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Generate Code 128, EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 39, ITF-14, and more. Every format your business needs, with proper validation.
Your data never leaves your device. All barcodes are generated locally in your browser for complete privacy and security.
Custom colors, dimensions, margins, and font sizes. Export as high-resolution PNG or scalable SVG for any use case.
A barcode generator is a tool that converts text, numbers, or product codes into machine-readable barcode images that can be scanned by laser or camera-based readers. Filator's free barcode generator creates professional, scannable barcodes in 9 industry-standard formats — Code 128, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, Code 39, ITF-14, MSI, Pharmacode, and Codabar — directly in your browser. No signup, no email, no limits.
All barcode generation runs 100% client-side using JavaScript. Your product codes, inventory numbers, and business data never leave your device — making this one of the most private barcode creators available online. Whether you need a single UPC barcode for an Amazon listing or Code 128 labels for warehouse shelves, you can generate and download them in seconds.
Creating a barcode takes under 30 seconds. Here's how:
Choosing the right barcode format depends on your industry, the type of data you need to encode, and where the barcode will be scanned. Here's a complete comparison of all 9 formats available in our free barcode generator:
| Format | Characters | Max Length | Primary Use Case | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code 128 | All ASCII (0–127) | 80 chars | General purpose, shipping, packaging | Universal |
| EAN-13 | Digits only | 13 digits | Retail products (international) | Retail |
| EAN-8 | Digits only | 8 digits | Small retail products | Retail |
| UPC-A | Digits only | 12 digits | Retail products (North America) | Retail |
| Code 39 | A–Z, 0–9, - . $ / + % space | 43 chars | Asset tracking, ID badges | Automotive, Defense, Healthcare |
| ITF-14 | Digits only | 14 digits | Shipping cartons & pallets | Logistics |
| MSI | Digits only | 20 digits | Warehouse shelving, retail inventory | Inventory |
| Pharmacode | Numeric (3–131,070) | 6 digits | Pharmaceutical packaging | Pharmaceutical |
| Codabar | 0–9, - $ : / . + A B C D | 16 chars | Libraries, blood banks, FedEx | Specialized |
Code 128 (defined by ISO/IEC 15417) is the most versatile barcode format, encoding all 128 ASCII characters — including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, and control characters. It produces compact, high-density barcodes that are easy for scanners to read, even at small sizes.
When to use Code 128: Shipping labels (GS1-128), product packaging, inventory management, serial numbers, and any application where you need to encode both text and numbers. If you're unsure which barcode format to choose, Code 128 is the safest default.
EAN-13 (European Article Number, defined by ISO/IEC 15420) is the global standard for retail product identification. Every product you scan at a supermarket checkout uses EAN-13 (or its North American equivalent, UPC-A). The 13-digit code includes a country prefix, manufacturer code, product number, and check digit.
When to use EAN-13: Selling products in retail stores outside North America, listing on Amazon, eBay, or other e-commerce platforms that require GTIN identifiers. You'll need a GS1 Company Prefix to generate valid, unique EAN-13 numbers.
EAN-8 is a shorter version of EAN-13, designed for products with limited packaging space — small cosmetics, candy bars, cigarette packs, and similar items. It encodes 8 digits and is recognized by the same POS systems that scan EAN-13.
When to use EAN-8: Small retail products where a full EAN-13 barcode won't physically fit on the package. EAN-8 codes must be specifically requested from your local GS1 office.
UPC-A (Universal Product Code) is the standard barcode format for retail products in the United States and Canada. It encodes 12 digits and is required for selling in major North American retailers including Walmart, Target, Costco, and grocery chains. UPC-A is fully compatible with EAN-13 — every UPC-A can be represented as an EAN-13 by adding a leading zero.
EAN-13 vs UPC-A: If you sell only in North America, UPC-A is sufficient. If you sell internationally, use EAN-13. Both systems are interoperable — a scanner that reads one can read the other. The main difference is the number of digits (12 for UPC-A, 13 for EAN-13) and the regional convention.
Code 39 is an alphanumeric barcode used extensively in non-retail environments. It supports uppercase letters A–Z, digits 0–9, and special characters (- . $ / + % and space). Code 39 is self-checking, meaning errors can be detected without a separate check digit.
When to use Code 39: U.S. Department of Defense (LOGMARS), automotive industry (AIAG), healthcare (HIBC), ID badges, and asset tracking. Many government and military applications specifically require Code 39.
