Quick answer: choose the barcode type, type your number or text, and the barcode appears at once with any check digit added. Under “Customize design” set the bar width and height; then download PNG, SVG or a vector PDF, or paste a list to make many barcodes at once. For detailed help on a type, open its own generator page below.
Barcode generators by type
Each type has its own page with a guide, the exact rules for its numbers and extra options such as add-ons, AI builders or bearer bars.
Retail and books
Logistics and warehouses
Industrial and specialist
2D codes
Postal
Read barcodes
Which barcode do I need?
| You want to… | Use |
|---|---|
| Sell a product in shops or on Amazon | EAN-13 (or UPC-A in North America) with a GTIN from GS1 |
| Publish a book or magazine | ISBN / ISSN barcode |
| Label stock, assets or locations in your own business | Code 128 – any text, compact |
| Ship cartons and pallets to retailers | ITF-14 on cartons, GS1-128 SSCC on pallets |
| Put batch and expiry on a product | GS1-128, DataBar Expanded or GS1 DataMatrix |
| Mark a tiny part or medicine pack | Data Matrix |
| Let customers open a link with a phone | QR Code |
| Store a lot of data on a card | PDF417 |
How to create a barcode online
- Choose the barcode type. Pick from the list. Not sure? Use the table below: EAN-13 or UPC-A for shop products, Code 128 for internal labels, GS1-128 for pallets, Data Matrix or QR for 2D.
- Enter your data. The hint under the field explains the format. Check digits are calculated for you.
- Adjust size and colours. Set the bar width (X) and height in millimetres. Keep dark bars on a light background.
- Download or create in bulk. Download PNG, SVG, PDF or JPG, or paste one value per line for a ZIP or a printable label sheet.
Making barcodes that scan first time
- Contrast: black or dark blue bars on white. Scanners use red light, so red, orange or yellow bars look like empty space to them.
- Quiet zone: leave white space on both sides of a linear barcode – usually 10 times the narrowest bar. The Margin slider adds it to the file and warns you if it is too small.
- Size: the size line under the preview shows the real printed size. For thermal printers choose a bar width that is a whole number of printer dots (0.125 mm at 203 dpi, 0.085 mm at 300 dpi).
- Print at 100 %: PDF and SVG files carry their real size; PNG files store their dpi, so Word and most label software place them at the right size.
- Test: every barcode here is read back by a decoder; for types phones cannot read, try a label with your own scanner before printing in volume.
Do I need to register my barcode numbers?
The barcode image is free – what may need registering is the number inside it. Retail product numbers (EAN, UPC, ITF-14, DataBar, GS1-128 GTINs) must come from GS1 if the products are sold through shops or marketplaces. Books need an ISBN from your national ISBN agency. For anything used only inside your own business – asset tags, shelf locations, membership cards – you can choose any numbers you like.
Frequently asked questions
Is this barcode generator really free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit. The barcodes are created in your browser.
Can I use the barcodes commercially?
Yes. The images you create are yours. For retail products make sure the number itself is licensed to you by GS1.
Which file format is best for printing?
SVG or PDF – both are vector files that stay sharp at any size. Use PNG at 300–600 dpi for office and label printers.
How do I make many barcodes at once?
Open “Make many barcodes at once”, paste one value per line (up to 1,000) and download a ZIP of images or a printable PDF label sheet.
Can I make a QR code here?
QR Codes have their own generator with logos, colours and Wi-Fi or contact templates. Choose QR Code in the list above or open the QR Code Generator.
Why does the tool say my barcode could not be scan-tested?
Some types, such as postal 4-state codes, MSI or Pharmacode, are read only by special scanners. They are still drawn correctly – test them with the scanner that will read them.