Professional Barcode Generator
Create industry-standard barcodes for retail, logistics, and inventory. Supports EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 128, and more.
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The Ultimate Online Barcode Generator
In the modern world of commerce and logistics, barcodes are the silent engine that keeps everything moving. From the checkout counter at your local grocery store to the massive warehouses of e-commerce giants, these simple patterns of lines and spaces carry critical information about products, assets, and shipments.
Our Free Online Barcode Generator puts this power in your hands. whether you are a small business owner labeling your first product, an inventory manager tracking assets, or a developer testing scanning equipment, this tool allows you to create industry-standard barcodes instantly. With support for major formats like EAN-13, UPC-A, and Code 128, and features like bulk generation and SVG export, it is the only barcode tool you will ever need.
Need to scan an existing barcode? Try our QR & Barcode Reader.
Why Choose This Tool?
Global Standards
Create valid EAN, UPC, and GS1-compliant codes used worldwide.
Bulk Generation
Generate hundreds of barcodes at once and download them as a ZIP archive.
Vector & Raster
Download crisp PNGs for web or scalable SVGs for professional printing.
100% Private
All generation happens in your browser. No data is ever sent to our servers.
Print Ready
High-contrast, high-DPI output ensures your barcodes scan perfectly every time.
Mobile Friendly
Create and download barcodes directly from your smartphone or tablet.
Supported Barcode Formats Explained
Not sure which barcode type you need? Here is a quick guide to the most common standards:
| Format | Best For | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
EAN-13 | Global Retail Products | The standard for retail products worldwide (excluding N. America). Requires 12 digits + 1 check digit. |
UPC-A | US/Canada Retail | The standard for North American retail. Requires 11 digits + 1 check digit. |
Code 128 | Logistics & Shipping | High-density. Can encode all 128 ASCII characters (letters, numbers, symbols). Used by FedEx, UPS, etc. |
Code 39 | Internal Inventory / Military | Older standard. Less dense than Code 128 but very robust. Can encode alphanumeric characters. |
ITF-14 | Packaging Boxes | Used on cardboard outer cases (cartons) to identify shipping units. Uses thick bars for easy printing on cardboard. |
Pro Tips for Printing Barcodes
- Vector is King: For professional packaging, always download the SVG format. It ensures lines remain perfectly sharp at any size.
- Respect the Quiet Zone: Never crop the white space on the left and right of the barcode. This "Quiet Zone" is essential for the scanner to recognize where the code starts and ends.
- High Contrast: Black on white is the gold standard. Avoid red bars (scanners use red light and "see" red as white). Avoid dark backgrounds.
- Test Before Production: Always print a sample and test it with a real scanner or a smartphone app before printing thousands of labels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Barcode and how does it work?
A barcode is a method of representing data in a visual, machine-readable form. Initially, barcodes represented data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines. Optical scanners (barcode readers) shine a red light onto the black and white pattern. The black bars absorb the light, while the white spaces reflect it back. This pattern of reflection is translated by the scanner into digital data, typically a string of numbers or alphanumeric characters that identify a product.
Which barcode type should I use?
It depends on your use case:
- Retail (Rest of World): Use EAN-13. This is the standard for products sold globally (except US/Canada).
- Retail (USA/Canada): Use UPC-A. This is the standard for North America.
- Logistics & Shipping: Use Code 128. It is highly dense and can encode letters and numbers, widely used for shipping labels.
- Inventory/Assets: Use Code 39 or Code 128. Code 39 is simple but less dense. Code 128 is more efficient.
Is this Barcode Generator free for commercial use?
Yes, our tool is 100% free for both personal and commercial use. You can generate unlimited barcodes for your products, inventory branding, or internal tracking systems. There are no watermarks on the downloaded images.
Can I use these barcodes for Amazon FBA?
For Amazon FBA, you typically need an FNSKU (which is essentially Code 128) or a manufacturer barcode (EAN/UPC). If you are the brand owner, you must buy official GTINs (EAN/UPC) from GS1. Once you have your unique numbers from GS1, you can use our tool to generate the visual barcode images. Do not invent random numbers for Amazon products, as they will likely be rejected.
How do I generate barcodes in bulk?
We offer a 'Bulk Generation' mode. Toggle the switch at the top of the input section to 'Bulk'. Paste your list of codes (one per line) into the text area. The tool will generate a barcode for each line and package them into a single ZIP file for you to download.
What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
EAN-13 (European Article Number) consists of 13 digits and is the global ISO standard used worldwide. UPC-A (Universal Product Code) consists of 12 digits and is primarily used in the United States and Canada. In reality, UPC-A is just a subset of EAN-13 (it's essentially an EAN-13 starting with 0). Most modern scanners read both formats without issue.
Why is my barcode not scanning?
Common reasons include:
- Low Contrast: Barcodes must be dark (preferably black) on a light background (white). Do not print white bars on a dark background.
- Quiet Zone: Ensure there is enough empty white space around the barcode.
- Size: If you shrink the barcode too much, the bars merge. Use our 'Scale' slider to ensure it's large enough.
- Print Quality: Blurry or low-DPI printing can make bars indistinguishable.
Can I customize the barcode colors?
Yes, you can customize the foreground (bars) and background colors. However, for scanability, we strongly recommend keeping a high contrast combination, ideally black bars on a white background. Scanners rely on contrast difference and might fail if you use low-contrast colors like yellow on white or red on black.
Are the downloads Vector or Raster?
We provide two download options: PNG (Raster) and SVG (Vector). For professional printing and packaging design (Adobe Illustrator, InDesign), use the SVG format as it can be scaled infinitely without losing quality. For general office use or web display, PNG is sufficient.
Is my data safe/private?
Completely safe. This tool runs entirely in your browser using client-side technology (JavaScript). Your barcode data is never sent to our servers. The generation process happens locally on your device, ensuring maximum privacy for your inventory data.