Barcode Generator
Create CODE128, EAN-13 and four other barcode types as PNG or SVG, with check-digit validation.
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Barcode Generator: complete guide
Walk through the steps and examples, or jump straight to the topic you need.
At a glance
- Supported formats
- Six formats: CODE128, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, CODE39 and ITF-14.
- Numeric formats
- EAN-13 takes 13 digits, EAN-8 takes 8, UPC-A takes 12 and ITF-14 takes 14. The last digit is a check digit.
- Free-form formats
- CODE128 takes letters, digits and basic symbols up to 80 characters, and CODE39 takes digits, capital letters and some symbols up to 43 characters.
- Check digit
- If one digit is missing, the tool calculates it for you, and if it is wrong, it suggests the correct value.
- Saving
- PNG is saved at 3 times the on-screen size with a white background, and SVG is saved so it stays sharp when enlarged.
- Where it runs
- The barcode is drawn in this browser. The value you enter is not sent to a server.
How to use Barcode Generator
Choose a format for your purpose
Choose EAN-13 for retail products and UPC-A for North America. For internal use only, such as in-house inventory numbers or asset management, CODE128, which has no length limit, is convenient. Changing the format clears your input, so it is best to decide first.
Enter the value and check the check digit
Numeric formats have a fixed number of digits. If you only know the leading digits, enter just those. The tool calculates the remaining digit and lets you fill it in with one click. Values with a wrong check digit cannot be read by scanners, so they are blocked in advance.
Set the bar height and whether to show the value
Choose a low height for a narrow label and a tall one for reading from far away. Showing the value under the bars lets a person type it in by hand when a scanner cannot read it.
Save it and check with a real scanner
If you will print it, SVG is the safe choice because it does not blur when enlarged. If you will show it on screen or put it in a document, use PNG. Before you stick it on anything, the surest check is to read it once with the scanner you will actually use.
What it’s good for
Product barcodes versus internal tracking numbers
Barcodes on retail products, such as EAN-13, have a fixed number of digits and a check digit rule. If you are actually selling the product, you need to obtain an internationally standardized product identification code and use that number. For internal use only, such as in-house inventory or asset numbers, CODE128, which has no length limit, is convenient.
Filling in the check digit automatically
For numeric formats, the last digit is a check digit calculated from the digits before it. If you only know the leading digits, enter just those. The tool calculates the remaining digit and lets you fill it in with one click. Values with a wrong check digit cannot be read by scanners, so they are blocked in advance.
Worked examples
When you only know the first 12 digits
Format EAN-13
Value 590123412345Suggests 5901234123457 with the check digit addedMaking an internal tracking number
Format CODE128
Value UTILPICK-2026A barcode with letters, digits and a hyphenHow to choose a format
Swipe the table sideways to see the rest.
| Format | Choose it when | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| CODE128 | Internal tracking and asset numbers | Only letters, digits and symbols work. Korean characters cannot be entered. |
| EAN-13 | Retail products | You must use an officially issued product identification code. |
| ITF-14 | Carton-level logistics labels | Used on bundled packaging rather than individual items. |
When the result isn’t what you expected
It will not scan after printing
If you crop off the white margins to the left and right of the bars, it will not be recognized. Print it with the margins left in place and at a large enough size. Ink bleed or faint bars also make it unreadable, so saving as SVG for printing is the safer choice.
I entered a value but no barcode appears
Check the message under the input box. Either the number of digits does not match or a character that is not allowed was entered. Once you meet the conditions, the barcode appears right away.
I want to enter Korean text
These formats cannot hold Korean characters. If you need to encode Korean text or a long sentence, use the QR code generator.
Key terms
- Check digit
- The last digit, calculated from the digits before it and appended. It is used to tell whether something was misread.
- Quiet zone
- The white space left to the left and right of the bars. Scanners need it to find where the barcode starts and ends.
- Product identification code
- A unique number assigned to each retail product. You obtain it through an issuing body.
Barcode Generator FAQ
Can I use the barcodes I make commercially?
You can use the image itself freely. However, products that are distributed through retail must use an officially issued product identification code. A number you make up can collide with another product's.
It will not scan after printing.
If you crop off the white margins to the left and right of the bars, it will not be recognized. Print it with the margins left in place and at a large enough size. Saving as SVG, which stays sharp when enlarged, is the safer choice for printing.
Can I make QR codes too?
This tool makes one-dimensional barcodes made of bars. For QR codes, use the QR code generator.
Can I put any number on a product?
You can make the image, but it cannot be used in real distribution. A number you make up can collide with another product's, so use an officially issued code.
Can I make several at once?
One at a time. The barcode is redrawn as soon as you change the value, so save them one by one.
Which format is read most widely?
CODE39 and CODE128 are widely read, including by older equipment. Whether a code is actually recognized depends on the settings of the scanner you will use, so check it yourself.