Free barcode generator

How to use the free barcode generator

1. Pick a format. Choose Code 128, EAN-13, UPC-A or Code 39. If you are not sure, read the table below.
2. Type your text or number. The barcode redraws as you type. If the format cannot hold what you typed, a message tells you what to change.
3. Set the look. Choose a short, medium or tall bar height. Show or hide the readable text under the bars.
4. Download. Use SVG for print, because it stays sharp at any size. Use PNG for documents, spreadsheets and web pages.

Everything happens on your device. Nothing you type is uploaded.

Which barcode format should you use?

Format	What it holds	Length	Common use
Code 128	Letters, digits and symbols	Any	Shipping labels, stock, asset tags
EAN-13	Digits only	13 digits	Retail products worldwide
UPC-A	Digits only	12 digits	Retail products in the US and Canada
Code 39	Capitals, digits and 7 symbols	Any	ID badges, older scanner systems

• Code 128 is the best choice for your own labels. It handles upper and lower case, digits and punctuation, and it is compact.
• EAN-13 and UPC-A are the barcodes on products in shops. Use them only with a number that belongs to your product. This tool works as a UPC barcode generator for a number you already have.
• Code 39 is older and wider. Pick it when a scanner or a system you work with asks for it.

Retail numbers come from GS1

The generator draws the bars. It does not assign numbers. A UPC or EAN that will be scanned at a shop checkout or listed on a marketplace must be issued by GS1, the body that manages these numbers, so that it is unique to your company and product. For internal use, such as stock rooms, equipment and event tickets, you can encode any number you like.

How the check digit works

The last digit of an EAN-13 or UPC-A is a check digit. A scanner recalculates it on every read and rejects the scan if it does not match. Type the number without it and the generator adds it. Type the full number and the generator checks it for you.

Worked example: EAN-13

Take the first 12 digits 400638133393.

• Add the digits in odd positions (1st, 3rd, 5th and so on): 4 + 0 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 9 = 20.
• Add the digits in even positions: 0 + 6 + 8 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 23. Multiply by 3: 69.
• Add the two results: 20 + 69 = 89.
• The check digit is what takes you to the next multiple of 10: 90 − 89 = 1.

The full number is 4006381333931. UPC-A works the same way with the weights swapped: the odd positions are multiplied by 3. For 03600029145 that gives 14 × 3 + 16 = 58, so the check digit is 2 and the full number is 036000291452.

Code 128 has its own checksum built into the bars, so you never type it. Code 39 has none by default.

Tips for barcodes that scan first time

• Keep the white margin. The blank space on each side is called the quiet zone. Scanners need it. Do not crop it or place text inside it.
• Use dark bars on a light background. Black on white is safest. If you want brand colors, check the contrast with the hex color picker first. Avoid red bars, because many scanners use red light and cannot see them.
• Do not stretch it sideways. Resize the barcode in proportion. Changing the width alone changes the bar widths.
• Test before you print a batch. Print one label and scan it with the scanner or phone app you will use.

Making price labels for a sale? Work out the new price with the discount calculator. More tools are on the free online tools page.

How this barcode generator was checked

Built by Rasel Hakkani, WordPress developer at Swift Web Dev. Every format was drawn and then read back with barcode decoding software, and the check digits were verified against known EAN-13 and UPC-A codes. It has not been tested with every physical scanner, so print one and scan it before a large print run.

Sources

• GS1: Barcode standards
• GS1: Get barcodes (how retail numbers are issued)

Last checked: October 2026. Found a wrong answer? Tell us and we will fix it.