Barcode Generator

Code 128 is a high-density linear barcode that can encode the full ASCII character set — it is used in shipping labels, supply chain management, and general-purpose applications. EAN-13 (European Article Number) is the international standard for retail product identification, encoding a 13-digit number including country code, manufacturer code, and product code. UPC-A (Universal Product Code) is the North American retail standard, encoding 12 digits. EAN-13 is essentially a superset of UPC-A. Choose Code 128 for logistics and internal tracking; EAN/UPC for retail products.

Yes. SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) download is the recommended format because barcodes scale to any size without pixelation — critical for printing. PNG download is also available at specified resolutions. For professional printing, always use SVG or high-resolution PNG (300 DPI equivalent). Low-resolution barcodes can fail to scan on barcode readers.

Code 128 supports all 128 ASCII characters including uppercase, lowercase, digits, and symbols. Code 39 supports 43 characters: A–Z uppercase, 0–9, and seven special characters (-, ., $, /, +, %, space). EAN-13 and EAN-8 encode only digits. UPC-A encodes only digits. ITF (Interleaved 2 of 5) encodes only even-count digit strings. Select your barcode type based on what data you need to encode.

For official retail products sold through major retailers, you need a legitimate GS1 company prefix obtained from GS1 (the standards body). This ensures your EAN/UPC numbers are globally unique. However, for internal use — warehouse tracking, event tickets, library systems, internal inventory — you can use any valid number without registration. This generator creates the barcode visual from any digit string you provide.

Common scanning failures result from: insufficient contrast (ensure black bars on white background, not gray-on-gray), too small print size (minimum 25mm wide for EAN-13), digital display reflections (glossy screens can confuse optical scanners — print for reliable scanning), invalid data (EAN-13 requires exactly 13 digits with valid check digit), and printer/display resolution below 150 DPI. This generator validates data format and check digits automatically.

Match the symbology to the job. Code 128 — the versatile default for internal use, shipping, logistics, and asset tracking; it encodes the full ASCII set (letters, digits, symbols) at high density. EAN-13 / UPC-A — the RETAIL standards for products scanned at a checkout; EAN-13 (13 digits) is the international standard and UPC-A (12 digits) its North American subset, both digits-only and requiring a valid check digit. Code 39 — older, encodes A–Z, 0–9 and a few symbols; still common in automotive and defense but lower density than Code 128. ITF (Interleaved 2 of 5) — digits-only, used on shipping cartons. EAN-8 — a compact 8-digit version for tiny packages. Rule of thumb: Code 128 for anything internal/alphanumeric, EAN/UPC for products sold in stores.

It depends on where the product is sold. For products sold through major RETAILERS or online marketplaces (Amazon, supermarkets), yes — you need a legitimate GS1 company prefix from GS1, the global standards body, which guarantees your EAN/UPC numbers are unique worldwide. Retailers and marketplaces verify ownership against the GS1 database, so a made-up number will be rejected and can get your listing pulled. For INTERNAL use, however — warehouse and inventory tracking, library systems, event tickets, asset tags, your own closed system — you can use ANY valid number with no registration, since uniqueness only matters within your own system. This generator creates the barcode VISUAL from whatever digits you provide; it doesn't assign or register GS1 numbers.