Generate Barcodes Online
A barcode turns product or document data into a linear code that optical scanners read hundreds of times per second without error — the backbone of inventory and tracking, from checkout counters to warehouses and libraries. This tool generates barcodes in seven common formats: Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, EAN-13, EAN-8, Codabar and ITF-14. Download the result as PNG or vector SVG, adjust bar width and height, and optionally print a human-readable line under the bars.
How to Create a Barcode
- Pick a format: EAN-13 for retail products, Code 128 for general-purpose internal use.
- Enter the content: digits only for EAN formats; letters and digits for Code 128 and Code 39.
- Adjust the look: bar width, height, PNG/SVG format and the label option.
- Generate and test: always verify the downloaded barcode with your own scanner or POS system.
Which Format Should I Choose?
EAN-13: the retail standard
The 13-digit format you see on virtually every supermarket product. Digits only; the last digit is a check digit that catches scanning errors. Enter 12 digits and the tool computes the check digit automatically; enter 13 and it validates them. Its eight-digit sibling, EAN-8, is meant for small packaging.
Code 128: logistics and internal systems
A dense, variable-length format that accepts letters, digits and symbols. The first choice for stock codes, serial numbers, shipping labels and membership or asset cards — anything that never crosses a retail checkout. Code 39 is an older, less dense alternative still required by some industrial systems; Codabar appears in blood banks and libraries; ITF-14 is used on shipping cartons.
EAN-13 vs Code 128
- Content: EAN-13 carries exactly 13 digits; Code 128 carries letters and digits at any practical length.
- Where it is used: EAN-13 is the global standard for retail checkout; Code 128 gives flexibility for internal operations and logistics.
- Number assignment: selling in stores with EAN-13 requires a GS1-assigned number; Code 128 has no such requirement.
The Right Settings for Label Printing
Two visual settings directly determine print quality. Bar width (factor 1–4) multiplies the width of the thinnest bar: factor 2 is usually enough on a desktop laser printer, while low-resolution thermal label printers scan more reliably at 3–4. Height (30–400 pixels) is the scanner's tolerance margin: 80 pixels and above is comfortable for handheld readers, and cartons moving fast on a conveyor call for taller bars. The rule is simple: instead of scaling the barcode down in a design tool, regenerate it here at the target size — the bar ratios stay intact.
Tips and Gotchas
- Use SVG for print: vector output stays sharp at any size and is the safe choice for thermal label printers.
- Regenerate instead of resizing: shrinking a barcode in a design tool can distort bar ratios. Lower the bar width and height here and generate again.
- Enable the readable line: the label under the bars allows manual entry when a scanner fails.
- Leave a quiet zone: scanners cannot detect a code without empty space on both sides; never crop the label right to the bars.
- GS1 for commercial retail: a generated EAN-13 is technically valid, but selling through retail chains requires the number to be backed by a GS1 registration.
Barcode Not Scanning?
- Verify format support: make sure your scanner supports the format (especially less common ones like Codabar and ITF-14) and has it enabled in its settings.
- Simplify the content: in Code 128 the barcode grows with the content; a barcode too wide for a narrow label gets cropped and becomes unreadable.
- Contrast and background: coloured or patterned label backgrounds break scanning; always print barcodes on white.
- Glossy surfaces: reflections on laminated labels can interfere; prefer matte lamination.
Your input is never stored on our servers; the barcode is generated on the fly and returned only to you. Need a square code instead? Use our QR Code Generator. And if you want to take your barcoded product catalogue online, have a look at our e-commerce solutions.