Print-ready barcodes in every common retail and logistics format
This barcode generator draws EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 128, Code 39, ITF-14, Interleaved 2 of 5, Codabar, MSI Plessey and Pharmacode symbols as you type. Leave off the check digit and it is calculated for you; type a full code and the check digit is verified, with the correct one offered if it is wrong. Adjust the bar width, height, quiet zone, human-readable text and colors, then download a vector SVG for print or a PNG at up to 8× resolution. Everything runs in your browser: the values you encode are never uploaded.
How to make a barcode
- 1Pick the symbology in the toolbar. Use EAN-13 or UPC-A for products sold in shops, ITF-14 for shipping cartons and Code 128 for anything with letters.
- 2Type or paste the value. For EAN and UPC codes you can enter the digits without the last check digit and it is added automatically.
- 3If you typed a full code, a green tick confirms the check digit. A wrong check digit is flagged with the correct value and a button to use it.
- 4Set the bar width, height, margin, font size and colors. Keep dark bars on a light background so scanners can read it.
- 5Download the SVG for print and packaging artwork, or choose a scale and download a PNG. You can also copy the SVG markup straight into your code.
Which barcode type should I use?
- EAN-13
- The 13-digit retail barcode used worldwide outside North America. The first digits are a GS1 company prefix assigned to the brand owner, and the last digit is a mod-10 check digit.
- UPC-A
- The 12-digit retail barcode used in the United States and Canada. A UPC-A is an EAN-13 with a leading zero, so modern point-of-sale scanners read both.
- EAN-8 and UPC-E
- Short versions for small packages where a full-size code does not fit. UPC-E compresses a UPC-A that contains runs of zeros into 8 digits; this tool shows the full UPC-A it expands to.
- Code 128
- A compact, high-density code that can hold all 128 ASCII characters. The usual choice for internal labels, asset tags, shipping labels and GS1-128. Automatic mode switches between code sets A, B and C to keep the barcode as short as possible.
- Code 39
- An older alphanumeric code with upper-case letters, digits and a few symbols. It is wide but very tolerant of poor printing, and still required by some automotive and defence labelling standards.
- ITF-14 and Interleaved 2 of 5
- Numeric codes that encode digits in pairs. ITF-14 carries a 14-digit GTIN on corrugated outer cartons; plain ITF holds any even number of digits.
- Codabar, MSI and Pharmacode
- Specialist legacy codes: Codabar for libraries, blood banks and courier slips, MSI Plessey for warehouse shelf labels, and Pharmacode for pharmaceutical packaging control.
How check digits are calculated
EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E and ITF-14 all end with a GS1 mod-10 check digit. Starting from the rightmost data digit, the digits are multiplied alternately by 3 and 1 and added up; the check digit is whatever brings that sum to the next multiple of ten. For 590123412345 the weighted sum is 83, so the check digit is 7 and the full EAN-13 is 5901234123457.
The check digit lets a scanner detect a misread instead of ringing up the wrong product, so a code with a wrong check digit will be rejected at the till. When you paste a full code here, the last digit is compared with the computed one and you are told exactly which digit it should be.
Code 39 has an optional mod-43 check character, and MSI supports mod 10, mod 11 and double check digits. Code 128 always carries a mandatory mod-103 checksum, which is added automatically and is never printed in the text below the bars.
Getting a barcode that scans
- Keep the quiet zone: the blank margin on both sides should be at least ten times the narrowest bar. Do not crop it away in your layout.
- Print dark bars on a light background. Red, orange and yellow bars are invisible to the red light of laser scanners, and inverted (light on dark) codes fail on many readers.
- Do not squash the barcode horizontally. Scale it uniformly, and prefer the SVG so the bars stay sharp at any size.
- Retail EAN and UPC codes should be printed close to their nominal size (37.29 × 25.93 mm for EAN-13). Shrinking below 80% makes them hard to read.
- Test the printed result with a phone, for example with our barcode scanner, before printing a full run.
Do I need to buy a barcode number?
To sell products through retailers and marketplaces you need GTINs (the numbers inside EAN and UPC barcodes) licensed from GS1 or from a reseller the retailer accepts. The generator draws any valid number, but it cannot make a number registered to your company. For internal use such as inventory, asset tracking or event tickets, Code 128 with your own numbering works without any registration.
For data that is longer than a few dozen characters, such as URLs or contact cards, a 2D code holds far more in less space: try the QR code generator.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this barcode generator free?
- Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many barcodes you create. The SVG and PNG files can be used commercially.
- How do I calculate the check digit of an EAN-13 or UPC-A?
- Type the first 12 digits of an EAN-13 (or the first 11 of a UPC-A) and the check digit is calculated and added. The message under the field shows which digit was added.
- Why does it say my check digit is wrong?
- The last digit you typed does not match the GS1 mod-10 checksum of the other digits, usually because of a typo. The message shows the correct digit, and a button replaces the code with the corrected one.
- Should I download SVG or PNG?
- Use SVG for print, packaging and label software: it is vector, so the bars stay perfectly sharp at any size. Use PNG for documents, websites and tools that only accept images, and pick a higher scale for print.
- Can a barcode contain letters?
- EAN, UPC, ITF, MSI and Pharmacode are numeric only. Code 128 encodes all ASCII letters, digits and symbols, and Code 39 encodes upper-case letters, digits and - . $ / + % and space.
- What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
- UPC-A has 12 digits and is used mainly in North America; EAN-13 has 13 and is used everywhere else. A UPC-A is the same as an EAN-13 starting with 0, and retail scanners read both.
- Can I use colored barcodes?
- Yes, but keep strong contrast: dark bars on a light background. Avoid red or yellow bars, which laser scanners cannot see. The tool warns you when the contrast is low or the colors are inverted.
- Is my data uploaded?
- No. Barcodes are drawn in your browser with the JsBarcode library and the files are created on your device. Nothing you type is sent to a server.