Generate free barcodes online in 15 formats, including EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 128, GS1-128, ITF-14 and ISBN. Wrong check digits are caught and fixed, sizes are real millimetres, and you can bulk-create serials, print Avery label sheets and download vector PDF, SVG or PNG.
A professional barcode studio in your browser. Choose from 15 symbologies, from EAN-13 and UPC-A for retail to GS1-128, ITF-14, Code 39 and Pharmacode. The generator validates every value, calculates check digits and offers a one-click fix when a digit is wrong. Barcodes are laid out in real millimetres (X-dimension, bar height, quiet zone), exported as true vector SVG and PDF or as PNG snapped to your printer's dots, and can be bulk-generated from lists, serial ranges or CSV files and printed on Avery or thermal label sheets. Nothing is uploaded.
Most free barcode generators draw a picture and leave the hard parts to you. This one handles them: it validates each value against the rules of its symbology, calculates and repairs check digits, lays the barcode out in real millimetres, and exports it as true vector SVG or PDF at actual size, or as a PNG whose bars line up with your printer's dots so they don't blur or grow uneven. It supports 15 formats, EAN/UPC add-ons, ISBN and ISSN, GS1-128 with correct FNC1 separators, ITF-14 bearer bars, bulk and serial generation, and Avery and thermal label sheets. Everything happens in your browser, so your product codes stay on your device.
Skip used labels on partial sheets, copies per code, test-print outlines
Scan & verify barcodes and QR codes from photos, screenshots or the camera, in any browser
Runs 100% in your browser: product codes are never uploaded
How to use Barcode Generator
1
Pick the barcode type
EAN-13 or UPC-A for retail products, Code 128 for SKUs, shipping and Amazon FNSKU labels, GS1-128 for cases with batch and expiry data, ITF-14 for cartons, ISBN for books, or Code 39, Code 93, Codabar, MSI and Pharmacode for specialised systems.
2
Enter the value
Type or paste your number or text. For EAN, UPC and ITF-14 you can leave off the last digit and the check digit is added; if you enter a wrong one, you'll see the correct digit and a button to fix it.
3
Set the size and text
Choose the bar width (X-dimension) in millimetres and the bar height, the quiet zone, the human-readable text and optional captions such as a product name or price. The preview shows the exact printed size in mm and inches.
4
Download at the right quality
Download SVG or PDF for vector-sharp print at actual size, or PNG at 203 DPI (thermal), 300 DPI (laser) or 600 DPI with the bars snapped to whole printer dots.
5
Make many or print labels
Use Bulk & serials to paste a list, generate sequential numbers or import a CSV, then export a ZIP or a PDF. Label sheets lays them out on Avery or thermal labels, skips used labels and prints at 100% scale.
Common use cases
Create EAN-13 or UPC-A barcodes for retail products using your GS1 company prefix.
Print Amazon FNSKU (Code 128) labels on 2.25 × 1.25 in thermal labels or Avery sheets.
Label warehouse bins, tools and assets with sequential Code 128 serial numbers.
Encode GTIN, batch and expiry date on cases and pallets with GS1-128.
Mark shipping cartons with ITF-14 and a bearer frame.
Add an ISBN barcode with a price add-on to a book cover.
Turn a product spreadsheet into hundreds of barcode images or a print-ready label PDF.
Make library, blood-bank or courier labels with Codabar.
Detailed guide
Which barcode type do I need?
The right symbology depends on who will scan the barcode. Retail checkouts expect EAN or UPC with a registered GTIN; warehouses and shipping use Code 128, GS1-128 and ITF-14; many older industrial and healthcare systems still use Code 39, Codabar or MSI. Use this table to choose:
Barcode
Characters
Length
Typical use
EAN-13
Digits
13 (12 + check digit)
Retail products worldwide
UPC-A
Digits
12 (11 + check digit)
Retail products in the US & Canada
EAN-8 / UPC-E
Digits
8
Small packs with little space
ISBN / ISSN
Digits (as EAN-13)
13
Books / magazines and journals
Code 128
All ASCII
Variable
SKUs, shipping labels, Amazon FNSKU
GS1-128
AIs + data
Up to 48 characters
Cases & pallets: GTIN, batch, expiry, SSCC
ITF-14
Digits
14
Corrugated shipping cartons
Interleaved 2 of 5
Digits
Even count
Warehousing, industrial
Code 39
A–Z, 0–9, - . $ / + % space
Variable
Automotive, defence, ID badges
Code 93
All ASCII
Variable
Denser alternative to Code 39
Codabar
Digits and - $ : / . +
Variable
Libraries, blood banks, airbills
MSI Plessey
Digits
Variable
Shelf labels, inventory
Pharmacode
Number 3–131070
—
Pharmaceutical packaging control
Check digits, and why a wrong one makes a barcode useless
EAN, UPC, ITF-14 and GTINs end in a check digit calculated from the other digits, so a scanner can tell when a digit was misread. If the check digit in the barcode doesn't match, the scanner rejects it and the product can't be sold. The GS1 method: starting from the rightmost digit before the check digit, multiply digits alternately by 3 and 1, add the results, and the check digit is whatever brings the total up to the next multiple of 10. For 590123412345 the weighted sum is 83, so the check digit is 7 and the full EAN-13 is 5901234123457. This generator does that for you, and when you paste a number with the wrong final digit it shows the correct one with a one-click fix, including in bulk lists.
