Free Barcode Generator

How to create a barcode in 3 steps

1. Type the content and choose the barcode type. For EAN-13, UPC-A and ITF-14, enter the number without its last check digit — the generator calculates and adds it, or verifies it if you type the full number.
2. Check the live preview and adjust the bar colour, background and height. Keep strong contrast: dark bars on a light background scan best.
3. Download the PNG or SVG, print it, and test-scan it once with a phone app or scanner before printing in quantity. SVG stays perfectly sharp at any size and is best for professional printing.

About barcodes and the five types

A barcode turns a short code into a pattern of bars that a scanner reads in a fraction of a second. Different jobs use different barcode types (called symbologies), and picking the right one matters: a shop till expects EAN-13 or UPC-A, a warehouse is happy with Code 128, and a shipping carton uses ITF-14.

• Code 128 — the general-purpose workhorse. Encodes letters, numbers and punctuation at almost any length, and stays compact. Best for inventory labels, asset tags, library and ID cards, and internal tracking of any kind.
• Code 39 — the older, simpler standard. Upper-case letters, digits and the symbols - . $ / + % and space only. Very widely supported by older scanners; common for military, automotive and simple asset labels.
• EAN-13 — the retail standard outside North America. Exactly 13 digits: your 12 digits plus a calculated check digit. Product numbers must be registered with GS1 to be used for retail sale (see the FAQ below).
• UPC-A — the retail standard in the USA and Canada. Exactly 12 digits: your 11 digits plus a check digit, also issued through GS1 for retail use.
• ITF-14 — the shipping-carton standard. Exactly 14 digits (13 plus check digit), printed big on boxes so a whole carton can be scanned without opening it.

One honest warning about retail types: this generator produces a structurally correct barcode that any scanner can read, which is all you need for stock rooms, shelves, school and office inventories, event passes and internal labels. But if the barcode will be scanned at a shop till or by an online marketplace, the number itself must be officially yours — registered with GS1 under your company. Inventing a retail number risks printing another company's product code on your goods.

Best uses of this barcode generator

• Inventory and stock-room labels
• Asset tags for school, office and workshop equipment
• Shelf-edge and warehouse location labels
• Library books, ID cards and membership cards
• Shipping carton marking with ITF-14

Whichever type you choose, the scanning rules are the same: print the barcode at a sensible size (at least about 3 cm wide for hand scanners), keep a clear blank margin — the quiet zone — on both sides, and never stretch or squash the image, because that distorts the bar widths the scanner measures. SVG files scale without distortion and are the safest choice for print; PNG at a generous height is fine for screens and office printers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this barcode generator free?

Yes. Loona's barcode generator is completely free with no signup, no watermark and no limit on how many barcodes you create, for personal or commercial use.

Can I use a generated EAN-13 or UPC barcode on products I sell in shops?

The barcode image is structurally correct and will scan, but retail barcodes must be registered: shops and marketplaces require numbers issued by GS1, the official organisation, under your own company prefix. A number you invent here can collide with someone else's product. For inventory, assets, shelves and internal use, generated barcodes are fine; for retail sale, register with GS1 first.

What is a check digit, and do I need to work it out?

EAN-13, UPC-A and ITF-14 end with a check digit calculated from the other digits, so scanners can detect mis-reads. You do not need to calculate it: enter the number without the check digit (12 digits for EAN-13, 11 for UPC-A, 13 for ITF-14) and this generator adds it. If you enter the full number, the generator verifies the check digit and tells you if it is wrong.

Is my information private on this barcode page?

Yes. The barcode is drawn 100% in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing you enter is sent to or stored on any server.

Related QR Code Generators

How it works

This generator uses the JsBarcode library, running entirely in your browser, to translate your content into the exact bar pattern of the chosen standard. For the numbered retail types it first applies the GS1 check-digit rule: reading the digits from the right, alternate digits are multiplied by 3 and by 1, the results are added, and the check digit is whatever makes the total a multiple of ten. That single digit is how a till knows it read your barcode correctly — if one bar is damaged and a digit is mis-read, the sum no longer matches and the scanner beeps for a rescan instead of charging the wrong price.

The method: choose the type → type the content (without the check digit for EAN-13, UPC-A and ITF-14) → check the preview → download the PNG or SVG → print and test-scan.

Worked example

A school librarian wants labels for new books and chooses Code 128 with the accession numbers from her register — LIB-1001, LIB-1002 and so on. She generates each barcode, downloads the SVG so the lines stay sharp, and prints the labels on sticker sheets. For a drinks carton in the school canteen she instead picks ITF-14 and enters the 13 digits printed in the supplier catalogue; the generator adds the check digit, and the storekeeper can now scan the whole unopened carton at delivery.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a barcode and a QR code?

A barcode is one-dimensional: it stores a short code (usually just numbers or a brief ID) that a database then looks up. A QR code is two-dimensional and can store much more — a full link, WiFi password or contact card — and is read by phone cameras. If a scanner gun or till is involved, use a barcode; if a phone camera is involved, a QR code is usually better.

Why did my EAN-13 number get rejected?

Either it contains something other than digits, its length is not 12 or 13 digits, or the 13th digit does not match the calculated check digit. The message under the preview tells you which digit the check digit should be, so you can spot a typing slip.

Can I change the colours of the barcode?

Yes — bar colour and background are above the preview. Scanners read contrast, not colour itself, so dark bars (black, dark blue, dark green) on white or a pale background work best. Avoid red bars: many laser scanners use red light and cannot see them.

PNG or SVG — which should I download?

Choose SVG for anything that will be printed professionally or enlarged, because it scales to any size without getting fuzzy. Choose PNG for documents, spreadsheets, slides and quick office printing.

Can one barcode hold a long message or a web link?

Not well. Barcodes are designed for short codes; a long link makes an extremely dense Code 128 that many scanners struggle with. For links and longer content, use one of our QR code generators instead — that is exactly what QR codes were invented for.