Barcode generator

EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, Code 128 and Code 39 — with check digit validation. No account, no watermark, and the code is generated right in your browser.

Barcode format

12 digits — we compute the 13th (the check digit). You can also type all 13 and we verify it.

Example — type in the form and your barcode appears instantly.

Which barcode format you need

  • EAN-13 — the European retail standard: 13 digits, the code on nearly every shelf product in Europe. Numbers are allocated officially through GS1.
  • EAN-8 — the short variant (8 digits), for small packages where an EAN-13 would not fit legibly.
  • UPC-A — the North American equivalent (12 digits), required by retailers in the US and Canada.
  • Code 128 — letters, digits and symbols in a compact code: the de facto standard for logistics, serials, SKUs and internal labels.
  • Code 39 — an older, less dense format, still required by some existing industrial and inventory systems.

Where a legitimate EAN number comes from

Something many people learn late: for products sold in shops, the EAN number is not invented — it is allocated through GS1, the organisation that guarantees numbers are globally unique. The generator here does the second half of the job: it draws the barcode for your number correctly, with the check digit validated, in print-ready files. For internal labels — inventory, serials, warehouse — you do not need GS1: any scheme of your own with Code 128 works perfectly.

Tips for flawless scanning

  • Dark bars on a light background — inverted codes do not read.
  • Keep the quiet zone to the left and right of the code: it is included in the downloaded files, do not cover it with text or graphics.
  • For a print shop use the vector SVG; do not compress the PNG or resize its width separately from its height.
  • Print one proof copy and scan it before the full run — with your phone or at a till.

Frequently asked questions

Does the generator also give me an EAN number for my product?
No — and no honest generator can. EAN numbers for products sold in retail are allocated officially through GS1, which guarantees the number is unique worldwide. Our generator does the second half of the job: it draws the barcode for a number you already have. If you make the number up, the code will scan, but the till will show a different product or none at all.
What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
They are the same system with different lengths: EAN-13 has 13 digits and is the standard in Europe, UPC-A has 12 digits and is used in the US and Canada. Modern tills read both. For products sold in Europe, use EAN-13.
Which format should I pick for internal labels, inventory or serials?
Code 128: it encodes letters, digits and symbols, it is compact, and it is the de facto standard in logistics and warehouses. Code 39 is an older, less dense alternative that some existing systems still require. For internal use you do not need GS1-allocated numbers — any scheme of your own works.
What is the check digit and why do you compute it?
The last digit of an EAN or UPC code is not chosen by you: it is computed mathematically from the others, and scanners use it to detect misreads. If you type 12 digits for an EAN-13, we compute and append it; if you type all 13, we verify it — a wrong check digit on a printed package means an unusable code.
Does my data reach any server?
No. The barcode is generated entirely in your browser, exactly like our QR code generator: the numbers and text you type never leave your device.
Which format should I download for print: PNG or SVG?
For a print shop, SVG: it is vector, stays perfectly crisp at any size and is what designers prefer. The 2000 px PNG is plenty for labels printed in-house and for documents. In both cases, leave the quiet zone around the code untouched — scanners need it.
Why is my barcode not scanning?
The usual causes: printed too small (below 80% of the nominal size gets risky), poor contrast or inverted colours (bars must be dark on a light background), the quiet zone covered by text or graphics, or a wrong check digit — which our generator prevents through validation.

Need a QR code too — for a link, Wi-Fi or your business card? Open the QR code generator →