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Free Barcode Generator - Create Custom Barcodes Online (CODE128, EAN-13, QR & More)

Generate professional barcodes in 10+ industry-standard formats. Customize dimensions, colors, and text. Download as SVG or PNG - free, browser-based, no sign-up required.

What Is a Barcode Generator?

A barcode generator is a tool that encodes alphanumeric data into a visual pattern of parallel bars and spaces that can be read by a barcode scanner or smartphone camera. Barcodes are used across every industry - retail point-of-sale systems, warehouse inventory management, logistics and shipping labels, library book tracking, healthcare patient identification, and manufacturing quality control.

Our free online barcode generator supports 10 industry-standard barcode formats, lets you customize every visual element (bar width, height, color, font, margin), and exports high-quality SVG or PNG files ready for print and digital use - all in your browser with no data sent to any server.

Supported Barcode Formats - Complete Reference

CODE128

The most versatile and widely-used 1D barcode format. Supports the full ASCII character set - letters, numbers, and special characters. High data density and self-checking. Used in shipping labels (FedEx, UPS), warehouse management, and general industrial applications. The recommended default for any custom barcode.

Industries: Logistics, shipping, warehousing, general business

CODE39

An older alphanumeric barcode supporting uppercase A–Z, digits 0–9, and a limited set of special characters (space, $, %, +, -, ., /). Lower data density than CODE128 but widely supported by legacy scanners. Used in automotive, defense, and healthcare industries.

Industries: Automotive, defense, healthcare, legacy systems

EAN-13

European Article Number - a 13-digit numeric barcode that is the global standard for retail product identification. Includes a 2–3 digit country code, 4–5 digit manufacturer code, product code, and check digit. Every retail product sold outside North America uses EAN-13.

Industries: International retail products, grocery stores, supermarkets

EAN-8

A compact 8-digit version of EAN-13 for small products where a full-size barcode wouldn't fit - candy bars, small cosmetics, matchbooks. Must be assigned by GS1.

Industries: Small retail products with limited label space

UPC-A

Universal Product Code - 12-digit barcode used as the retail product standard in the United States and Canada. Includes manufacturer and product identifiers. Familiar as the barcode on virtually every product sold in North American stores.

Industries: North American retail, grocery, consumer goods

UPC-E

A compressed 6-digit version of UPC-A for small packages. Suppresses leading zeros to fit in a smaller space. Must be derived from a valid UPC-A code.

Industries: Small US/Canadian retail products

ITF / ITF-14

Interleaved 2 of 5 - encodes pairs of digits in alternating bars and spaces for high efficiency. ITF-14 is the 14-digit version used on shipping cartons, pallets, and outer packaging in global supply chains. Highly resistant to printing imperfections.

Industries: Outer shipping cartons, pallets, supply chain

MSI

MSI Plessey - a numeric-only barcode typically used in retail shelf labels, bin locations, and inventory management systems. Supports multiple check digit algorithms (Mod 10, Mod 11, Mod 1010).

Industries: Retail shelf labels, inventory bin locations

Codabar

One of the oldest barcode formats, used in blood banks, libraries (Monarch barcodes), photo lab envelopes, and FedEx airbills. Supports digits 0–9 and special characters –$:/.+.

Industries: Blood banks, libraries, overnight delivery, photo labs

How to Create a Barcode - Step by Step

  1. Select a preset - Default (general use), Compact (small labels), Tall (high-visibility), or Retail (product packaging). Presets automatically set the right width, height, and margin for each context.
  2. Choose the barcode format - Select from CODE128, CODE39, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, ITF, ITF-14, MSI, or Codabar based on your industry standard and scanning environment.
  3. Enter your data - Type or paste the value to encode. Each format has specific data requirements: EAN-13 requires exactly 12 digits (the 13th is auto-calculated), UPC-A requires 11 digits, Codabar requires digits and special characters only.
  4. Adjust dimensions - Set bar width (1–6), height in pixels (40–400), and quiet zone margin (0–40px). Wider bars and taller barcodes scan more reliably at greater distances.
  5. Customize text display - Toggle value display, set font family, font size, text margin, and text alignment (left, center, right).
  6. Set colors - Choose custom line color and background color. Always maintain high contrast - dark lines on light background for maximum scannability.
  7. Download - Click Download SVG for infinitely scalable vector output (best for print), or Download PNG for raster output (for web and digital use).

Barcode Design Best Practices

✓
Maintain high contrast: Dark bars on a light background is the most reliable combination. Avoid low-contrast colors like light gray on white or yellow on white. Most scanners expect a minimum contrast ratio of 3:1.
✓
Never print below the minimum size: CODE128 and EAN-13 should be printed no smaller than 25mm × 15mm. Smaller barcodes risk being unreadable with standard scanners. For retail packaging, use the GS1-specified minimum sizes.
✓
Preserve the quiet zone: The white space to the left and right of the barcode (the quiet zone) is required for scanners to detect the code boundary. Never crop or bleed the barcode to the edge of the label. Set a minimum margin of 10px or 2.5mm.
✓
Always test before printing at scale: Scan your generated barcode with at least two different scanners (a handheld scanner and a smartphone) before printing in bulk. Print a test label at full size and scan it from the expected scanning distance.
✓
Use SVG for print: SVG is a vector format - it scales to any size without pixelation. Download SVG for business cards, product labels, and any print job. Use PNG for digital use, websites, and when the recipient's system can't handle SVG.
✓
Choose the right format for your industry: Using the wrong barcode format causes scanner compatibility issues. EAN-13 is mandatory for international retail. UPC-A is mandatory for US/Canadian retail. CODE128 is the safe default for internal or custom applications.

Frequently Asked Questions - Barcode Generator

What is the most widely used barcode format?

CODE128 is the most versatile and widely-supported 1D barcode format globally. It supports all ASCII characters, has high data density, and is accepted by virtually every barcode scanner. For retail products sold internationally, EAN-13 is the mandatory standard. For North American retail, UPC-A is required.

How do I get a barcode for my product to sell in stores?

For commercial retail products, you need a GS1-registered barcode. This requires purchasing a GS1 Company Prefix, which licenses you to create valid EAN-13 or UPC-A barcodes for your products. Our tool can generate EAN-13 and UPC-A barcodes for testing and prototyping, but for retail sale, you need officially registered codes from GS1.

What is the difference between SVG and PNG output?

SVG is a vector format - it scales to any size without losing quality. It's best for print production, large-format labels, and any use where the barcode will be resized. PNG is a raster format at a fixed resolution - it's best for digital use, web pages, email, and software screenshots.

Can I use colored barcodes?

Yes, but with caution. Barcodes must have sufficient contrast between the bars and background to scan reliably. Black on white is the safest choice. Avoid using red or orange for bars - many laser scanners use a red laser that cannot read red-colored bars. If using color, always scan-test thoroughly before printing.

Are barcodes generated locally or sent to a server?

All barcode generation happens entirely in your browser using the JsBarcode JavaScript library. Your data values are never transmitted to any server. This makes the tool safe for sensitive product data, internal SKUs, and confidential inventory information.

What data can I encode in a CODE128 barcode?

CODE128 can encode any of the 128 ASCII characters - all 26 uppercase and lowercase letters, digits 0–9, and special characters including spaces, punctuation, and control characters. Maximum data length depends on bar width and scanning conditions, but practical maximums are typically 48–80 characters for reliable scanning.

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