ITF-14 (Interleaved 2 of 5) is designed for shipping containers, cartons, and pallets. It encodes 14 digits and is typically printed directly on corrugated cardboard. The format is deliberately tolerant of printing imperfections, making it reliable in warehouse and logistics environments where print quality varies.
When to use ITF-14: Outer packaging for retail-ready shipments, pallet labels, case-level identification in supply chains. The first digit (packaging indicator) specifies the packaging level of the trade item.
MSI (Modified Plessey) is a numeric barcode developed for inventory control and warehouse management. It encodes digits 0–9 with up to 20 characters and uses a Luhn checksum for error detection. MSI barcodes are commonly found on retail shelf labels, warehouse bins, and storage containers.
When to use MSI: Grocery store shelving, warehouse rack labeling, and internal inventory systems where you need a simple numeric identifier. MSI is less common than Code 128 but still widely used in supermarket supply chains.
Pharmacode (Pharmaceutical Binary Code) is a specialized barcode used exclusively in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Unlike other formats, Pharmacode encodes a single integer between 3 and 131,070, using a binary system of thick and thin bars. It was designed to be readable even with poor print quality — critical for high-speed packaging lines.
When to use Pharmacode: Pharmaceutical production lines for package verification and sorting. A key safety feature: Pharmacode can be read in either direction, producing different values each way — this is intentional and used as an error-checking mechanism during automated packaging.
Codabar (also known as NW-7, Monarch, Code 2 of 7) is an older but still-used barcode format. It supports digits 0–9 and special characters (- $ : / . +), with start/stop characters A, B, C, or D. Codabar is self-checking and does not require a check digit.
When to use Codabar: Library book lending systems, blood bank labeling (ISBT standards), FedEx airbills, and photo labs. While newer formats like Code 128 have largely replaced Codabar in new installations, many legacy systems still rely on it.
Barcodes (1D) and QR codes (2D) serve different purposes. Here's how they compare:
| Feature | Barcode (1D) | QR Code (2D) |
|---|---|---|
| Data Capacity | Up to 80 characters | Up to 4,296 characters |
| Data Types | Numbers, letters, symbols | Text, URLs, vCards, WiFi, etc. |
| Scanning | Laser or camera scanner | Camera/smartphone only |
| Best For | Product IDs, inventory, shipping | Marketing, URLs, contactless menus |
| Speed | Faster with laser scanners | Requires image processing |
Rule of thumb: Use barcodes for product identification, inventory management, and supply chain operations where laser scanners are standard. Use QR codes when you need to encode URLs, contact information, or data that consumers will scan with smartphones. Need a QR code? Try our free QR code generator.
EAN-13 or UPC-A barcodes are required to sell products in brick-and-mortar stores and on marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart.com. They integrate with POS systems, inventory management software, and order fulfillment platforms.
Recommended formats: EAN-13, UPC-A, EAN-8
ITF-14 barcodes identify cartons and pallets in transit. Code 128 (GS1-128) encodes detailed shipping data including weight, destination, and lot numbers. Both formats are designed for high-speed scanning in warehouses and distribution centers.
Recommended formats: ITF-14, Code 128
Code 39 is used for patient wristbands and specimen labeling (HIBC standard). Pharmacode ensures correct packaging on high-speed production lines — a critical safety measure that prevents packaging mix-ups in drug manufacturing.
Recommended formats: Code 39, Pharmacode
MSI barcodes label shelf positions and storage bins. Code 128 and Code 39 track individual items, pallets, and assets. Barcode-based inventory systems significantly reduce manual data-entry errors compared to handwritten logs.
Recommended formats: Code 128, MSI, Code 39
Codabar remains the standard for library book lending systems and blood bank labeling (ISBT 128). Many library management systems still rely on Codabar despite newer formats being available, due to legacy infrastructure.
Recommended formats: Codabar, Code 39
Small businesses use Code 128 for internal tracking before investing in GS1-registered numbers. Label products, track equipment, manage assets — all without upfront costs. Our free barcode maker is ideal for businesses just getting started with barcode systems.
Recommended formats: Code 128, Code 39
Our barcode generator creates the barcode image, but for retail products, the numbers themselves must be obtained from GS1 (Global Standards One) to ensure worldwide uniqueness. Here's how:
Important: For internal use (inventory tracking, asset labels, warehouse bins), you don't need GS1 registration. Use Code 128 or Code 39 with your own numbering system. GS1 registration is only required when selling products through retail channels.
