Barcode generator

Code 128 encodes any ASCII text and is used for inventory and shipping. UPC-A is the 12-digit retail barcode used mostly in North America, and EAN-13 is its 13-digit international counterpart. Each has a different checksum rule, which this generator applies automatically.

No. Enter the digits you have and the generator computes the missing final check digit for you, or verifies it when you supply a full-length value. You always end up with a valid barcode.

Common causes are too little quiet space around the bars, low contrast between bars and background, or printing at too small a size. Keep the white margin clear, print at 300 dpi or better, and test with a phone camera before going to production.

The graphics are standards-compliant barcodes, so yes, they can be printed on labels and packaging. Confirm your specific retailer requirements, since some programs use proprietary formats or place codes within a mandated layout.

No. Encoding happens entirely in your browser. The value you type is never uploaded, logged, or stored anywhere, and it is discarded the moment you leave the page.

This generator creates UPC-A, EAN-13, and Code 128. UPC-A covers North American retail, EAN-13 is its international 13-digit counterpart, and Code 128 encodes any ASCII text for inventory, shipping, and serial numbers.

Match the format to the retail context: use UPC-A or EAN-13 for products sold in stores, and Code 128 for anything non-retail like serial numbers, logistics labels, or internal identifiers. UPC-A is 12 digits and EAN-13 is 13; Code 128 accepts any characters.

Yes. Export every barcode as a watermark-free PNG or SVG. SVG is vector and stays sharp at any print size, while PNG is ready for documents, emails, and mockups.

For products sold through retailers, you need a valid UPC/EAN number assigned from a GS1 prefix - generating the graphic alone does not make the code sellable. For internal uses like inventory or shipping labels, you can issue your own numbers freely.

A barcode is a machine-readable pattern of bars and spaces that encodes data like a numeric series or a text string. Scanners read the widths of the bars to decode the value in milliseconds, which is far faster and more accurate than manual entry.

1D (one-dimensional) barcodes like UPC-A, EAN-13, and Code 128 store data in a single row of bars and vary in length. 2D barcodes like QR codes pack much more data into a grid of modules and are read by camera-based scanners.

Because they eliminate typing errors, speed up checkout and receiving, and make scanning repeatable. A barcode turns a 13-digit identifier into a one-second scan, which is why they are the standard for retail and logistics worldwide.

Barcodes let staff log items in and out by scanning instead of handwriting values, keeping counts accurate and searchable in real time. Code 128 is a common choice for inventory because it can encode SKU-style text directly.

Download the image, keep the quiet zone clear around the bars, and place it on your label or package at a consistent print size. Verify the result with a phone camera or scanner app before going into full production to confirm readability.

An SKU is your own internal identifier - an alphanumeric code that lives in your system. A barcode is the machine-readable visual representation of an identifier, and Code 128 lets you print your SKU directly as a scannable barcode without extra retail infrastructure.

Ask what the barcode is for: products sold in North American stores need UPC-A, international retail needs EAN-13, and anything else - serial numbers, shipments, parts - can use Code 128. Each format here validates the value and computes the checksum automatically.

Uniqueness comes from the number, not the graphic. For retail, your UPC/EAN company prefix from GS1 guarantees your numbers are globally unique. For internal numbering in Code 128, you simply ensure your own range does not collide with existing systems.

EAN-13 carries a GS1 country-prefix as its first digits, but that reflects where the prefix was assigned, not where the product was made. UPC-A uses a number system digit, not a country code. The checksum digit protects against data-entry misreads rather than carrying country info.

Carriers print tracking and routing information as Code 128 so that automated sortation systems can scan parcels at every checkpoint, in almost any orientation. Barcodes let shipment centers process thousands of packages per hour with near-zero misreads.