How to use
- Choose the barcode type — EAN-13 for retail products, Code 128 for general labels, ITF-14 for cartons, Data Matrix for small parts.
- Enter the data. For EAN and UPC you can leave out the last digit and the check digit is added for you.
- Adjust bar width, height, colors and whether to show the human-readable numbers.
- Download SVG for print or PNG for documents and web pages.
Options explained
- Check digit
- EAN, UPC and ITF-14 end with a check digit calculated from the other digits (GS1 modulo 10). Enter one digit fewer to have it calculated, or the full number to have it verified.
- Bar width
- Width of the narrowest bar. Larger values print more reliably; retail EAN-13 at 100% magnification is about 37 mm wide.
- Bar height
- Height of the bars in millimetres, for linear barcodes only.
- Colors
- Dark bars on a light background scan best. Red bars are invisible to many laser scanners, so avoid them.
Which barcode type to choose
| Use | Type | Data |
|---|---|---|
| Retail products (worldwide) | EAN-13 | 12 digits + check digit |
| Retail products (US/Canada) | UPC-A | 11 digits + check digit |
| Small packages | EAN-8 / UPC-E | 7 digits + check digit |
| Shipping cartons | ITF-14 | 13 digits + check digit |
| Labels, assets, inventory | Code 128 | Any ASCII text |
| Legacy industrial systems | Code 39 | A–Z, 0–9 and - . $ / + % space |
| Small parts, pharma | Data Matrix | Text or binary |
| Boarding passes, IDs | PDF417 | Text or binary |
Examples
Entering 590123412345 as EAN-13 produces the barcode for 5901234123457 — the final 7 is the check digit, added automatically.
Entering 5901234123450 reports a wrong check digit and tells you the last digit should be 7, catching a typo before the labels are printed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make my own EAN-13 barcode for products?
You can generate the image here, but a barcode that works in shops needs a number from GS1. Retailers look products up by the company prefix GS1 assigns to you; made-up numbers may clash with real products.
What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
UPC-A is the 12-digit code used mainly in the US and Canada; EAN-13 is the 13-digit international version. A UPC-A number is an EAN-13 with a leading zero, and scanners worldwide read both.
Which barcode should I use for internal labels or inventory?
Code 128. It encodes letters, digits and symbols compactly and every scanner reads it. Code 39 is older and wider but still common in some industries.
When should I use a 2D barcode like Data Matrix?
When space is tight or you need more data. Data Matrix is used on electronic parts and medical products; PDF417 on boarding passes and ID cards; Aztec on train tickets.
Why is the SVG better for printing?
Bars must have exact widths. A vector SVG keeps edges sharp at any size, while an enlarged PNG can blur or distort the bar widths.
Privacy
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