Free barcode generator

Use this free barcode generator to make a barcode picture in your browser. Type a value, choose a barcode type, and download a PNG or an SVG file. You can also paste a list and make many barcodes at once. Then print them on Avery® label sheets with LabelPeel, a barcode label generator.

Pick the right barcode type

Each barcode type holds a different kind of data. Scanners and systems expect a specific type, so check which one your system uses before you make the codes.

If a system already gives you the number, choose the matching type and paste the number in. The tool checks the digits for UPC, EAN and ITF codes and tells you if something is wrong.

Make one barcode

1. Choose the barcode type. Use the Barcode type list above the tool.
2. Type or paste the value. The preview draws as you type. For a UPC-A with 11 digits, the tool adds the check digit for you and shows the full number.
3. Set the options. Turn the number under the bars on or off, change the bar height, and pick a size. Medium is the best choice for most printers.
4. Download the file. Choose Download PNG for a picture you can place in a label design, or Download SVG for a file that stays sharp at any size.

Make many barcodes at once

Click Many barcodes to paste a whole column. Put one value on each line, the same way they sit in a spreadsheet. The tool shows how many barcodes it can make and lists any bad lines with their line numbers, so you can fix them. You can then download one PNG for each value in a ZIP file, or print them on a label sheet. The bulk barcode generator page covers this in more detail.

Print barcodes that scan

Most scanning problems come from printing, not from the code itself.

• Print at 100% or Actual size. Turn off Fit to page. A setting that shrinks the page also shrinks the bars.
• Use the best quality your printer allows. A laser printer usually gives crisp bars. An inkjet works well on a high-quality setting.
• Keep the bars the same size. Do not stretch or squash the picture to make it fit a box.
• Keep the quiet zone clear. The quiet zone is the blank space on each side of the bars. Keep it free of text, lines and other labels so the scanner can find the edges.
• Use a label that is big enough. Small sheets such as Avery® 5167 suit short codes. Avery® 5160 and Avery® 5163 give the bars more room.

Size and bar height

The bar height and the size change how tall and wide the code is. A taller code is easier to scan from a short distance, but it takes more room on the label. Pick a size that leaves a clear margin on both sides of the bars.

About GS1 and retail numbers

Retail barcodes such as UPC-A and EAN-13 are only valid for sale when the number comes from GS1, the organization that issues them. A number you make up can scan on your own screen, but it may clash with another product and stores may not accept it. LabelPeel makes the barcode picture from the number you type. It does not sell, issue or register barcode numbers.

For your own stock, your own order numbers or ID tags, Code 128 is a flexible choice. You do not need a GS1 number for codes you use inside your own business.

Common problems

• The scanner reads nothing. Check the type. A UPC-A scanned as Code 128 will not read the way you expect. Print bigger, and test-scan again.
• The number is wrong. Remove extra spaces and check the last digit. For UPC, EAN and ITF codes the tool tells you the right check digit.
• The bars are cut off. The label may be too small. Choose a larger size or a bigger label.

Make barcode labels

Make your labels in LabelPeel

Use the tool above when you need one barcode picture. When you need barcodes on a whole sheet, paste your list into LabelPeel. It makes one label for each row, so each product or item gets its own code. You can also add a name, a price or a logo to the same label. Read barcode labels from a list for the full steps, or how to print labels from Excel if your list lives in a spreadsheet.