Barcode Generator
Generate professional barcodes instantly. Supports Code 128, EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 39, ITF-14, MSI, Pharmacode, Codabar, and more. Fully customizable with batch mode. 100% client-side — nothing leaves your browser.
Create Your Barcode
Select a barcode type, enter your data, and customize the appearance. The preview updates live.
Batch Barcode Generator
Enter multiple values (one per line) to generate barcodes in bulk. Uses the barcode type selected in the Single Barcode tab (default: Code 128 — supports any text/numbers).
Free Online Barcode Generator
Our free barcode generator lets you create professional, print-ready barcodes directly in your browser. Unlike other tools, everything runs 100% client-side — your data never leaves your device. Whether you need a single barcode for a product label or thousands for your inventory system, this tool supports all major 1D barcode symbologies including Code 128, EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 39, ITF-14, MSI, Pharmacode, Codabar, and CODE93.
Code 128 — The Universal Standard
Code 128 is the most widely used barcode symbology in the world. It encodes all 128 ASCII characters, making it suitable for virtually any application. Code 128 uses three character sets: Set A (uppercase + control characters), Set B (upper and lowercase + common characters), and Set C (numeric pairs for high-density number encoding). The Auto mode intelligently switches between sets for the most compact encoding. Code 128 is mandatory for GS1-128 (formerly UCC/EAN-128) shipping labels, FedEx, UPS, and USPS tracking numbers, and is commonly used in logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing.
EAN-13 & EAN-8 — European Article Numbers
EAN-13 (European Article Number) is the international standard for retail product identification. Every product you see on a store shelf outside North America uses an EAN-13 barcode. It consists of 13 digits: a 2-3 digit country code, a manufacturer code, a product code, and a check digit. EAN-8 is the compact version for small products where an EAN-13 barcode would be too large — items like chewing gum packets, pencils, and cosmetics. Both formats are managed by GS1, the global standards organization for supply chains.
UPC-A & UPC-E — North American Retail
UPC-A (Universal Product Code) is the standard barcode for retail products in the United States and Canada. It encodes 12 digits: a number system digit, a 5-digit manufacturer code, a 5-digit product code, and a check digit. UPC-E is a compressed version of UPC-A that uses only 8 digits, designed for small packages where space is limited. UPC-A is technically a subset of EAN-13 (with a leading zero), so any EAN-13 scanner can read UPC-A barcodes. Over 1 million companies worldwide use UPC codes to identify their products.
Code 39 — Alphanumeric Workhorse
Code 39 (also called Code 3 of 9) is one of the oldest and most widely supported barcode symbologies. It can encode uppercase letters A-Z, digits 0-9, and special characters (-, ., $, /, +, %, space). Code 39 is self-checking, meaning it does not require a check digit for error detection. It is widely used in the automotive industry (AIAG standard), U.S. Department of Defense (MIL-STD-1189), healthcare (HIBC), and non-retail inventory applications. While less compact than Code 128, its simplicity and wide scanner support make it a reliable choice.
ITF-14 — Shipping & Distribution
ITF-14 (Interleaved 2 of 5) is specifically designed for marking shipping containers, cartons, and pallets. It encodes exactly 14 digits using the Interleaved 2 of 5 symbology, where digits are encoded in pairs — one in the bars and one in the spaces. The distinctive bearer bars (thick borders) around ITF-14 barcodes prevent partial scans and improve readability on corrugated cardboard. ITF-14 is part of the GS1 system and is used globally in supply chain logistics. The 14-digit structure includes a packaging indicator, a GS1 company prefix, an item reference, and a check digit.
MSI, Pharmacode, Codabar & CODE93
MSI Plessey is used primarily for inventory control, marking storage containers, and shelf labels in retail. It supports several check digit algorithms: Mod 10, Mod 11, Mod 1010, and Mod 1110. Pharmacode (Pharmaceutical Binary Code) is used exclusively in the pharmaceutical industry to encode numbers from 3 to 131070, with built-in error detection for packaging verification. Codabar is used in libraries (via SISAC), blood banks, and FedEx airbills. It encodes digits 0-9 and six special characters. CODE93 is a higher-density alternative to Code 39 that encodes the full ASCII set, commonly used in Canada Post for encoding supplementary delivery information.
Barcode Best Practices
Choosing the Right Format
For general-purpose use, Code 128 is the best default. For retail products, use UPC-A (US/Canada) or EAN-13 (international). For shipping cartons, use ITF-14. For alphanumeric data in industrial settings, Code 39 is widely supported. Always verify your barcode will be scannable by the intended readers before mass printing.
Size & Print Quality
The minimum bar width should be at least 7.5 mils (0.19mm) for reliable scanning. Print at the highest DPI your printer supports — 300 DPI minimum for thermal printers, 600+ DPI for laser. Always include a quiet zone (white margin) of at least 10x the narrowest bar width on each side. Download as SVG for the best print quality at any size.
Color & Contrast
Dark bars on a light background provides the best scan reliability. Black on white is universally readable. If you need colored barcodes, ensure the bars use a dark, warm color (black, dark blue, dark green) and the background uses a light, cool color (white, light yellow). Never use red bars — most barcode scanners use red laser light, making red bars invisible to the scanner.
Testing & Verification
Always test your barcodes before mass production. Scan with multiple devices from different angles and distances. For critical applications (retail, healthcare), use a barcode verifier that grades print quality per ISO/IEC 15416 standards. Our batch mode lets you generate and review all barcodes before downloading, ensuring consistency across your entire set.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common barcode format?
Code 128 is the most widely used barcode format for general purposes. It supports all 128 ASCII characters, is compact, and is used in shipping, packaging, and inventory management. For retail products, UPC-A (US/Canada) and EAN-13 (international) are the standard formats.
What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
UPC-A is a 12-digit barcode used primarily in the United States and Canada for retail products. EAN-13 is a 13-digit barcode used internationally. UPC-A is actually a subset of EAN-13 — a UPC-A code is equivalent to an EAN-13 code with a leading zero.
Can I generate barcodes in bulk?
Yes! Switch to the Batch Mode tab, enter multiple values (one per line), and click "Generate All." You can download each barcode individually or download the entire batch as a ZIP file containing high-resolution PNG files.
What barcode format should I use for shipping labels?
For shipping containers and cartons, ITF-14 is the standard format. It encodes 14 digits using the Interleaved 2 of 5 symbology with distinctive bearer bars. For general shipping labels, Code 128 is also widely used due to its compact size and high data density.
Is this barcode generator free to use?
Yes, this barcode generator is completely free with no limits on usage. All barcode generation happens in your browser using the JsBarcode library — no data is ever sent to any server. You can download barcodes as high-resolution PNG or scalable SVG files.
What characters can Code 39 encode?
Code 39 can encode uppercase letters A-Z, digits 0-9, and special characters: space, dash (-), period (.), dollar sign ($), forward slash (/), plus (+), and percent (%). It is self-checking and does not require a check digit, making it a popular choice for non-retail applications.