Barcode generator
Make Code 128, EAN-13, UPC-A, EAN-8, ITF-14, Code 39 and Codabar barcodes. Each type shows its own examples, check digits are added for you, and you can download SVG, PNG or JPG for labels and packaging.
- Examples that change with the barcode type
- Check digits calculated and verified
- Made in your browser, nothing uploaded
- Type—Barcode symbology
- Data—What you typed
- Check digit—Catches misreads
- Size—Modules wide
Design and download
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Size and text
Wider bars scan more easily on cheap printers.
Colors
Black or dark blue bars on white are the safest choice.
Options for Code 128
Settings that only some barcode types have.
Nothing extra to set for this type. Check digits are handled for you.
Print at 100% scale and scan a test label before printing many.
How a barcode works
A scanner measures the widths of dark bars and light spaces and turns them back into characters.
Bars and spaces
Each character is a fixed pattern of narrow and wide bars. The narrowest bar is one module, and every other width is a multiple of it.
Check digit
EAN, UPC and ITF-14 end with a digit calculated from the others, so a misread is caught instead of ringing up the wrong product.
Quiet zone
The blank space on each side tells the scanner where the code starts and ends. Printing over it is the most common reason labels fail.
Drawing is not registering
Any number can be drawn, but retail EAN and UPC numbers must be assigned to your company by GS1 so that no other product uses them.
Barcode types compared
What each type accepts, how long it is, and where you will see it.
| Type | Characters | Length | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Code 128 | All keyboard characters | Variable | Shipping, inventory, invoices, serial numbers |
| EAN-13 | Digits | 13 (12 + check digit) | Retail products; India uses the GS1 prefix 890 |
| UPC-A | Digits | 12 (11 + check digit) | Retail products in the US and Canada |
| EAN-8 | Digits | 8 (7 + check digit) | Small packs such as pens and sweets |
| ITF-14 | Digits | 14 (13 + check digit) | Outer cartons in warehouses |
| Code 39 | A to Z, 0 to 9 and 7 symbols | Variable | Badges, asset tags, automotive and defence parts |
| Codabar | Digits and 6 symbols, A to D at the ends | Variable | Libraries, blood banks, some courier slips |
How to make your barcode
Four steps, all in this page.
Pick the barcode type
The input fills with an example for that type, and example buttons show what it accepts.
Type your number or text
The barcode redraws as you type. Check digits are added, and a wrong one is explained.
Set size and colors
Choose bar width, height, text and colors. The checks warn about red bars and print width.
Download and test
Save SVG, PNG or JPG, print at 100% scale, and scan a test label before printing many.
What this tool does, and what it doesn't
A plain list, so you know exactly what to expect.
This tool does
- Draw 7 common barcode types
- Show examples for the type you choose
- Add and verify check digits
- Warn about red bars and print width
- Export SVG, or PNG and JPG up to 8x
- Remember your design settings in your browser
This tool does not
- Assign or register GS1 barcode numbers
- Make QR codes (use the QR generator)
- Make GS1-128 labels with application identifiers
- Print labels or sheets in bulk
- Upload or save what you type
- Need an account or sign-up
Where your data goes
Nowhere. The barcode is drawn by code inside this page, so the numbers and text you type stay in your browser and are not saved. Only design choices such as colors, sizes and resolution are remembered in this browser's local storage. AllInOneTools is not affiliated with GS1. See our privacy policy.
When a barcode does not work as expected
The six problems people run into most, and what to change.
The scanner does not react
Use dark bars on white. Red, orange and yellow bars are invisible to most red-light scanners.
Check digit error
The last digit does not match the others. Fix the number, or type it without the last digit.
A store rejects the EAN
Retail numbers must be registered to your company with GS1. A made-up number can clash.
Letters changed to capitals
Code 39 has no lower case. Use Code 128 to keep lower-case letters.
Too wide for the label
Code 128 is the most compact for text. Shorten the data or lower the bar width.
Blurry when printed
Use SVG, or PNG at 4x or 8x, and print at 100% without stretching.
Questions about barcodes
Which barcode type should I choose?
For products sold in shops, use the type your retailer asks for: EAN-13 in India and most countries, UPC-A in the US and Canada, and ITF-14 on outer cartons. For your own labels, such as stock, invoices or serial numbers, Code 128 is the most flexible and compact. Code 39 and Codabar are older types for systems that already use them.
Do I need to buy barcode numbers to sell in shops?
Usually, yes. Retailers and marketplaces expect EAN or UPC numbers that belong to your company, which you get by joining GS1 (GS1 India issues numbers starting with 890). This tool draws any number you type, but it does not assign or register numbers, and an unregistered number can clash with another product.
What is the check digit?
The last digit of an EAN, UPC or ITF-14 number is calculated from the others, so a scanner can catch a misread. Type the number without it and the tool adds it, or type the full number and the tool tells you if the last digit is wrong. Code 128 adds its own hidden check character automatically.
Are the barcodes free, and do they expire?
They are free for personal and commercial use and never expire. A barcode is only a drawing of the number or text you type; nothing about it is stored online.
Which file and size should I use for printing?
Use SVG for print and label software, because it stays sharp at any size. If you need PNG or JPG, choose 4x or 8x. Print at 100% scale, do not stretch the image sideways, and keep the blank quiet zone on both sides.
Why will my barcode not scan?
The most common causes are bars that are too thin for the printer, a missing quiet zone, low contrast, and red, orange or yellow bars, which many scanners cannot see because they read with red light. Use black or dark blue bars on white, make the bars wider, and test a print before printing many.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. The barcode is drawn by code in this page, inside your browser, and what you type is not sent to our server or saved. Only design choices such as colors and sizes are remembered in your browser for next time. See our privacy policy.