How to
How to make a barcode
- Pick the barcode type. Retail products use UPC-A in the US and Canada and EAN-13 elsewhere. For your own labels, stock and assets, use Code 128.
- Type the value. For UPC, EAN and ITF-14 enter the digits without the last one: the check digit is worked out and added for you. If you enter it yourself, it is checked.
- Set the size. The bar width is in whole pixels per module, the thinnest bar, so no bar gets blurred into its neighbor.
- Download. SVG stays sharp at any size and suits print shops and label software. PNG at 3x suits documents and label printers.
- Test it. Scan the printed code with a phone scanner app before you print a batch.
Which barcode type do I need?
| Type | Holds | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Code 128 | Any plain ASCII text | Shipping labels, inventory, asset tags |
| UPC-A | 12 digits | Retail products in the US and Canada |
| EAN-13 | 13 digits | Retail products in most other countries, books (ISBN) |
| EAN-8 | 8 digits | Small retail packs |
| Code 39 | A to Z, 0 to 9, a few symbols | ID badges, manufacturing, older systems |
| ITF-14 | 14 digits | Outer cartons and cases of retail goods |
| QR code | Text and links, up to a few thousand characters | Links on posters, menus and packaging |
Where do UPC and EAN numbers come from?
A generator draws the bars for any number, but the number on a retail product has to be yours. UPC and EAN numbers are GTINs, licensed to companies by GS1, and a store or marketplace checks them against the GS1 registry. For internal use, such as shelf labels or tracking your own stock, Code 128 with your own codes needs no registration.
The check digit
The last digit of a UPC, EAN or ITF-14 code is a check digit. Starting from the rightmost data digit, multiply the digits alternately by 3 and 1, add them up, and take the amount needed to reach the next multiple of 10. For 03600029145 that is 2, so the full UPC is 036000291452. A scanner does the same sum and rejects the code if the result does not match.
Tip
Leave the white space on both sides of the bars. That quiet zone, 10 modules or more depending on the type, is part of the barcode, and cropping it is the most common reason a printed code will not scan.
Questions people ask
Can I generate barcodes for free?
Yes. This generator is free, has no sign-up and adds no watermark. Pick the barcode type, type the value, and download a PNG or an SVG. Everything is drawn in your browser, so the numbers you enter are not sent anywhere. What costs money is the number itself for retail products: UPC and EAN codes come from GS1.
How to create a simple barcode?
Choose Code 128, type the text you want the scanner to read, such as a part number, and download the image. Code 128 accepts letters, digits and symbols and needs no check digit from you. Print it at a size where each thin bar is at least a few printer dots wide, and test it with a phone scanner app before printing a batch.
Is there a free barcode generator in Excel?
Excel has no built-in barcode tool. The free route is a barcode font: type the value in a cell and switch the font to a Code 39 font, adding an asterisk before and after the value. Code 128 fonts also need a calculated checksum, which is why many people use an add-in or make the images in a generator and insert them.
How do I generate a barcode in Word?
Recent versions of Word for Windows have a DISPLAYBARCODE field. Press Ctrl+F9 to insert field braces, type DISPLAYBARCODE followed by the value in quotes and a type such as CODE128, QR or EAN13, then press F9 to show it. Or download a PNG or SVG here and insert it with Insert, Pictures.
Does Google have a barcode generator?
Google has no barcode generator of its own. Google Fonts does publish the free Libre Barcode fonts, which can be used in Google Docs and Sheets: a Code 39 barcode only needs the value wrapped in asterisks. For EAN, UPC or ITF-14 with a correct check digit, a generator like this one is simpler.