Tool and asset tags
A workshop labels its own tools and kit with a code it invents itself - no registration, no fees.
*TOOL-0091*
Code 39 barcode generator
This Code 39 barcode generator turns capital letters, numbers and a few symbols into a barcode that needs no GS1 number and no account. It's the format behind most asset tags, ID badges and industrial part labels.
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A barcode you can fill with anything, no number needed
Also called the 3 of 9 barcode, because three of the nine bars and spaces in every character are wide, Code 39 is simple enough that almost any cheap scanner reads it - which is exactly why warehouses and workshops still use it.
Type a code, get a check character
Code 39 accepts capital letters, digits 0-9, and the symbols - . $ / + % and space, wrapped in asterisks that mark the start and stop of the code - that's the *ITEM-42* shape you'll see on the barcode itself.
A check character is optional in Code 39, unlike the GS1 formats where it's mandatory; this generator can add one using a mod 43 calculation, which catches more scanning errors on longer codes.
Check character calculator
*ITEM-42$*
The full character set
| Characters | Notes |
|---|---|
| 0-9 | Digits, encoded the same as letters - Code 39 has no digit-packing mode. |
| A-Z | Capitals only; lower-case letters aren't part of standard Code 39. |
| - . $ / + % | The seven symbol characters, plus a space. |
| * (start/stop) | Marks the beginning and end of the code; not valid inside your data. |
No match.
Where Code 39 gets used
ID badges
Staff and visitor badges often carry a Code 39 employee number a door reader scans on the way in.
*EMP-4471*
Industrial parts
A manufacturer's own part number goes straight onto a bin label or work order, unchanged.
*PN-33218*
Sources
Checked September 2026
Some readers need Code 39 configured to accept a check character - check your scanner's manual if codes with one don't scan.
Code 39 generator questions
No, it's optional - most Code 39 readers don't require one, but adding it costs nothing and catches more misreads on longer codes.
Not in standard Code 39: only capitals, digits and the seven symbol characters are defined - lower-case text gets rejected.
No: Code 39 isn't a GS1 format, so you can put any text in it without registering anything - it just won't scan at a retail till expecting an EAN or UPC number.
Each character is built from nine bars and spaces, and exactly three of them are wide - that's where both names, Code 39 and 3 of 9, come from.
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