Create a Barcode Online
Choose the format and type your number or text: the barcode appears instantly, with the check digit calculated for you. Download it as PNG or SVG to print it.
- Free
- 6 formats
- Automatic check digit
- PNG and SVG
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How to create a barcode?
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Choose the format
EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, Code 128, Code 39 or ITF-14, depending on what you need.
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Enter the content
Type your digits or text: the check digit is added automatically and invalid input is flagged.
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Customize and download
Adjust the height, bar width, text below the code and color, then download as PNG or SVG.
Print-ready barcodes
6 standard formats
UPC-A for the US and Canada, EAN-13 and EAN-8 for products elsewhere, Code 128 and Code 39 for text, ITF-14 for shipping cartons.
Check digit calculated
Type 12 digits and the tool adds the 13th to form a complete EAN-13. Impossible input is flagged right away.
Adjustable look
Height, bar width, human-readable text under the code shown or hidden, bar color.
PNG or SVG
High-resolution PNG for a document or a label, vector SVG for sharp printing at any size.
Which barcode format should you choose?
UPC-A (12 digits) is the product barcode used in stores in the United States and Canada. EAN-13 (13 digits) is its equivalent in the UK, Europe and most other countries, and US scanners read it too. EAN-8 (8 digits) is the short version for small packaging. Code 128 encodes letters, numbers and symbols compactly: it's the usual format for shipping labels, stock and inventory labels. Code 39, older and wider, accepts uppercase letters, numbers and a few symbols; you still find it on ID badges and in industry. ITF-14 (14 digits) is printed on shipping cartons.
How is the check digit of an EAN-13 or UPC-A calculated?
The last digit of an EAN-13 is a check digit that lets the scanner detect a reading error. Take the first 12 digits, multiply them alternately by 1 and 3 starting from the left, then add them up. For 400638133393: 4 + 0 + 0 + 18 + 3 + 24 + 1 + 9 + 3 + 9 + 9 + 9 = 89. The check digit is what you need to add to reach the next multiple of ten: 90 − 89 = 1. The complete code is therefore 4006381333931. If the sum is already a multiple of ten, the check digit is 0. For a UPC-A, the weights start with 3 instead of 1: 03600029145 gets the check digit 2, giving 036000291452. The tool does this calculation for you and verifies the check digit if you type the full number.
Selling in stores: UPC and EAN codes come from GS1
To sell a product in retail stores or on major marketplaces, its UPC or EAN number must be assigned by GS1, the organization that manages these numbers worldwide (GS1 US in the United States, GS1 UK in the United Kingdom), through a membership or a license. A made-up number may belong to another company's product and be rejected by retailers. This tool is therefore meant for internal codes: stock labels, inventory, libraries, badges, prototypes or tests, or for printing a code already assigned to you by GS1. When printing, keep dark bars on a light background, avoid red, which many scanners read poorly, and leave a white margin (quiet zone) on each side of the code.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I create a UPC or EAN-13 barcode for free?
Choose UPC-A and type the first 11 digits, or EAN-13 and type the first 12: the check digit is calculated and added automatically. Then download the code as PNG or SVG.
Can I use this barcode to sell my products in stores or on Amazon?
Only if the number was assigned to you by GS1. Retailers and marketplaces generally require official GS1 barcodes; a made-up number is only suitable for internal use.
What is a barcode check digit?
It's the last digit of an EAN, UPC or ITF-14, calculated from the other digits. It lets the scanner detect a reading or typing error.
What's the difference between a UPC/EAN-13 and a Code 128?
UPC-A and EAN-13 contain a fixed number of digits (12 or 13) and identify a product in retail. Code 128 accepts letters, numbers and symbols of variable length, which makes it the ideal format for logistics and internal labels.
PNG or SVG: which format to print a barcode?
SVG is vector-based: it stays perfectly sharp at any print size, so it's the best choice for a label or packaging. High-resolution PNG works for inserting into a document or software that doesn't accept SVG.