Barcode Generator

About Barcodes

A barcode is a machine-readable representation of data, most commonly shown as a series of parallel black lines and white spaces of varying widths. Barcodes were first used commercially in the 1970s, with the introduction of the Universal Product Code (UPC) transforming retail by letting cashiers scan a product's price instead of typing it in by hand. Since then, dozens of barcode formats have been developed, each suited to a particular industry, region, or type of product.

Common Barcode Formats and Their Uses

CODE128 is a flexible, high-density format that can encode any letters, numbers, and symbols, making it a common choice for shipping labels, logistics, and general identification. EAN-13 and EAN-8 are the standard formats for retail products sold in Europe and most of the world, while UPC-A is the equivalent standard used primarily in North America. CODE39 is widely used in automotive, defense, and internal inventory systems because it supports both letters and numbers with simple hardware. ITF-14 is designed for shipping cartons and case-level packaging rather than individual retail items. MSI is often found on warehouse shelf labels and inventory control systems, Codabar is still used in libraries and blood banks, and Pharmacode is used by the pharmaceutical industry to verify correct packaging during manufacturing.

How Barcode Scanning Works

Barcode scanners read the pattern of light and dark bars using a laser or an LED/camera sensor, measuring how much light is reflected back at each point. This pattern of reflected light is converted into a digital signal and decoded into the original data almost instantly. Modern smartphone cameras can perform this same decoding using software alone, which is exactly how the scanner on this site works — no dedicated scanning hardware required.

Barcodes in Retail and Logistics

Barcodes remain the backbone of modern retail and supply chain operations. At the point of sale, barcodes let staff ring up items quickly and accurately. In warehouses, barcodes are used to track inventory levels, locations, and stock movement in real time. In shipping and logistics, barcodes on cartons and pallets allow packages to be scanned and tracked at every stage of their journey, reducing errors compared to manual data entry.

Choosing the Right Barcode Format

The right format depends on where the barcode will be used. If you are labeling a retail product intended for a store shelf, EAN-13 or UPC-A are the industry standards. If you need to encode letters as well as numbers, or need a format widely supported by general-purpose scanners, CODE128 or CODE39 are good choices. For shipping cartons rather than individual items, ITF-14 is the appropriate standard. Always check the specific requirements of the system or retailer that will be scanning your barcode before choosing a format.

Tips for Printing Barcodes

Print barcodes at a high enough resolution that the bars remain crisp and well-defined — low quality printing can blur thin bars together and cause scan failures. Leave enough blank "quiet zone" space on either side of the barcode so scanners can detect where the code begins and ends, and keep the bar height tall enough to allow for a slightly crooked scan angle. Before printing barcodes in bulk, test a sample with the actual scanner or point-of-sale system that will be used in production.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the barcode generator free to use?

Yes, generating barcodes on QRBarcode is completely free, with no account or watermark.

Which barcode formats are supported?

CODE128, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, CODE39, ITF-14, MSI, Pharmacode, and Codabar.

Which barcode format should I use for a retail product?

Most retail products use EAN-13 (worldwide) or UPC-A (North America). Check with your retailer or distributor for their specific requirement.

Can I download the barcode as an image?

Yes, every barcode can be downloaded as a PNG image.

Will this barcode work with any scanner?

Barcodes generated in a standard format should be readable by any compliant scanner, but we recommend testing a sample with your actual scanning equipment before printing in bulk.

Can I change the color or size of the barcode?

Yes. Open "Edit options" to adjust the line color, bar height, and whether the text is shown beneath the barcode.

Do I need special software to generate a barcode?

No. Everything runs directly in your browser — no downloads or installations required.