EAN-13
The retail standard outside North America. Thirteen digits: prefix, company, product, check digit.
- Data
- 12 digits + check
- Use for
- Products sold in shops
Four steps
How to make a barcode
- Pick the type. Retail packaging outside North America uses EAN-13; North American retail uses UPC-A. For anything internal — shelf labels, asset tags, work orders — use Code 128.
- Type the value. Enter the number without its check digit and the generator adds the right one. Paste a full number and it is verified instead.
- Set the size. The readout under the preview shows the X-dimension and printed width in millimetres, so you can match the symbol to your label before you print.
- Download. SVG keeps exact bar widths at any size. PNG comes out at 4× for crisp screen use.
Seven formats
Which barcode should you use?
EAN-8
The short retail code for packages too small to carry a full EAN-13.
- Data
- 7 digits + check
- Use for
- Small packaging
UPC-A
The twelve-digit North American retail code — an EAN-13 with a leading zero, which is why scanners read both.
- Data
- 11 digits + check
- Use for
- US and Canadian retail
Code 128
Encodes any ASCII text and switches character sets automatically to stay compact.
- Data
- Letters, digits, symbols
- Use for
- Shipping, inventory
Code 39
Older and wider, but readable by practically every scanner ever built.
- Data
- A–Z, 0–9, - . $ / + %
- Use for
- Legacy equipment
ITF-14
The carton code, framed by heavy bearer bars so it survives corrugated cardboard.
- Data
- 13 digits + check
- Use for
- Cases and pallets
QR Code
Two-dimensional and read by any phone camera. Holds links, Wi-Fi details or plain text.
- Data
- Any text
- Use for
- Links on packaging
Reference
Specifications at a glance
| Type | Character set | Length | Check digit | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAN-13 | Digits | 13 | Mod 10, automatic | Retail |
| EAN-8 | Digits | 8 | Mod 10, automatic | Small retail packs |
| UPC-A | Digits | 12 | Mod 10, automatic | North American retail |
| Code 128 | ASCII 0–127 | 1–80 characters | Mod 103, built in | Logistics, inventory |
| Code 39 | A–Z 0–9 - . space $ / + % | 1–43 characters | Optional, not used | Asset and legacy labels |
| ITF-14 | Digits | 14 | Mod 10, automatic | Shipping cartons |
| QR Code | Any text (UTF-8) | up to ~850 characters | Reed–Solomon, built in | Links on packaging |
Before you print
Getting a barcode that actually scans
- Keep the quiet zones. The blank margin on each side is part of the symbol. Every download already includes it — do not crop to the bars.
- Respect the X-dimension. Retail symbols need 0.264 mm or more per module. The preview readout tells you where you stand.
- Print dark on light. Black on white is safest. Red bars are invisible to a red laser scanner.
- Use SVG for print. Scaling a PNG blurs bar edges, the most common reason a home-printed barcode fails.
- Test before the run. Print one, scan it with a phone and with a real scanner, then commit to a thousand labels.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is this barcode generator really free?
Yes. No sign-up, no watermark, no cap on how many you make, and the files are yours to use commercially.
Are my barcode numbers uploaded anywhere?
No. The encoder is JavaScript running on your device. Nothing is sent to a server, and once the page has loaded it keeps working offline.
Can I sell products with a barcode I generate here?
You can print any number you already own. Retail EAN and UPC numbers have to be licensed from GS1 — this tool turns a number into a scannable symbol, it does not assign one to you.
Should I download SVG or PNG?
SVG for anything that gets printed, because it is vector and holds exact bar widths at any size. PNG when a marketplace or document will not take vector files.
What is a check digit?
The final digit of an EAN, UPC or ITF-14 number is derived from the digits before it, so a scanner can catch a misread. Type the number without it and the correct digit is added.
Why is my barcode not scanning?
Usually the quiet zone was cropped, the image was scaled up from a low-resolution PNG, the contrast is too low, or the bars are too narrow for the printer. Re-download as SVG at a larger module width.