This free barcode generator turns numbers or text into a scannable UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-13, EAN-8, ITF-14, ISBN, Code 128, GS1-128, Code 39, Data Matrix, GS1 DataMatrix, QR Code or PDF417 barcode and lets you download it as PNG or SVG, with no sign-up and no watermark. The check digit is added for you on UPC, EAN, ITF-14 and ISBN, and the barcode is drawn in your browser, so your data stays on your device.
How to make a barcode
- Choose the barcode type. UPC-A and EAN-13 are for retail products, Code 128 is for shipping and inventory labels, and Data Matrix is for small parts.
- Type your data. For UPC-A, EAN-13, EAN-8 and ITF-14 you can leave out the last digit; the generator adds the check digit.
- Set the bar height, size and colors, then download the PNG or SVG file or print the barcode.
What is a barcode generator?
A barcode generator is a tool that converts data, such as a product number, a SKU or a link, into a barcode image that a scanner can read. Each barcode type, called a symbology, has its own rules for which characters it accepts and how the bars are drawn.
Barcodes come in two families. 1D (linear) barcodes, such as UPC-A and Code 128, store data in one row of bars and spaces. 2D barcodes, such as Data Matrix and QR Code, store data in a grid of square cells, so they hold far more data in a smaller area.
Which barcode type do you need?
Pick the type by where the barcode will be scanned. A retail checkout reads UPC and EAN; a warehouse scanner usually reads Code 128; a 2D scanner or phone app reads Data Matrix and QR Code.
| Type | Accepts | Length | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPC-A | Digits | 11 digits + check digit | Retail products in the United States and Canada |
| UPC-E | Digits | 7 digits + check digit | Very small retail packs |
| EAN-13 | Digits | 12 digits + check digit | Retail products in most other countries |
| EAN-8 | Digits | 7 digits + check digit | Small retail packs |
| ITF-14 | Digits | 13 digits + check digit | Cartons and cases of products |
| ISBN | Digits (978 or 979) | ISBN-13 or ISBN-10 | Book covers |
| GS1-128 | GS1 application identifiers | Up to 90 characters here | Shipping and case labels with batch or date |
| Code 128 | Letters, digits, symbols | Up to 80 characters here | Shipping labels, SKUs, asset tags |
| Code 39 | A to Z, 0 to 9, 7 symbols | Up to 40 characters here | Older industrial and ID systems |
| Data Matrix | Any text | Up to 1,000 characters here | Electronic parts, small items |
| GS1 DataMatrix | GS1 application identifiers | Up to 200 characters here | Medical devices, pharmaceuticals |
| QR Code | Any text or link | Up to 1,000 characters here | Links, menus, posters |
| PDF417 | Any text | Up to 800 characters here | ID cards, boarding passes, shipping documents |
For one type in depth, use the UPC barcode generator, the Code 128 generator or the Data Matrix generator.
Features
- Thirteen barcode types: UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-13, EAN-8, ITF-14, ISBN, Code 128, GS1-128, Code 39, Data Matrix, GS1 DataMatrix, QR Code and PDF417.
- GS1 check digit added or checked for UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-13, EAN-8, ITF-14 and ISBN.
- PNG download for documents and web pages, SVG download for sharp printing at any size.
- Bar height, size, text under the bars, bar color and background color.
- Print button for a quick paper copy.
- Free, with no account, no email and no watermark.
- Exact print size: GS1 magnification from 80% to 200% for UPC and EAN, or a width in millimetres, at 203, 300 or 600 DPI.
- QR code designer with colors, rounded dots, a logo and a frame on the QR code generator page.
- Recent barcodes saved in your browser, so you can open the last 20 again.
- Free barcode scanner to test a printed barcode with your phone camera.
PNG or SVG: which file should you download?
SVG is a vector file: it describes the bars as shapes, so it stays sharp at any size. Use it for label software, packaging artwork and anything a printer will scale. PNG is a pixel image: it is ready to drop into Word, Excel, a web page or an email, but it blurs if you enlarge it.
Both downloads are free here. Many free generators offer PNG only, or keep SVG for paying users.
How to print barcodes that scan
A barcode scans when its bars are wide enough, its edges are clear and it has blank space around it. GS1, the organisation behind UPC and EAN, allows UPC and EAN barcodes to be printed from 80% to 200% of their standard size, which means a narrowest bar of 0.26 mm to 0.66 mm. At 100% a UPC-A or EAN-13 is 37.29 mm wide including its margins and 25.93 mm high.
- Keep the quiet zone, the blank margin at each end. For UPC-A, GS1 asks for at least 9 times the narrowest bar width on each side.
- Print dark bars on a light background. Black on white is the safest choice.
- Do not stretch the image in one direction only. Resize the SVG evenly, or set the size here before you download.
- Scan a test print with the scanner or app that will be used before you print a full run.
For the whole process, from choosing the type to a test print, read the step-by-step barcode guide.
To get the size right, tick Download at an exact print size. For UPC and EAN, pick a magnification and the SVG comes out at the exact GS1 size (37.29 mm wide at 100%). For other types, type the width in millimetres. The PNG is saved with its DPI, so Word and label software place it at the right size.
Where barcode numbers come from
The generator draws a correct barcode for any number you type, but it does not issue numbers. Retail barcodes (UPC and EAN) carry a GTIN, a product number that starts with a company prefix licensed from GS1. In the United States that is GS1 US. Internal barcodes, such as Code 128 labels for your own shelves, can use any numbering you choose.
To work out or confirm the last digit of a GTIN, use the check digit calculator.
Is it private?
Yes. The barcode is drawn by code running in your browser. The data you type is not sent to our server, and nothing is saved after you close the page.
Tips for barcodes that scan
- Choose the type your scanner or retailer expects before you design the label.
- Keep the text under the bars turned on for retail and shipping labels, so a person can type the number if a scan fails.
- Use SVG when the barcode goes into print artwork.
- Leave the margins in the downloaded file; they are the quiet zone.
- Keep one master list of the numbers you encode, so no two products share a barcode.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this barcode generator free?
Yes. Every barcode type and every download is free, with no account, no email and no watermark.
Can I make up my own barcode numbers?
Yes, for internal use such as stock bins, asset tags and event tickets. For products sold in stores, retailers expect a UPC or EAN number licensed from GS1.
Can I make many barcodes at once?
Yes. The bulk barcode generator makes up to 500 barcodes from a list and downloads them in one ZIP file.
Can I use these barcodes on Amazon?
Yes, if the number is yours. Amazon asks for UPC or EAN numbers registered with GS1 to the brand on the product, and some products can apply for a GTIN exemption in Seller Central instead.
What is the difference between 1D and 2D barcodes?
A 1D barcode stores data in one row of bars. A 2D barcode, such as Data Matrix or QR Code, stores data in a grid of cells and holds much more data.