Our free barcode maker gives you full control over the appearance of your barcodes — without requiring an account or upgrade:
Use hex color pickers to match your brand colors. The preview updates in real-time so you can verify contrast before downloading. Remember: scanners need high contrast to read reliably.
Bar width (1–5 px) controls density — narrow bars create smaller barcodes, wider bars improve scan reliability. Height (50–200 px) should be at least 15% of the barcode width for reliable scanning.
Adjust margin from 0–30 px to control the white space around your barcode. For reliable scanning, use at least 10 px on each side. This "quiet zone" helps scanners detect the barcode boundaries.
Show or hide the human-readable text below the barcode. Font size adjusts from 10–24 px. For retail barcodes (EAN, UPC), keeping text visible is recommended as cashiers may need to manually enter numbers.
This barcode generator creates 1D (linear) barcodes only. It does not generate 2D barcodes such as QR codes, Data Matrix, or PDF417. For QR codes, use our QR code generator. The tool generates barcodes one at a time — it does not support batch or bulk generation from CSV files. Barcode images are generated in your browser and are not stored on our servers, so you must download them before leaving the page.
For retail products sold internationally, use EAN-13. For North American retail, use UPC-A. For general-purpose applications like shipping, inventory, and serial numbers, Code 128 is the most versatile. For shipping cartons and pallets, use ITF-14. For pharmaceutical packaging, use Pharmacode.
EAN-13 encodes 13 digits and is the international retail standard. UPC-A encodes 12 digits and is used primarily in North America. They are fully interoperable — any UPC-A number can be represented as EAN-13 by adding a leading zero. Choose UPC-A for US/Canada only, EAN-13 for global sales.
Yes, 100% free with no limits. Generate unlimited barcodes in all 9 formats, customize colors and dimensions, and download as PNG or SVG — all without creating an account, providing an email, or paying anything. There are no watermarks, daily caps, or hidden paywalls.
Completely. All barcode generation happens in your browser using JavaScript (jsbarcode library). Your data is never uploaded to any server — not even ours. This is critical for businesses encoding sensitive product codes, proprietary serial numbers, or internal inventory data.
Yes. All barcodes follow the official specifications for each format (ISO/IEC 15417 for Code 128, ISO/IEC 15420 for EAN/UPC, etc.). They work with standard laser barcode scanners, camera-based scanners, POS systems, and mobile scanning apps. We recommend testing a sample with your specific scanner before large-scale printing.
Use SVG for print materials — it's a vector format that scales to any size without losing quality, making it ideal for labels, packaging, and professional printing. Use PNG for web use, digital documents, emails, or when you need a standard image format. Our PNG exports use 2x resolution for crisp output at normal sizes.
Only for retail products sold through stores or online marketplaces. GS1 registration (starting at $250/year in the US for up to 10 products) ensures your barcode numbers are globally unique. For internal use — inventory tracking, asset labels, warehouse bins — you can use Code 128 or Code 39 with any numbering system you choose.
Yes, you can change both bar color and background color using hex color pickers. However, maintain high contrast between bars and background for reliable scanning. Avoid using red for bars — many laser scanners use red light and cannot distinguish red bars from the background.
Pharmacode is a specialized barcode used exclusively in pharmaceutical manufacturing for package verification. It encodes a single integer (3–131,070) using thick and thin bars. Its key feature: it can be read in both directions to produce different values, serving as an error-checking mechanism during automated packaging on high-speed production lines.
For retail products: obtain a GS1 Company Prefix, assign a product number, then enter the full UPC-A or EAN-13 number into our generator and download. For internal products: choose Code 128, type any text or number you want to encode, customize the appearance, and download as PNG or SVG. The entire process takes under 30 seconds.
Barcodes fall into two main categories: 1D (linear) barcodes like Code 128, EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 39, and ITF-14, which store data in parallel lines of varying width; and 2D barcodes like QR codes and Data Matrix, which store data in patterns of squares or dots. 1D barcodes are used for product identification and logistics. 2D barcodes are used for URLs, contact info, and data-rich applications.
No. Generate as many barcodes as you need — there are no daily limits, no caps, and no throttling. Since all generation happens locally in your browser, server capacity is never a bottleneck. The tool works offline once the page is loaded.
General purpose, shipping, packaging
General purpose, shipping, packaging
Retail products worldwide
Small retail items
US/Canada retail products
Automotive, defense, healthcare
Shipping containers, pallets
Warehouse inventory, retail shelving
Pharmaceutical industry
Libraries, FedEx airbills, blood banks
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