Barcode Types Explained: EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 128 and More

Use EAN-13 (worldwide) or UPC-A (US and Canada) for products sold in shops, Code 128 for shipping labels, stock and internal use, ITF-14 for outer cartons, and Code 39 for ID badges and some industries. Retail barcodes need numbers registered with GS1; internal codes can be anything you like. The Barcode Generator makes all of them as PNG or SVG.

What are the main barcode types?

Type	What it holds	Typical use
EAN-13	13 digits	Retail products worldwide
UPC-A	12 digits	Retail products in the US and Canada
EAN-8	8 digits	Small packages where EAN-13 won't fit
Code 128	Letters, numbers, symbols	Shipping, logistics, stock, internal labels
Code 39	A–Z, 0–9, space, - . $ / + %	ID cards, badges, automotive and defence
ITF-14	14 digits	Shipping cartons and cases
Codabar	0–9 and - $ : / . +	Libraries, blood banks, older systems

How do I make a barcode?

1. Open the Barcode Generator.
2. Choose the barcode type. Code 128 is selected by default.
3. Type the value. The barcode updates as you type, and you'll see a plain message if the value doesn't fit the type (for example letters in EAN-13).
4. Adjust bar width, height, colours and whether the number shows under the bars.
5. Download PNG (rendered at 3× for sharp printing) or SVG (for print designers).

Do I need GS1 numbers for EAN and UPC?

To sell through retailers and marketplaces, yes in most cases. GS1 is the organisation that issues company prefixes so every product number in the world is unique. You buy a membership or a set of numbers, then assign one to each product variant (size, colour, pack). The barcode image itself can be made with any generator, including this one.

Buying cheap "resold" barcodes from third parties can cause problems: big retailers check that the company prefix belongs to you.

What is a check digit and how is it calculated?

EAN and UPC codes end with a check digit that lets scanners detect mistakes. For EAN-13:

1. Take the first 12 digits.
2. Multiply digits in odd positions by 1 and even positions by 3.
3. Add them up.
4. The check digit is what you add to reach the next multiple of 10.

You don't need to do this by hand: type 12 digits for EAN-13 (or 11 for UPC-A) and the generator calculates the last digit.

Which barcode should I use for my business?

• Selling in shops or on big marketplaces: EAN-13 or UPC-A with GS1 numbers.
• Warehouse locations, SKUs, asset tags: Code 128.
• Shipping boxes of many units: ITF-14 based on the product's GTIN.
• Staff badges or library cards: Code 39 or Code 128.
• Linking to a website or menu: use a QR code instead. See how to make a QR code.

Printing tips so barcodes scan first time

• Print dark bars on a white background; red bars often don't scan because many scanners use red light.
• Leave white space (a quiet zone) on both sides of the bars.
• Don't shrink retail barcodes far below their standard size or squash them.
• Use SVG for professional printing so edges stay crisp.
• Test with a phone barcode app or a real scanner before printing a full batch.

Common barcode mistakes

• Typing letters into a numeric-only type.
• Reusing one EAN for different product sizes or colours.
• Cropping the quiet zone or the human-readable number.
• Printing on curved or shiny surfaces without testing.

Create your barcode

Open the free Barcode Generator, pick a type and download PNG or SVG. It works in your browser with no sign-up or watermark. For invoices to go with your products, try the Invoice Generator, and for a scannable link use the QR Code Generator.