Barcode Generator
Create professional barcodes in multiple formats and download instantly for free.
Select barcode format:
Code 128
Alphanumeric, general use
EAN-13
13-digit retail
EAN-8
8-digit compact
UPC-A
12-digit North American
Code 39
Alphanumeric industrial
ITF-14
14-digit shipping
MSI
Numeric inventory
Pharmacode
Pharmaceutical
About Barcode Formats
Barcodes are machine-readable representations of data, typically used in retail, logistics, healthcare and manufacturing. Different formats have different rules about the data they can encode.
Which format should I use?
Code 128 is the most versatile and supports any ASCII character. EAN-13 and UPC-A are required for retail products sold in stores. Code 39 is widely used in industrial and automotive sectors.
Can I use the barcode commercially?
Yes. The barcodes are generated entirely in your browser and are free for any use including commercial applications.
What is the maximum content length?
Code 128 supports up to approximately 80 characters. Other formats like EAN-13 have fixed lengths (13 digits exactly).
What Is a Barcode Generator?
A barcode generator creates machine-readable linear barcodes that encode numbers and text in a pattern of parallel bars and spaces. Barcodes are used worldwide for product identification, inventory management, shipping labels, library systems, event ticketing, and retail point-of-sale systems. Our free Barcode Generator supports all major barcode formats and lets you download the result as PNG or SVG — no software installation required.
Linear barcodes have been in use since the early 1970s. The first product scanned with a barcode at a retail checkout was a pack of Wrigley's chewing gum in 1974. Today, billions of barcodes are scanned every day in supermarkets, warehouses, hospitals, and logistics networks worldwide.
Supported Barcode Formats
- Code 128 — The most versatile alphanumeric barcode. Supports all ASCII characters. Widely used in shipping, logistics, and manufacturing.
- EAN-13 — The standard retail product barcode used outside North America. Encodes a 13-digit number including the country code prefix.
- EAN-8 — A shorter version of EAN-13 for small product packaging where a full EAN-13 won't fit.
- UPC-A — The standard 12-digit retail barcode used in North America. Found on virtually every product sold in US and Canadian stores.
- Code 39 — An older format supporting uppercase letters and digits. Common in automotive, defence, and healthcare industries.
- ITF-14 — Used on shipping cartons and outer packaging. Encodes a 14-digit GTIN for logistics and distribution.
- MSI — Used primarily in retail shelf labels and inventory systems.
How to Generate a Barcode
- Select your barcode format — Choose from the dropdown based on your use case (EAN-13 for retail, Code 128 for logistics, etc.).
- Enter the barcode value — Type the number or text to encode. Each format has specific length and character requirements.
- Adjust display options — Set whether to show the human-readable number below the bars, and choose the bar height and width.
- Preview your barcode — The barcode renders instantly in the preview panel.
- Download as PNG or SVG — PNG is ideal for digital use and printing at standard sizes. SVG is best for large-format printing and vector workflows.
Common Use Cases
- Retail products — Assign EAN-13 or UPC-A barcodes to products you sell in stores or online marketplaces.
- Inventory management — Create Code 128 barcodes for internal item tracking in warehouses and stockrooms.
- Shipping labels — Generate ITF-14 barcodes for outer cartons in your supply chain.
- Event tickets — Embed Code 128 barcodes on printed tickets for scanning at entry points.
- Library systems — Create barcodes for book and media item tracking.
- Healthcare — Use Code 39 or Code 128 for patient wristbands and medication labelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download the barcode as SVG?
Yes. SVG format is available for all barcode types. SVG is resolution-independent and ideal for large-format printing.
Are the barcodes scannable?
Yes. All generated barcodes follow the official format specifications and can be scanned by any standard barcode scanner or smartphone barcode app.
Do I need to register a barcode number?
For official retail barcodes (EAN-13, UPC-A), the number must be registered with GS1, the international barcode standards body. For internal use, you can use any number that follows the format's digit rules.
What is the difference between PNG and SVG download?
PNG is a raster image at a fixed pixel resolution. SVG is a vector format that scales perfectly to any size without loss of quality. Use SVG for print, PNG for web and digital use.
Is there a watermark on downloaded barcodes?
No watermark. Downloaded barcodes are clean, ready-to-use files with no branding added.