ToolHorizon

Barcode Generator

📊 Supported Barcode Formats
All barcode standards available in this tool
FormatData TypeDigitsUsed For
EAN-13Numbers only12 digits + 1 checkRetail products worldwide (most common)
EAN-8Numbers only7 digits + 1 checkSmall product packaging
UPC-ANumbers only11 digits + 1 checkRetail products in North America
UPC-ENumbers only6 digitsSmall packages in North America
Code 128All ASCII charactersVariable lengthShipping, logistics, inventory
Code 39A–Z, 0–9, symbolsVariable lengthManufacturing, automotive, military
ITF-14Numbers only14 digitsCarton/case level packaging
ISBN-13Numbers only13 digitsBooks and publications
MSI PlesseyNumbers onlyVariableWarehouse shelf labels, inventory
PharmacodeNumbers only3–6 digitsPharmaceutical packaging
🚀 How to Use
Generate a print-ready barcode in seconds
1

Select Barcode Type

Choose the barcode format from the dropdown — EAN-13 for retail products, Code 128 for shipping labels, ISBN-13 for books, etc. If unsure, use Code 128 which accepts any text or number.

2

Enter Your Data

Type the number or text to encode. The field shows the required length and character restrictions for your chosen format. Invalid input is flagged instantly with a helpful error message.

3

Customize Settings

Set the barcode width, height, display/hide the human-readable number below the bars, choose bar color (usually black), and background color (usually white).

4

Download Your Barcode

Click Generate to preview. Download as PNG for digital or label printing use, or SVG for scalable professional print use. Print at 300 DPI or higher for best scan reliability.

💡 Use Cases
Common industries and applications for barcodes
🛒

Retail Products

Generate EAN-13 or UPC-A codes for product packaging sold in stores.

📦

Shipping Labels

Use Code 128 for courier labels and tracking numbers on parcels.

📚

Books & Publishing

Generate ISBN-13 barcodes for book covers and library systems.

🏭

Inventory Management

Label assets, tools, and stock items with unique barcodes for tracking.

💊

Pharmaceuticals

Generate Pharmacode or GS1 barcodes for medication packaging compliance.

🎫

Event Tickets

Create Code 39 or Code 128 barcodes for ticket scanning at events.

✨ Pro Tips
📐

Minimum Size for Scanning

EAN-13 barcodes should be at least 31.35mm wide and 22.85mm tall for reliable scanning. Smaller barcodes may fail at point-of-sale scanners. Always check GS1 size guidelines for retail use.

Keep a Quiet Zone

Leave a clear white margin (called a "quiet zone") of at least 3mm on each side of the barcode. Without this white space, scanners may fail to detect where the barcode starts and ends.

🎨

Black on White Only

Always use black bars on a white background for maximum scanner compatibility. Colored barcodes (especially red) may not be read by standard laser scanners which use red light.

Test Before Printing in Bulk

Print one label and test it with a real barcode scanner or a phone scanning app (like Barcode Scanner by ZXing) before running large label print jobs.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a barcode and a QR code? +
Traditional barcodes (like EAN-13, Code 128) are 1-dimensional — they encode data in a series of vertical lines and spaces. QR codes are 2-dimensional — they encode data in a grid of black and white squares. QR codes hold more data, can be scanned from any angle, and have built-in error correction. Barcodes are standard for retail and logistics; QR codes are better for URLs and richer data.
Do I need to register an EAN or UPC barcode number? +
Yes — for retail use, EAN-13 and UPC-A numbers must be officially registered with GS1, the global barcode standards organization. You purchase a company prefix from GS1 and assign product numbers from that prefix. Never use randomly generated EAN numbers for commercial products — they may conflict with another company's registered codes.
Which barcode format should I use for my product? +
For retail products sold in stores: EAN-13 (global) or UPC-A (North America). For shipping and logistics: Code 128. For books: ISBN-13. For internal inventory tracking (not retail): Code 39 or Code 128. For small packages: EAN-8 or UPC-E.
What resolution should I use for printing barcodes? +
Always print barcodes at 300 DPI minimum. 600 DPI is preferred for smaller barcodes. Use SVG format for the sharpest results at any print size — SVG is resolution-independent so it stays perfectly crisp whether printed at business card size or on a banner.
Can I put color in my barcode? +
Technically yes, but practically no for retail use. Laser barcode scanners use red light — red bars on a white background appear invisible to the scanner. For safe scanning, always use black bars on white or very light backgrounds. For decorative purposes only (not scanned commercially), some color combinations work.
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