Free Barcode Generator

Choosing the right barcode type

Type	Format	Common use
Code 128	Any letters, numbers, symbols	Shipping labels, internal inventory, warehouse SKUs
EAN-13	13 digits	Retail products (international standard)
UPC-A	12 digits	Retail products (US/Canada standard)
EAN-8	8 digits	Small retail packaging with limited label space
Code 39	Letters, numbers, limited symbols	Older industrial and inventory systems
ITF-14	14 digits	Shipping cartons and outer packaging

If you're selling through a major retailer or marketplace, they usually require an officially registered EAN or UPC number (obtained through GS1). For internal use — inventory, asset tracking, your own shop — Code 128 works for any value with no registration needed.

Frequently asked questions

Which barcode type should I use for retail products? EAN-13 is the standard for retail products in most of the world; UPC-A is common in the US and Canada. Both require an officially assigned number if the product will be sold through major retailers.

What is Code 128 used for? Code 128 encodes any text or numbers and is widely used for shipping labels, internal inventory tracking, and warehouse SKUs, since it isn't tied to a specific product-numbering authority.

Is this barcode generator free with no limit? Yes — generate and download as many barcodes as you need, with no watermark and no account.

Which file format should I use for printing? SVG is best for printing since it's a vector format that stays sharp at any size; PNG works well for digital use or documents.

How to create a barcode

1. Type the value to encode, such as a product number or short text.
2. Choose the barcode type that matches your use: Code 128, EAN-13, UPC-A, EAN-8, Code 39 or ITF-14.
3. Pick the bar colour and decide whether to show the text below the bars.
4. Download the barcode as PNG for documents and screens, or SVG for sharp printing at any size.

Which barcode type fits your job

Type	Accepts	Typical use
Code 128	Any text and numbers	Shipping labels, inventory, internal tracking.
EAN-13	13 digits	Retail products sold internationally.
UPC-A	12 digits	Retail products in the US and Canada.
EAN-8	8 digits	Small packages with little space.
Code 39	Capital letters, digits and a few symbols	Badges, industrial and government labels.
ITF-14	14 digits	Outer cartons and cases of retail products.

About check digits

Retail barcodes such as EAN-13 and UPC-A end with a check digit calculated from the other digits. Scanners use it to catch misreads. Real products also need a company prefix issued by the official numbering organisation, so a barcode you generate here is fine for internal use, but it does not register a product for sale in shops.

Printing tips for scannable barcodes

• Keep strong contrast: dark bars on a white background scan most reliably.
• Leave a blank margin (the quiet zone) around the code.
• Use SVG when you will resize the barcode, and avoid stretching a PNG.
• Print a test and scan it with a phone or scanner before producing a whole batch.

More questions

Can I use these barcodes on products in shops? Shops require numbers issued through the official product numbering system. For inventory, events or internal labels, any of the generated codes works well.

Why does my EAN-13 value get rejected? EAN-13 needs exactly 13 digits and UPC-A exactly 12 digits. Use Code 128 if your value includes letters.

Should I choose a barcode or a QR code? Barcodes hold short identifiers and are read by simple scanners. For links or longer text, use the QR Code Generator.