Generate barcodes in multiple formats — Code 128, EAN-13, UPC-A, and more
Generate barcodes in multiple formats including Code 128, EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 39, and ITF-14. Customize height, width, and display options. Download as PNG or SVG. This tool runs entirely in your browser — no data is sent to any server.
Barcodes are machine-readable representations of data using parallel lines of varying widths. They revolutionized retail, logistics, and inventory management by enabling instant product identification. Code 128 handles any ASCII character and is used in shipping labels. EAN-13 is the international retail standard (those numbers under product barcodes). UPC-A is the North American retail standard. Code 39 is common in automotive and defense industries. QR codes handle more data in 2D, but traditional 1D barcodes remain essential for product labeling, library systems, event tickets, and asset tracking. This generator creates print-ready barcodes entirely in your browser — your data stays private and the output can be downloaded as high-resolution PNG or scalable SVG.
For retail products: EAN-13 (international) or UPC-A (North America). For shipping/logistics: Code 128. For internal inventory: Code 39 or Code 128. For general data encoding with error correction: QR codes.
You need a valid GS1 prefix to create legitimate retail barcodes. You can buy GS1 company prefixes from your national GS1 office. Don't use random numbers — they could conflict with existing products.
Print barcodes at minimum 300 DPI. Ensure adequate quiet zone (white space) around the barcode — typically 10x the narrowest bar width. SVG format scales perfectly to any size.
Common issues: insufficient contrast (use black on white), too small size, damaged print quality, or incorrect format for the scanner. Test with multiple scanners before mass printing.
1D barcodes (like Code 128) use parallel lines and encode limited data (usually numbers/text). 2D codes (like QR codes) use patterns of squares and can store much more data including URLs, vCards, and binary data.