Barcode Generator

What makes a barcode actually scan

A barcode is only useful if every scanner reads it the first time — and most failures come from details that look fine on screen: a wrong check digit on a retail code, bars printed in red (invisible to red-light laser scanners), inverted colors, or a quiet zone cropped off in a label layout. A misprinted check digit is especially costly, because it only shows up after thousands of labels are already on shelves.

This generator validates as you type: EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A and ITF-14 check digits are calculated for you or verified against what you entered, and color choices that scanners struggle with are flagged before you download. Barcodes store data in one dimension, so they suit short identifiers like product numbers and SKUs — for a URL, Wi-Fi login or contact card, a QR Code Generator is the better fit, since a QR code holds far more data and any phone camera can read it. To choose between formats, the guide to UPC, EAN and Code 128 barcodes compares them and explains where real retail numbers come from. If you're only deciding between the two retail formats, UPC or EAN for your product answers it scenario by scenario.

How to generate a barcode

1. 1
   Pick a barcode format

   Choose Code 128 for general labels, EAN-13 or UPC-A for retail products, or one of the other formats from the dropdown.

2. 2
   Enter your data

   Type the number or text to encode. For EAN and UPC codes, the check digit is added automatically — or validated if you enter it yourself.

3. 3
   Customize the look

   Adjust bar width, height, margin, colors and the text below the bars. The tool warns you if a color choice could stop it from scanning.

4. 4
   Download or print

   Download a PNG or a vector SVG, copy the image, or print — one barcode at its exact size, or a full page of copies. Switch to Batch for a sheet of different labels, then print it or save it as a PDF.

Worked example: the EAN-13 check digit

Enter the 12 digits 590123412345 as an EAN-13 and the tool adds the 13th digit automatically. Here's the GS1 mod-10 calculation it runs — digits in odd positions count once, digits in even positions count three times:

Digits:   5  9  0  1  2  3  4  1  2  3  4  5
Weight:   1  3  1  3  1  3  1  3  1  3  1  3

Odd positions:   5 + 0 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 4       = 17
Even positions: (9 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 5) × 3  = 66
Total:           17 + 66                     = 83

Check digit:    (10 − (83 mod 10)) mod 10    = 7
Full EAN-13:    5901234123457

If you type all 13 digits and the last one doesn't match — say 5901234123458 — the tool flags it and tells you the correct digit instead of generating a barcode that scans as the wrong product.

Common use cases

• Printing inventory and asset labels with Code 128 for SKUs, serial numbers and equipment tags.
• Creating retail product barcodes from EAN-13 or UPC-A numbers issued by GS1.
• Marking shipping cartons with ITF-14 codes for warehouses and distributors.
• Making membership cards, library cards and event tickets that a handheld scanner can read.
• Printing a full sheet of different labels in Batch mode for a stock count or warehouse move.
• Creating gift card and loyalty card barcodes with Code 128 for your own cards, then printing them as a batch sheet.
• Generating free UPC-A barcode images from your own product numbers (the numbers themselves are issued by GS1).

Tips and common mistakes

• Use SVG for print work. A vector SVG stays sharp at any size; if your design software needs a PNG, choose the Print (4×) resolution.
• Keep the quiet zone. When placing a barcode in a label or packaging design, leave clear space on both sides; cropping it is one of the most common reasons a code will not scan.
• Test the printed label, not the screen. Scan a real print with the scanner that will be used, since thermal and inkjet printers can spread thin bars.
• Prefer Code 128 for new internal labels. It is more compact than Code 39 and encodes the full ASCII character set. Use the same SKU on your labels and in the line items of the Invoice Generator so stock and billing match. The barcodes guide compares every format in detail.

Frequently asked questions