Free tool
Barcode Generator for Product, Shelf and Carton Labels
Pick a barcode type, type the value and the bars are drawn at once. Make a single code, or a whole list as a ZIP or a PDF sheet of labels.
Size
Text
Colours
Scanners need dark bars on a light background. Keep strong contrast.
Your settings and values are kept in this browser for next time.
Barcodes are made in your browser and what you type is never uploaded. Your settings are remembered on this computer, but the values are not.
Pick the type by where the label will be scanned
The wrong barcode type is the usual reason a label fails. The type is not a style choice, it is a rule about which scanners and systems will accept the code. The list on this page, with its own descriptions, is a good place to start.
| Type | Listed use | What goes in |
|---|---|---|
| Code 128 | Letters and numbers | Any keyboard characters |
| EAN-13 | Retail, worldwide | 12 digits, the 13th is added, or all 13 to check |
| UPC-A | Retail, US and Canada | 11 digits, the 12th is added, or all 12 |
| EAN-8 | Small packs | 7 digits, the 8th is added, or all 8 |
| UPC-E | Small packs, US | 6 digits, or 8 with the number system and check digit |
| Code 39 | Labels, older systems | Capitals, numbers, space and a few symbols |
| ITF-14 | Cartons | 13 digits, the 14th is added, or all 14 |
| Pharmacode | Whole numbers only | A whole number from 3 to 131070 |
Code 93, ITF, Codabar and MSI are also on the list. A made-up number is fine for a test. Before you print labels for something you sell, check where a real product number should come from.
Check digits, added and checked
Several types end with a check digit, a last digit worked out from the others so a scanner can spot a misread. If you type the number without that last digit, the tool adds it. If you type all the digits, it checks the one you gave. A value that does not fit the type is not drawn, and in list mode the page names the lines it left out.
Below the bars, a line shows whether the code could be read back. The page tries a built-in reader first and uses a second reader where the browser has none. A pass is a good sign, but still test with the scanner that will be used.
Many barcodes from a list
- Switch to Many from a list.
- Type or paste one value on each line, or choose a start value, how many (up to 500) and a step, then press Make the list.
- Choose ZIP of files in PNG, SVG, PDF or JPG, or a PDF sheet of labels.
- For a sheet, choose A4 or Letter and two, three or four labels across.
The PDF is drawn from the bars themselves, so it prints sharp at any size. For picture files, the scale options are 2x and 4x, where 4x or 8x suits print.
Size, colour and text
- Bar width, height and quiet zone. Width runs from 1 to 4, height from 30 to 200 and the quiet zone, the blank margin, from 0 to 40. Leave the margin generous, since scanners need it.
- Text. Show the value under the bars, change the font size and family, or write other text under the code instead.
- Colours. Scanners need dark bars on a light background. Reversed or pale bars often fail.
- Transparent background. Handy for overlaying on a design, but check what colour sits behind it.
If your shop lists products with their own barcodes and codes, the way they sit in the catalogue is part of the build. Our Shopify development work includes organising products and their identifiers.
Frequently asked questions
Does the tool add the check digit for me?
Yes, for the types that use one. Type the number without the last digit and it is added. Type the full number and it is checked.
Which barcode type do I need for retail products?
The type list marks EAN-13 as retail worldwide and UPC-A as retail in the US and Canada. The tool draws the bars from the number you give it and does not issue numbers.
How do I make 100 sequential barcodes?
Choose Many from a list, enter a start value, a count and a step, and press Make the list. Then download a ZIP or a PDF sheet of labels.
Why was a line left out of my list?
Its value does not fit the chosen type, for example too few digits or a letter in a digits-only type. The page names the first few lines it skipped.
Will the barcode scan?
Each code is read back by the page as a quick test. Still try a real scanner and print at the final size before a big run.
Are my values stored?
No. Settings are remembered on this computer, but the values you type are not, and nothing is uploaded.
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