Barcode Generator

Picking the right barcode format

Barcode formats are not interchangeable, and choosing wrongly is the usual reason a code will not scan. EAN-13 is the retail standard across most of the world and encodes exactly 13 digits. UPC-A is its 12 digit North American counterpart. Code 128 accepts letters as well as numbers and is the workhorse for internal inventory, shipping and warehouse labels. Code 39 is older and less dense but still common in some industrial systems.

Retail codes have rules you cannot invent around

If you are selling through shops or major online marketplaces, the number itself has to be a genuine GS1 registered code allocated to your business. A barcode you generate with an invented number will scan perfectly and still be rejected, because the number will not resolve to your product in their system. For internal use, stock control, asset tags and your own warehouse, any number you choose is fine.

Making sure it scans

• Print at a decent size. Shrinking a barcode too far is the most common failure.
• Keep clear white space either side of the bars, because scanners need it to find the edges.
• Print in true black on white. Colours and grey tones scan badly.
• Test with a real scanner or phone app before printing a full sheet.