Barcode Generator

Barcode Generator draws the barcodes used on shop products, cartons, stock labels and badges. Pick a type, type the number or text, and the barcode appears straight away. Download a razor-sharp SVG or a PNG at the print resolution you choose.

It covers the retail formats (EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A and UPC-E), Code 128 for any text, GS1-128 for batch numbers and expiry dates, Code 39 for industrial labels, ITF-14 for outer cases, Codabar for libraries and blood banks, MSI for shelf labels, and Pharmacode for medicine packaging lines. For the number-based types it calculates the check digit if you leave it off, and if you type all the digits it checks the last one and tells you the correct digit, so a typo never reaches print.

Every encoder was written for this site from the published symbol tables. The first eight types were scanned back by an independent reader; Codabar, MSI and Pharmacode were checked against published reference patterns. Batch mode takes a pasted list or a CSV file and gives a ZIP, and the label sheet maker lays barcodes out on Avery L7160 or 5160 sheets as a PDF. Nothing is uploaded.

1. Under “Barcode type”, choose the format you need, such as EAN-13 for a retail product or Code 128 for your own text.
2. Type into “Content”, or press “Example” to see the right format. Mistakes are explained below it.
3. Set the bar width and height in millimetres, the quiet zone, colours and whether to show the text.
4. Press “Download SVG” or “Download PNG”. Pick the PNG resolution first: 300 DPI suits most printing.
5. For many barcodes, switch to “Batch (one per line)”, paste a list or press “Open a CSV or text file”, then press “All as SVG (.zip)” or “All as PNG (.zip)”.
6. To print stickers, choose a sheet under “Print on label sheets (PDF)” and press “Download label sheet PDF”.

• Eleven symbologies: EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 128, GS1-128, Code 39, ITF-14, Codabar, MSI and Pharmacode (one-track, 3 to 131070).
• Check digits calculated or verified for EAN, UPC, ITF-14 and the GTIN and SSCC inside GS1-128; optional mod 43 for Code 39 and modulo 16 for Codabar; MSI with Mod 10, Mod 11, Mod 10 + 10 or Mod 11 + 10.
• Code 128 picks the shortest mix of code sets A, B and C automatically, so long runs of digits take half the space.
• Sizes in real units: bar width (X-dimension) and height in millimetres, quiet zone at the standard width or your own.
• SVG with true millimetre dimensions, and PNG at 96 to 1200 DPI with the resolution stored in the file, bar widths rounded to whole pixels for crisp edges.
• Bar and background colours, transparent background, text on or off, ITF-14 bearer bars, and a warning when colours won’t scan.
• Batch mode for up to 500 values, typed or taken from a column of a CSV file, with a preview of each and a single ZIP download.
• Label sheet PDFs with vector bars: Avery L7160 (A4, 21 labels), Avery 5160 (US Letter, 30 labels) or your own grid, with copies, skipped labels and test-print outlines.

• EAN and UPC numbers on products sold in shops must come from GS1, the organisation that issues them. This tool draws the barcode; it can’t give you a registered number.
• Don’t shrink retail barcodes too far: EAN-13 is designed for 0.33 mm bars, and most retailers won’t accept below about 0.26 mm.
• Keep the quiet zone (the blank margin either side) clear: squeezing it is the commonest reason a barcode won’t scan.
• Print a label sheet on plain paper first with “Draw label outlines” ticked and hold it against a real sheet. Printers can shift by a millimetre.
• Dark bars on a light background scan best. Red bars are almost invisible to red-light scanners. EAN-2 and EAN-5 add-ons aren’t supported.