Softonic

Barcode Generator

Step 1 / 4 Barcode
Code 128 is flexible and supports most text, numbers, and IDs.

Barcodes are still everywhere behind the scenes, warehouse bins, book spines, shipping cartons, lab samples. This generator renders a clean, scanner-ready barcode in the format you need: Code 128 and Code 39 for internal asset tags, EAN-13 and UPC-A for retail, ITF-14 for outer cartons, Codabar for libraries and blood banks. Output exports to PNG for digital use and SVG or PDF for sharp print.

How to create a barcode

  1. 1

    Pick the symbology

    Code 128 for general asset tracking, EAN-13 for European retail, UPC-A for North American retail, etc.

  2. 2

    Enter the data

    The allowed character set depends on the format. EAN-13 wants exactly 12 or 13 digits; Code 128 accepts the full ASCII set.

  3. 3

    The tool calculates the check digit

    For EAN/UPC/ITF, the last digit is a modulo-10 checksum derived from the others. The generator fills it in automatically.

  4. 4

    Download in the right format

    SVG or PDF for print (keeps quiet zones crisp); PNG for screens.

Common 1D symbologies

Symbology Data length Character set Where it is used
Code 128 Variable Full ASCII Logistics, shipping, asset tags
Code 39 Variable A-Z, 0-9, plus 7 symbols Military, automotive, healthcare
EAN-13 13 digits Digits only European retail
UPC-A 12 digits Digits only North American retail
EAN-8 8 digits Digits only Small retail products
ITF-14 14 digits Digits only Shipping cartons (outer packaging)
Codabar Variable Digits + 6 symbols Libraries, blood banks

Print quality checklist

A barcode that won’t scan is worse than no barcode. Before sending artwork to press:

  • Quiet zone. Leave at least 10x the narrowest bar width as clear space on both ends.
  • X-dimension. The width of the narrowest bar. Retail EAN/UPC minimum is 0.264 mm at 100% nominal size.
  • Contrast. Black on white is safest. Avoid red bars (many scanners use red light and see red as white).
  • Resolution. Export at the final print size, not a low-res PNG that will be upscaled.
  • Orientation. Most scanners read left-to-right. Vertical (“picket fence”) orientation scans better when the package passes over a scanner tunnel.

EAN/UPC check digit

The last digit of an EAN-13 is:

check = (10 - ((3 * sum_of_odd_positions + sum_of_even_positions) mod 10)) mod 10

If you enter 12 digits, the tool computes the 13th.

GS1 prefixes (for retail)

To sell a product through retail globally, you need a company prefix from GS1, not a made-up EAN. Self-assigned EAN numbers can clash with other registered products and get blocked at till.

Frequently Asked Questions

Code 128 for internal stuff you control. EAN-13 or UPC-A if the barcode will pass through retail checkout. ITF-14 for the outer shipping carton containing retail units.

For retail sale through major chains, yes. For internal inventory, asset tagging, library systems, no, Code 128 or Code 39 on a locally-chosen numbering scheme is fine.

Nine times out of ten: missing quiet zone, insufficient contrast, or the printer compressed the bars. Print at 100% scale, include a 2-3 mm white margin, and use a real printer (not a thermal printer on dirty or thin paper) for test prints.

Yes, for bulk creation, paste one line of data per barcode or upload a CSV. The output is a single PDF with one barcode per row, ready to print on a sheet of label stock.

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