Free Online
Barcode Generator

What is a Barcode Generator?

A barcode generator is a tool that converts human-readable data — such as a product ID, URL, or serial number — into a machine-readable visual pattern that barcode scanners and smartphone cameras can decode instantly. BarcodeGenerate is a free, browser-based barcode generator that runs entirely on your device: no software to install, no account required, and your data never leaves your browser.

Whether you're a small business owner creating product labels, a developer testing a barcode system, or a self-publisher adding an ISBN to a book cover, the right barcode tool should be fast, accurate, and free. BarcodeGenerate supports 9 barcode formats covering every major use case.

Barcode Types: How to Choose the Right Format

Not all barcodes are interchangeable. Each symbology was designed for a specific use case, with trade-offs in data capacity, physical size, and scanner compatibility. Here's a practical guide to the 9 formats supported by BarcodeGenerate:

How to Generate a Barcode: Step-by-Step

1. 1
   Choose your barcode format

   Select the symbology that matches your use case from the tool selector. For retail products, choose EAN-13 (international) or UPC-A (North America). For shipping labels, choose Code 128. For URLs or digital content, choose QR Code.

2. 2
   Enter your data

   Type or paste the data to encode. For numeric formats like EAN-13 or UPC-A, enter the digits without the check digit — our generator calculates it automatically. For Code 128, you can encode any text including letters, numbers, and symbols.

3. 3
   Customize the appearance

   Adjust bar height, module width, quiet zone margins, text display, and colors. For print use, a bar height of at least 15mm is recommended for reliable scanning.

4. 4
   Download your barcode

   Click PNG for web and digital use (rendered at 2× for sharp display on high-DPI screens), SVG for print and packaging design (infinitely scalable, preferred by print shops), or PDF for document embedding.

PNG, SVG, or PDF — Which Download Format?

The right download format depends on how you'll use the barcode:

• PNG — Best for digital use: websites, email, spreadsheets, and presentations. Our PNG export renders at 2× resolution for sharp display on Retina and high-DPI screens. Not recommended for large-format printing as image quality degrades when scaled up.
• SVG — Best for print and packaging. SVG is a vector format — it scales to any size without any quality loss. Most professional print services require SVG or PDF source files for production work. Use SVG for product labels, shipping labels, and packaging artwork.
• PDF — Best for sharing and document embedding. The PDF is generated as a single-page A4 document containing your barcode, suitable for emailing to a print shop or attaching to a purchase order.

Retail Barcodes: EAN-13, UPC-A, and GS1

If you're creating barcodes for retail products — items that will be sold in physical stores or on Amazon, Walmart, or other major platforms — there's an important distinction between generating a barcode image and owning a valid barcode number.

Our generator creates technically valid barcode images from any data you provide. However, for retail use, the barcode number must be officially registered to your company and product through GS1 — the global organization that manages product identification. To sell on Amazon, Target, Walmart, or most major retailers, you need a GS1 Company Prefix purchased from gs1.org (or your national GS1 member organization).

For internal use — inventory labels, warehouse bin codes, shipping documents, or any system where you control the scanners — you can use any data in your barcodes without GS1 registration.

Frequently Asked Questions