Shop shelf
A packaged product sold at a till reads EAN-13, EAN-8 or UPC-A depending on the country and the pack size - never Code 128 or Code 39.
Barcode generator for six formats
This free barcode generator makes EAN-13, UPC-A, EAN-8, Code 128, Code 39 and ITF-14 barcodes from one page, each with the right check digit worked out for you. This online barcode generator needs no install and nothing you type is uploaded.
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Six barcode formats, one generator
Six formats, one purpose each: three are GS1 retail codes that need a registered number, two are open formats you can fill with anything, and one is built for shipping cases rather than shelf items. Pick the right one below and it just scans.
Which barcode format do you actually need?
Match your product to a row, then open that format's page - each one is its own barcode maker, built and validated for that format specifically.
| Format | Encodes | Length | Typical use | Needs a GS1 number? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code 128 | Letters, digits and symbols | Any length | Inventory tags, internal IDs, shipping labels | No |
| EAN-13 | 13 digits | Fixed | Retail products, most countries outside North America | Yes |
| EAN-8 | 8 digits | Fixed | Small packs too narrow for EAN-13 | Yes |
| UPC-A | 12 digits | Fixed | Retail products, United States and Canada | Yes |
| Code 39 | Capitals, digits, - . $ / + % and space | Any length | Asset tags, ID badges, industrial parts | No |
| ITF-14 | 14 digits | Fixed | Shipping cartons and cases, not single items | Yes |
No format matches that search.
EAN-13, EAN-8 and UPC-A need a GTIN licensed from GS1 to work at a real till; this tool draws the barcode, it does not register a number.
Why the Code 128 barcode generator needs no GS1 number
Code 128 is not a GS1 format, so there is no number to register: type any mix of letters, digits and symbols and it packs them into a dense, reliable barcode, which is why it fits shipping labels, membership cards and stock tags.
Behind the scenes it switches between three character sets to keep the bars as narrow as possible, and adds a checksum automatically - both handled for you, so ABC-1234 below just works.
One honesty note: this is plain Code 128, not GS1-128, so it will not carry application identifiers such as a batch number or best-before date.
- You type ABC-1234
- Set B + Set C ABC- (Set B) 1234 (Set C)
- Checksum added mod 103, before the stop bars
- Scanner reads ABC-1234
Make a barcode in three steps
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Pick a format
Use the table above, or the tabs on the tool, to open EAN-13, UPC-A, EAN-8, Code 128, Code 39 or ITF-14.
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Type or paste the content
Digits for the GS1 formats, or any text Code 128 and Code 39 accept; a wrong length or character is flagged before you download.
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Style and download
Set a bar colour with enough contrast to scan, then download a PNG, JPG or SVG sized for your label or packaging.
Where each format turns up in practice
Warehouse case
A carton of twelve of the same product carries an ITF-14 built from that product's own GTIN, read by a warehouse scanner, not a checkout.
12012345678900
Internal tag
A tool-room asset tag or an internal stock label needs no registered number, so Code 128 or Code 39 is enough, and either one is free to define yourself.
ASSET-00842
Sources
Checked September 2026
- GS1: Ready to sell? Start with a GS1 barcodegs1.orglicensing a GTIN for real retail sale
- ISO/IEC 15417:2007 - Code 128 bar code symbology specificationiso.org
GS1 member organisations set their own fees; confirm current terms with GS1 before registering a real number.
Barcode generator questions
Yes: every format on this page runs in your browser with no account, no watermark and no limit on how many you make.
EAN-13 almost everywhere, UPC-A in the United States and Canada, or EAN-8 if GS1 has allocated your product a short number because the pack is too small for EAN-13.
Not at a till: retail scanners expect a GS1 number in EAN-13, EAN-8 or UPC-A, and Code 128 or Code 39 will usually just fail to ring up.
No. This tool only draws the bars for a number you already have; a number that actually works at a real till has to be licensed from GS1 or your local GS1 member organisation first.
PNG and JPG at standard or high resolution, or an SVG that stays sharp at any size for professional print.
Need a QR code instead?
Make a QR code for a link, WiFi, contact card and more - styled, free, and ready to download.