Barcode size: X-dimension, magnification and height
A barcode's size is set by its X-dimension, the width of the narrowest bar. EAN and UPC have a nominal X of 0.33 mm (100% magnification) and GS1 allows 80% to 200%; going below 80% or cutting the bar height (truncation) makes them hard to scan. For Code 128 and Code 39 on labels, 0.25–0.5 mm works for most scanners, and ITF-14 on cartons is usually printed at 0.635–1.016 mm. Set the X-dimension, bar height and quiet zone here and the preview shows the finished size in millimetres and inches.
EAN-13 magnification
X-dimension
Symbol size incl. quiet zones
80% (minimum)
0.264 mm
29.83 × 20.74 mm
100% (nominal)
0.330 mm
37.29 × 25.93 mm
150%
0.495 mm
55.94 × 38.90 mm
200% (maximum)
0.660 mm
74.58 × 51.86 mm
Printing barcode labels that scan
Print at 100% ('Actual size'), never 'Fit to page', or the bars are resized unevenly. Thermal printers print in dots (203 DPI is 0.125 mm per dot, 300 DPI is 0.085 mm), so a bar width that isn't a whole number of dots gets rounded differently from bar to bar. The PNG export snaps the X-dimension to whole dots at the DPI you pick and embeds that DPI in the file. For sheets, the Label sheets tab has Avery 5160, 5161, 5163, 5167, L7160, L7163 and L7651 layouts plus thermal 4×6, 2.25×1.25 and 2×1 inch labels, a custom layout, copies per code and a 'skip used labels' setting for part-used sheets. It warns you if a barcode has to be shrunk so much to fit a label that its bars become too thin. Do a test print on plain paper with outlines turned on and hold it against the label sheet before using real labels.
GS1-128 packs several data fields into one Code 128 barcode, each introduced by an Application Identifier (AI). Type them with the AI in brackets, for example (01)09501101530003(17)271231(10)AB-123. The brackets only appear in the printed text; the generator starts the symbol with the FNC1 character that marks it as GS1 and adds an FNC1 separator after each variable-length field, which is what warehouse systems need to split the data correctly. The GTIN's check digit and date formats are validated too.
AI
Meaning
Format
(00)
SSCC, serial shipping container code
18 digits
(01)
GTIN of the trade item
14 digits
(10)
Batch or lot number
Up to 20 characters
(11)
Production date
YYMMDD
(15)
Best before date
YYMMDD
(17)
Expiry date
YYMMDD
(21)
Serial number
Up to 20 characters
(310n)
Net weight in kg (n = decimals)
6 digits
(37)
Count of trade items
Up to 8 digits
Do you need to buy barcode numbers?
The generator makes the barcode image for free, but the number matters. To sell through retailers or on Amazon with a product GTIN, EAN-13 and UPC-A numbers must come from GS1, which licenses a company prefix and lets you verify ownership; numbers bought from resellers are often rejected by major marketplaces. You don't need GS1 for internal codes: SKUs, asset tags, bin locations, library cards, event tickets and Amazon FNSKU labels (Amazon assigns those) can be encoded in Code 128 or Code 39 freely. Books need an ISBN from your national ISBN agency.
ISBN, ISSN and price add-ons
Book barcodes are EAN-13 barcodes whose number is the ISBN-13 (starting 978 or 979). Enter an ISBN-10 and it is converted to ISBN-13 with a new check digit; the 'ISBN …' line is printed above the bars. Many publishers add a 5-digit add-on to the right with the price: 5 then the US price (51995 = $19.95), or 90000 for no suggested price. Magazines use ISSN barcodes: 977, the first seven digits of the ISSN, an issue code and a check digit, often with a 2-digit add-on for the issue number. Both are supported here.
