Barcode Generator

Barcode Generator — Create 1D and 2D Barcodes for Any Purpose

Barcodes encode data in a machine-readable visual format. The scanner reads the pattern — either a series of bars and spaces (1D) or a grid of dots (2D) — and translates it back to the original data. From product labels and inventory management to library books and event tickets, barcodes are the most widely used automatic identification technology. This generator creates the most common barcode formats so you can create and download barcodes without special software.

Barcode formats explained

Code 128: The most versatile 1D barcode. Can encode the full ASCII character set including letters, numbers, and symbols. Widely used in shipping labels, inventory systems, and general-purpose product identification. If you're not sure which 1D format to use, Code 128 is the safest default.

EAN-13 and EAN-8: The standard retail product barcode you see on packaged goods in supermarkets. EAN-13 is the 13-digit international standard; EAN-8 is a shorter version for small packages. The first digits identify the country of origin — Indian products typically start with 890. These formats require a specific number of digits and include a check digit calculated from the others.

UPC-A: The American retail standard — 12 digits, similar to EAN-13 but without the leading country code digit. Required for products sold in US retail chains. If you're exporting to North America, UPC-A is what you need.

Code 39: An older 1D format that encodes uppercase letters, digits, and a handful of symbols. Simpler than Code 128 but only handles uppercase and is less space-efficient. Still used in some industrial, automotive, and government contexts.

ITF-14: Used for shipping cartons and outer packaging — the "box of 24 units" level. It's a 14-digit format that encodes the product's EAN-13 with an additional packaging indicator digit. Required by many retailers and distributors for outer case scanning.

QR Code: The 2D matrix barcode that became ubiquitous via UPI payments and COVID check-ins. Can encode URLs, text, contact info, and more. The main advantage over 1D is capacity — a QR code can hold thousands of characters. For generating QR codes specifically, this site also has a dedicated QR Code Generator with more customisation options.

Common use cases

Product labelling for small businesses: If you make or sell physical products — food items, handmade goods, manufactured parts — you need barcodes for inventory tracking and point-of-sale scanning. Generate barcodes here and print them on label sheets.

Inventory management: Assign a unique barcode to each product, bin location, or asset. Print the barcodes on labels and scan them with a barcode scanner connected to your inventory system.

Library books and assets: Libraries, offices, and schools use barcodes on books, equipment, and assets for check-in/check-out tracking. Code 128 or Code 39 barcodes work well for this.

Event and ticket management: Print barcodes on event tickets or admission passes. The barcode encodes a ticket ID that can be scanned at entry to verify validity.

Supply chain and shipping: Create shipping labels with Code 128 barcodes encoding tracking numbers and delivery information. For shipments to organised retail, ITF-14 on outer cartons may be required.

Warehouse and manufacturing: Label bins, shelves, work-in-progress items, and finished goods. Scan to update stock quantities and locations without manual data entry.

How to use it

Select your barcode format, enter the data to encode, and the barcode generates instantly. Download as PNG or SVG. PNG is suitable for printing on standard label printers and inkjet/laser printers. SVG scales without pixelation — better for large-format printing or when you want to embed the barcode in a design file.

Tips

Always test-scan your generated barcode before printing in bulk. Scan the digital version on screen first, then print a test label and scan the printed version. Low-quality printing, small label sizes, and low-resolution output can produce barcodes that scan unreliably. If scanning fails, increase the resolution or print size, or increase the barcode's quiet zone (the blank margins around the code).

For EAN-13 retail barcodes, you need a GS1 company prefix to generate valid barcodes for retail sale. Barcodes generated here with random numbers are fine for internal use and testing but won't be universally unique for retail distribution — you'd need to register with GS1 India for official retail use.

Limitations

This generator creates static barcodes. The data encoded at generation time is fixed — if you need to update what a barcode links to (like a URL), you need to generate a new barcode. Dynamic barcodes that can be redirected require a paid barcode management platform.

For official retail EAN barcodes used in organised retail, supermarkets, or for export, you need to register with GS1 (Global Standards 1) and obtain a licensed company prefix. Barcodes generated here are suitable for internal inventory and testing but not for official retail product registration.