Barcode Generator
Generate a 1D barcode (CODE128, EAN-13, UPC-A, CODE39, ITF-14 and more) from text, with adjustable width, height and colours.
Tool guide
What this tool does
Barcode Generator renders a 1D barcode from entered text using JsBarcode, supporting CODE128 (and its A/B/C variants), EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, CODE39, ITF-14, MSI, Pharmacode and Codabar formats, with adjustable bar width, height, value-text display and colours, downloadable as PNG or SVG.
Retail products, shipping labels and inventory systems all rely on standard 1D barcode formats, but each format, CODE128, EAN-13, UPC-A and others, has its own specific structure and digit requirements that a generic text-to-image tool won’t produce correctly.
This generator renders a real, scannable barcode in your chosen format from entered text, using the industry-standard JsBarcode library, with full control over bar width, height, whether the human-readable value appears below the bars, and the bar/background colours, downloadable as a PNG for most uses or an SVG for crisp printing.
How to use Barcode Generator
- Enter the Value you want to encode.
- Choose the Format matching your use case (CODE128 for general purpose, EAN-13/UPC-A for retail, etc.).
- Adjust Bar width and Height to fit your layout.
- Toggle Show value text below as needed.
- Download the result as PNG or SVG.
Tips for better results
- CODE128 is the most flexible general-purpose format, encoding any ASCII text; use it when you don’t need to match a specific retail or shipping standard.
- EAN-13 and UPC-A require a specific number of digits (12-13 and 11-12 respectively) and include a built-in checksum digit; an invalid length or checksum will show a clear error rather than a silently wrong barcode.
- For retail products that need to scan at point-of-sale, use the exact format and digit count your retailer or distributor requires, typically EAN-13 internationally or UPC-A in the US.
- Download the SVG version for any printed label, since it stays crisp at any size, unlike the fixed-resolution PNG.
Common use cases
- Generating a product barcode for retail packaging or a price tag.
- Creating shipping or inventory tracking labels with CODE128 or ITF-14.
- Producing a barcode for an internal asset tracking or warehouse system.
- Testing how a given value renders across different barcode formats before committing to one.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing EAN-13 or UPC-A without the correct number of digits for that format, which the generator will reject with an error rather than producing an invalid, unscannable barcode.
- Using the wrong format for the actual use case, such as CODE39 for a retail product that a point-of-sale scanner expects in EAN-13 or UPC-A.
- Printing the barcode too small; shrinking a barcode below a scanner’s minimum readable bar width causes scan failures even though the barcode looks fine visually.
Frequently asked questions
Which format should I use for a retail product?
EAN-13 for most international retail, or UPC-A specifically for US retail; both require an exact digit count and include a checksum digit that a real point-of-sale scanner validates.
What happens if I enter the wrong number of digits for EAN-13 or UPC-A?
The generator shows a clear error rather than producing an invalid barcode, since those formats have a strict required length and checksum structure.
Which format is most flexible for general use?
CODE128, which can encode any ASCII text (letters, numbers and many symbols) without a fixed length requirement, making it the best default when you don’t need to match a specific retail standard.
Should I download PNG or SVG?
SVG for anything being printed, since it stays sharp at any size; PNG is simpler and fine for on-screen or digital-only use.
Feedback & suggestions
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