'. Most modern scanners read both formats. If you're selling globally, use EAN-13.
What is an ITF-14 barcode used for?
ITF-14 (Interleaved 2-of-5, 14 digits) is used for shipping containers, cardboard boxes, and outer packaging in the supply chain. It encodes the GTIN-14 (Global Trade Item Number) which identifies a product and its packaging level. ITF-14 is printed directly on corrugated cardboard because it can be read even on low-quality or slightly distorted surfaces. It's the barcode you see on the outside of wholesale shipping boxes.
What is Code 39 and how is it different from Code 128?
Code 39 supports uppercase letters A–Z, digits 0–9, and 8 special characters (- . $ / + % SPACE). It doesn't require a check digit and is self-checking. Code 128 is denser (more data in less space) and supports the full ASCII character set including lowercase letters. Use Code 39 when legacy compatibility is important (it's been around since 1974), or in automotive, defense, and healthcare where uppercase-only data is standard. Use Code 128 for everything else — it's more efficient.
What is Codabar used for?
Codabar (also called Code 2 of 7, Ames Code, or USD-4) is a self-checking barcode used in libraries for book barcodes, blood banks for blood bag tracking, overnight air package delivery (FedEx originally), and photo labs. It encodes digits and six special characters. The barcode must start and end with a start/stop character: A, B, C, or D. While Code 128 has largely replaced Codabar in new applications, many library and medical systems still rely on it.
What is Pharmacode (Pharmaceutical Binary Code)?
Pharmacode is a barcode format used exclusively in the pharmaceutical industry for packaging. It encodes a single integer between 3 and 131,071 as a series of thick and thin bars. Unlike other barcodes, Pharmacode can be printed in multiple colors and is designed to be readable even on very thin pill packaging strips. It's typically used on blister packs and drug dispensing equipment to identify the product for automated packaging lines.
How do check digits work in barcodes?
A check digit is the last digit of a barcode, calculated mathematically from all the other digits. When a scanner reads the barcode, it recalculates the check digit and compares it to the scanned one. If they don't match, the scan is rejected, preventing errors from misreads. EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, and ITF-14 all use check digits. Code 39 and Codabar are self-checking (they detect errors through their encoding pattern) and don't require check digits. Code 128 uses a checksum character but not a visible check digit. This tool auto-calculates check digits — just enter your product digits (without the check digit) and it's added automatically.
Should I download PNG or SVG?
Download PNG for digital use: web pages, emails, documents, apps. The tool exports at 3× resolution (300%+ of screen size), which is print-ready for most small labels. Download SVG for print production: SVG is a vector format that scales to any size without quality loss — perfect for professional printing, large labels, signage, and situations where you need to scale the barcode up significantly. Always use SVG if you're sending to a print shop or embedding in a design tool like Adobe Illustrator or Figma.
How small can I make a barcode and still scan it?
Minimum barcode sizes depend on the format and scanner type. For EAN-13/UPC-A: minimum 37.29mm wide (80% of nominal size). For Code 128: minimum bar width of 0.19mm (7.5 mils). For handheld scanners: a bar height of at least 20mm is recommended. Smaller barcodes need better quality printing and scanners. This tool's default settings (bar width 2, height 100px) are good for screen display. For printing labels, download SVG and size it to meet minimum physical dimensions in your design software.
Can I use colored barcodes?
Yes, but with important constraints. Barcode scanners use red laser light, so red bars on white background are nearly invisible to the scanner. For reliable scanning: use dark bars on a light background, avoid red or orange foreground colors, ensure high contrast between foreground and background, and keep the bar color darker than the background. Black bars on white are the most reliable. If you need colored barcodes, test them thoroughly with your scanner before printing in bulk. The Customize options in this tool let you set any color — just be sure to test scannability.
Is it safe to generate barcodes here?
Completely safe. All barcode generation runs 100% in your browser using JavaScript — no data is sent to any server. Your product codes, inventory numbers, or any other data you encode never leaves your device. The page works offline once loaded. There's no account required, no data stored, and no usage tracking. You can safely generate barcodes for sensitive product data.