Barcode generator

Free online barcode generator

EAN and UPC for retail, Code 128 for shipping and stock, Data Matrix and PDF417 for small labels and IDs. Leave off the check digit and we calculate it. Download PNG or SVG.

How to create a barcode

The barcode maker above runs in your browser. There is no software to install and no account, and the barcode is drawn on your device.

Pick the type. Choose UPC-A or EAN-13 for retail, Code 128 for stock and shipping, or one of the other formats.
Enter the number or text. For EAN and UPC, leave off the last digit and the check digit is calculated for you.
Check the preview. If the value doesn't fit the format, for example a letter in an EAN, you are told straight away.
Download. Save an SVG for print and label software, or a PNG for documents and websites.

Which barcode should I use?

EAN-13 / UPC-A: retail products. To sell through shops you need numbers assigned by GS1; this tool draws the barcode for the number you have.
EAN-8 / UPC-E: shorter retail codes for small packs where a full barcode will not fit.
Code 128: any letters and numbers. The usual choice for shipping labels, inventory and tickets.
Code 39: capital letters, digits and a few symbols. Common on older warehouse, industrial and ID systems.
ITF: an even number of digits, printed on outer cartons and cases.
Data Matrix: a tiny square code for electronics, parts and healthcare labelling.
PDF417 and Aztec: boarding passes, IDs and tickets.

Each type has its own page with the generator set up for it, such as Code 128, Code 39, ITF-14, Data Matrix and PDF417.

UPC and EAN barcodes for products

A UPC or EAN barcode is only as good as the number inside it. Shops and most marketplaces expect a number licensed from GS1, the body that issues product numbers, so the barcode can be matched to your company. We do not sell or issue those numbers. Once you have one, this product barcode generator draws it correctly, with the check digit worked out for you.

UPC-A is the 12-digit code used mainly in the US and Canada. EAN-13 is the 13-digit code used almost everywhere else. Most scanners read both. Read UPC vs EAN to choose, and how to get a barcode for your product for the GS1 steps. There are dedicated pages for the UPC barcode generator, EAN-13 barcode generator and ISBN barcodes for books.

Barcodes for inventory, SKUs and labels

For your own stock you do not need GS1 numbers. Any SKU, asset tag or bin location works, because only your own system reads it. Code 128 is the best fit: it holds letters and numbers in a compact barcode and every modern scanner reads it. Code 39 suits older equipment.

Print on plain white labels and keep the same format across your stock. The barcode label generator page covers label layouts, and the guide to barcode scanners for inventory explains the hardware side. Need hundreds? Our guide to barcodes in Excel and Google Sheets covers making barcodes from a spreadsheet.

Can you turn a link into a barcode?

You can put a short web address into a Code 128 barcode, but phones will not open it: their cameras read QR codes, not line barcodes. If people should scan with their phones, make a QR code instead with the link to QR code tool. Use a line barcode when a handheld scanner reads it into your own system.

Barcode vs QR code

A line barcode, such as UPC, EAN or Code 128, stores a short number or code in one row of bars. Shop tills, warehouse guns and handheld scanners read it, and it points to a record in a database: a price, a stock level, a parcel. A QR code is a square 2D code that holds far more, such as a full web link, Wi-Fi details or a contact card, and any phone camera can read it.

Use a barcode when a scanner feeds a number into your system. Use a QR code when people should scan with their phones. For QR codes, open the free QR code generator.

2D barcodes: Data Matrix, PDF417 and Aztec

2D barcodes store data in a grid rather than a line, so they hold more in less space. Data Matrix fits on tiny parts and medicine packs. PDF417 is the stacked code on many driving licences and boarding passes. Aztec is common on transport tickets because it reads well from a phone screen. All three are free to make here and download as SVG or PNG.

Download a barcode image for print

SVG is a vector file, so the bars stay sharp at any size and your label or design software can scale it cleanly. PNG is a bar code image for documents, spreadsheets and websites. A few rules keep any barcode readable:

Print black bars on a white or very pale background.
Leave the blank space either side of the bars. Scanners need it to find the start and end.
Scale width and height together. Stretching or squashing the bars breaks the code.
An EAN-13 is about 37 × 26 mm at standard size. Avoid shrinking retail barcodes much below that.

Test your barcode before you print

Open the file in the free online barcode scanner or scan it from your screen with a handheld scanner. Need numbers for a demo or a test system? The generator has a button for valid test numbers in the in-store range, and the random barcode generator and sample barcodes to scan pages have more. Test numbers are never real products, so do not print them on goods for sale.

A free barcode maker, no software needed

There is no barcode software to buy or install. The generator is free online, with no sign-up and no watermark, and works on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iPhone and Android. The barcode is drawn in your browser, so we don't receive the numbers you enter.

Questions

How do I create a barcode for free?

Pick a barcode type above, type your number or text, and download the PNG or SVG. It is free, with no sign-up, no watermark and nothing to install.

Can I make my own barcode for a product?

You can draw the barcode here, but a product sold in shops needs a number licensed from GS1 so it is unique to your company. Enter that number and we draw the barcode for it.

Do I need to buy barcodes from GS1?

For retail products sold through shops and most large marketplaces, yes. For your own stock, assets or internal labels, no: any number or SKU works with Code 128.

What is the difference between UPC and EAN?

UPC-A has 12 digits and is used mainly in the US and Canada. EAN-13 has 13 digits and is used in most other countries. Most shop scanners read both.

What is the difference between a barcode and a QR code?

A barcode stores a short number or code in a single row of bars and is read by a laser or handheld scanner. A QR code is a square 2D code that holds much more, such as a web link, and phone cameras read it.

Can I turn a link into a barcode?

A short link fits in a Code 128 barcode, but phone cameras will not open it. For a link people scan with their phone, make a QR code instead.

Which barcode is best for inventory?

Code 128. It holds letters and numbers, stays compact, and every modern scanner reads it. Use Code 39 if your equipment is older.

What file format is best for printing a barcode?

SVG, because it is a vector file and stays sharp at any size. Use PNG for documents and websites. Scale width and height together and keep the blank margin either side.

How is the check digit calculated?

EAN and UPC use a fixed formula on the other digits. Leave the last digit off and the generator adds the correct one.

How do I check that my barcode scans?

Open the downloaded file in the NeoReader barcode scanner, or scan it from your screen with a handheld scanner before you print a batch.