Barcode Generator

How to make a barcode

1. Choose the barcode type. Code 128 is preselected because it accepts letters, numbers and symbols.
2. Type the content. Mistakes are explained right away, and check digits are calculated for you where the format needs one.
3. Set size and colors if needed, then download PNG or SVG. Tick the many-barcodes box to get a ZIP of images from a list.

Which barcode type should I use?

The right type depends on who will scan it. Stores, warehouses and libraries each expect a particular format, and a scanner set up for one may ignore the others.

If you are labeling your own things, such as storage boxes, equipment or documents, Code 128 is usually the best choice. It is compact, takes any plain text and is read by practically every handheld scanner.

Check digits, explained

EAN, UPC and ITF-14 end with a check digit calculated from the other digits. When a scanner reads the bars, it repeats the calculation; if the result doesn't match, the read is thrown away instead of charging the wrong product. Type the number without the last digit and the generator adds it and shows you which digit it calculated. Type the full number and it verifies the last digit and tells you if there's a typo, with a one-click fix.

Printing barcodes that scan

• Leave blank space at the sides. Scanners need a quiet zone before the first bar and after the last. For Code 128 the standard asks for at least ten times the width of the thinnest bar.
• Use dark bars on white. Many laser scanners use red light, so red or orange bars can look like empty space to them. Black or dark blue is safest. The tool warns you about risky colors.
• Don't squash the bars. Scale the image evenly. For print, download SVG, which stays sharp at any size, or pick 4× PNG sharpness.
• Print a test. Scan a printed sample with the scanner you'll actually use before printing hundreds of labels.

Making many barcodes at once

Tick Make many barcodes and paste a list, one value per line, for example serial numbers copied from a spreadsheet column. Every valid line becomes its own PNG, named after its value, and they download together as a ZIP. Lines that don't fit the chosen format are listed with the reason and skipped, so one typo doesn't block the rest.

A note about retail product numbers

This tool draws the barcode image for any number you give it. It does not create official product numbers. If you want to sell in stores or on marketplaces that ask for a GTIN, the number has to be licensed to your company by GS1 or come from the retailer. A made-up number can have a correct check digit and still belong to someone else's product. For your own internal labels, any Code 128 content is fine. Need a QR code instead? Use the QR Code Generator.

More ways to use this tool