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Barcode Generator Online Free — Which Format to Use

A barcode is a machine-readable representation of data — typically a product identifier, inventory number, or tracking code — displayed as a series of parallel bars of varying widths. When scanned by a barcode reader or camera, the pattern is decoded back into its original number or text. Barcodes were invented in 1952 and first commercially deployed in the mid-1970s. Today there are dozens of barcode symbologies (formats), each optimised for different use cases: retail, logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, and more. This guide explains each major format and when to use it.

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By ImgToolkit Team · Updated May 2026 · 3 min read · Processed in your browser

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Quick Answer

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Step-by-Step Guide

4 steps · takes under 1 minute

Choose a barcode format

Select the format that matches your use case. For retail products: EAN-13 (international) or UPC-A (US/Canada). For shipping labels or inventory: Code 128. For industrial or government IDs: Code 39.

Enter your data

Type the value to encode. For EAN-13, enter 12 digits (the 13th check digit is calculated automatically). For Code 128, enter any text up to ~80 characters.

Customise colours and size

Choose bar colour and background, adjust bar height (40–200px) and width multiplier (1–4×), and toggle the human-readable text below the bars.

Download SVG or PNG

SVG is infinitely scalable — ideal for label software, Illustrator, or Canva. PNG at 3× resolution is best for Word documents, email, or direct image use.

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Pro tip

All processing happens in your browser using WebAssembly and the Canvas API. No files are sent to any server — your images stay completely private.

Format & File Size Comparison

Same 1080×1080px photo processed four ways

Format	Quality	File Size	Notes
PNG (original)	Perfect	4.2 MB	No compression — too large for web
Compressed PNG	Visually identical	1.1 MB	−74% — transparency preserved
JPG (85% quality)	Excellent	310 KB	−93% · Best for photos
WebP (85%)BEST	Excellent	205 KB	−95% · Recommended for web

Based on a 1080×1080px photo. Results vary by image content and complexity.

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Frequently Asked Questions

5 questions answered

What is the most widely used barcode format?

Code 128 is the most universally used barcode format for non-retail applications — it encodes any ASCII character, is supported by virtually all barcode scanners, and is used on shipping labels, warehouse inventory, hospital wristbands, and more. For retail products in stores, EAN-13 (international) and UPC-A (US/Canada) are the standards.

How do I get an official EAN-13 number for retail?

Official EAN-13 barcodes for retail resale require a GS1 Company Prefix, purchased from your local GS1 member organisation (GS1 US, GS1 UK, etc.). This gives you a range of unique numbers to assign to your products. Costs vary by country — GS1 US starts at around $250/year for up to 10 products. For internal use or testing, you can generate any EAN-13 barcode here for free.

What is a check digit and do I need to worry about it?

A check digit is the final digit of an EAN-13, UPC-A, EAN-8, or ITF-14 barcode, calculated algorithmically from the other digits to catch scanning errors. This tool calculates check digits automatically — just enter the data digits (12 for EAN-13, 11 for UPC-A) and the correct barcode with the right check digit is generated.

What minimum size should I print a barcode?

EAN-13 should be printed at a minimum width of 25–30mm (the nominal size is 37.29mm wide). Smaller than 20mm and many scanner beams won't cover the full barcode. Always test scan before mass printing. For Code 128, the minimum bar width depends on the scanner resolution — aim for at least 0.25mm per narrow bar.

Can I use a barcode on a physical product I'm selling?

Yes, if it's for internal tracking only (warehouse labels, event tickets, staff badges). For resale in retail stores that use point-of-sale systems, you need a GS1-registered barcode number — the barcode itself is just the visual encoding of that number. Using a random EAN-13 number risks conflicts with another company's product in retail databases.

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Barcode Generator

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What's included

EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, Code 128, Code 39, ITF-14, MSI, Pharmacode

SVG download for scalable print

PNG at 3× resolution