Privacy: generated in your browser
Validation, rendering, bulk generation, PDF building and scanning all run locally. Product codes, serial ranges and spreadsheets never leave your device, and your last settings are remembered in this browser only.
Frequently asked questions
How do I generate a barcode for my product for free?
Pick the barcode type (EAN-13 or UPC-A for retail products, Code 128 for internal use), enter your number and the barcode appears instantly. Set the size, then download it as SVG, PDF or PNG. It's free, with no sign-up and no watermark.
What barcode format should I use for retail products?
EAN-13 is the global retail standard; UPC-A is used mainly in the US and Canada, and US scanners read both. Use EAN-8 or UPC-E only when the pack is too small. Code 128 suits internal SKUs, shipping and logistics.
Why should I use SVG format for barcodes?
SVG is vector, so bars stay perfectly sharp at any size, and this generator writes it in real millimetres so it imports at the correct size. For print, SVG or PDF are best; if you need PNG, export it at your printer's DPI so the bars align with printer dots.
Can I generate barcodes for Amazon FBA?
Yes. FNSKU labels are Code 128: choose Code 128, enter the FNSKU, add the product name as a caption, and print on Avery 5160 sheets or 2.25 × 1.25 in thermal labels from the Label sheets tab. Amazon lists labels between 1 × 2 in and 2 × 3 in.
Does my barcode data get stored anywhere?
No. Barcodes are generated entirely in your browser. Your product codes and spreadsheets are never uploaded or stored on a server.
How do I print barcodes at the correct size for labels?
Set the bar width (X-dimension) and height in millimetres, pick a label template, and print the PDF at 100% ('Actual size'), not 'Fit to page'. The label tab warns you if a barcode would be shrunk below a scannable bar width.
How do I generate a barcode like Code 128 or EAN-13?
Select the symbology, type the data, and the barcode renders instantly. For EAN-13 you can type 12 digits and the check digit is added automatically.
Can I download the barcode as SVG for printing?
Yes. SVG and PDF are true vector at actual size. PNG and JPG are also available at 203, 300 or 600 DPI.
What is the difference between a barcode and a QR code?
A 1D barcode (EAN, UPC, Code 128) stores a short number or code in bars and is read by laser and camera scanners at checkouts and warehouses. A QR code is 2D, holds much more data such as URLs or WiFi logins, and is made for phone cameras. Use the QR Code Generator for those.
Do I need to buy barcode numbers from GS1?
For products sold in retail stores or on Amazon under a GTIN, yes: EAN/UPC numbers should come from GS1. For internal SKUs, asset tags, inventory and Amazon FNSKU labels you can generate barcodes freely.
Why does my EAN-13 or UPC barcode say it's invalid?
Usually the check digit (the last digit) doesn't match the others, or the number has the wrong length. The generator shows the correct check digit and a button to fix it; for bulk lists there's a 'Fix check digits' button.
Can I create sequential barcodes?
Yes. In Bulk & serials choose 'Serial numbers', set a prefix, start number, count (up to 5,000), step, zero padding and suffix, and export a ZIP, a PDF or label sheets. For EAN/UPC/ITF-14 the check digit is added to every code.
How do I make an ISBN barcode for my book?
Choose ISBN, enter your ISBN-10 or ISBN-13 (hyphens are fine) and optionally a 5-digit price add-on such as 51995 for $19.95 or 90000 for no price. Download the vector PDF or SVG for your cover designer.
What DPI should I use for a thermal label printer?
Match your printer: most Zebra, Rollo and Dymo printers are 203 DPI, some are 300 DPI. The PNG export snaps each bar to whole dots at that resolution, which keeps the bar widths consistent and scannable.
Can barcodes be printed in colour?
Yes, but keep dark bars on a light background with strong contrast. Avoid red, orange or yellow bars: red-laser scanners see them as background. Black, dark blue, dark green and dark brown bars on white are safe.
How do I put an expiry date and batch number in a barcode?
Use GS1-128 and type the Application Identifiers in brackets, for example (01)09501101530003(17)271231(10)LOT42. (17) is the expiry date as YYMMDD and (10) the batch. The generator inserts the required FNC1 separators.
