About This Tool
This Barcode Generator creates industry-standard 1D barcodes entirely in your browser using the open-source JsBarcode library — no files are uploaded to any server. Choose from four widely used symbologies: Code 128 for general-purpose encoding of any ASCII data, EAN-13 for retail products sold worldwide, UPC-A for retail products sold in North America, and Code 39 for industrial, logistics, and asset-tracking labels.
EAN-13 and UPC-A check digits are computed automatically when you supply 12 or 11 digits respectively, and validated when you provide the full digit count. Download barcodes as pixel-perfect SVG for print or as PNG for web use. The SVG copy feature lets you embed barcode markup directly into HTML or design tools.
How to Use
1
Select Format
Pick the symbology that matches your use case — EAN-13 for retail, Code 128 for general.
2
Enter Data
Type or paste your content. The tool validates length and character set in real time.
3
Adjust Size
Set bar width and height using the sliders. Toggle the human-readable text below the bars.
4
Download or Copy
Save as PNG or SVG, or copy the SVG code to embed directly in HTML.
Common Use Cases
Retail Products
Generate EAN-13 or UPC-A barcodes for product packaging.
Inventory Labels
Use Code 128 or Code 39 for warehouse and asset tracking labels.
Document Management
Add Code 128 barcodes to documents for automated processing.
Print & Publish
Download scalable SVGs for crisp barcode reproduction at any size.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
UPC-A is a 12-digit barcode standard widely used in the United States and Canada. EAN-13 is a 13-digit superset of UPC-A used internationally — a UPC-A barcode is actually an EAN-13 barcode with a leading zero. If you are selling products in North America only, UPC-A suffices; for global retail distribution, use EAN-13. All modern barcode scanners can read both formats.
How does the EAN-13 check digit work?
The 13th digit of an EAN-13 barcode is a check digit computed from the first 12. Each digit is multiplied by alternating weights of 1 and 3, the results are summed, and the check digit is (10 − (sum mod 10)) mod 10. This tool automatically computes and appends the check digit when you provide 12 digits, and validates it when you provide all 13. If your 13-digit input has a wrong check digit, the tool shows the expected value.
Why does Code 39 require uppercase letters?
Code 39 was designed in 1974 to encode a specific 43-character set: uppercase letters A–Z, digits 0–9, and the special characters space, -, ., $, /, +, and %. Lowercase letters are simply not part of the specification, so scanners cannot decode them. Code 39 Full ASCII (an extension) adds lowercase support by encoding each letter as a two-character sequence, but not all scanners support it. For mixed-case text, use Code 128 instead.
Should I download SVG or PNG for printing?
For printing, always prefer SVG. SVG is a vector format that scales to any size without pixelation, ensuring crisp bars at any print resolution. PNG is a raster image — the bars look good at the resolution you generated them, but may appear blurry if you enlarge the image significantly. Use PNG when you need a raster image for web pages, Word documents, or platforms that do not accept SVG.
What is a quiet zone and why does it matter?
A quiet zone is a blank margin on either side of a barcode — typically 10× the narrow bar width. Scanners need this white space to detect the barcode boundaries; without it, scanning failure rates increase significantly. This tool includes quiet zones automatically in every generated barcode. When placing barcodes on labels or packaging, make sure the quiet zone is preserved and not cropped or printed over.
How wide should my barcode bars be for reliable scanning?
The minimum recommended narrow bar width for most scanners is 0.25 mm (about 1 pt at 300 dpi). For handheld consumer scanners, 0.33 mm or wider is safer. Use bar width 2–3 in this tool for typical label printing at 203–300 dpi. For large display barcodes (shelf labels, shipping boxes), increase bar width further. Always verify scannability with a real scanner before mass-producing labels.
