How to use the barcode generator
- Choose the barcode type. For your own products, pick Code 128.
- Type the value: your SKU for Code 128, or the number for UPC-A and EAN-13.
- Download the barcode as a PNG (for documents and packaging mock-ups) or SVG (sharp at any size, best for print designers).
- To label products, pick a label layout, set how many labels you need, and print.
For many products at once, switch to Many barcodes and paste one code per line. Add a comma and a short name after each code if you want text under the barcode, like MUG-BLU-12, Blue mug 12 oz.
Which barcode type should you use?
| Type | What it holds | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Code 128 | Letters, numbers and symbols, any length | Your own SKUs and in-store labels. The best choice when only you scan them. |
| UPC-A | 12 digits, the last is a check digit | Products sold through US and Canadian retailers, using a number licensed from GS1 US. |
| EAN-13 | 13 digits, the last is a check digit | The international version of UPC, used in most countries outside North America. |
Can you make your own UPC barcode?
You can draw a UPC barcode here for a number you already have. What you can’t do is make up the number: official UPCs come from GS1 US, and retailers and marketplaces that check them will reject numbers that aren’t registered to your company. If you only sell in your own shop, at markets or at your own pop-ups, you don’t need a UPC at all; a Code 128 barcode of your SKU does the job. Our guide to barcodes for products explains when you need official numbers and how to get them.
What is a check digit?
The last digit of a UPC or EAN is calculated from the others, so a scanner can spot a misread. If you type 11 digits for a UPC (or 12 for an EAN), the generator works out the check digit for you. If you type the full number and the last digit doesn’t match, it tells you what it should be, which usually means a typo.
Tips for barcodes that scan every time
- Don’t shrink it too far. Very thin bars are hard for phone cameras and cheap scanners to read.
- Keep the white space. Scanners need a clear margin on both sides of the bars.
- Print black on white. Coloured or low-contrast barcodes fail more often.
- Stick labels on a flat surface, not across a seam, fold or curve.
- Test before you print a batch. Scan the first label with the online barcode scanner.
Printing on Avery 5160 and thermal labels
The Avery 5160 layout matches the common 30-label address sheets (and compatible sheets like 8160): 3 columns by 10 rows, each label 1 inch by 2⅝ inches. When the print dialog opens, set the scale to 100% or “Actual size” and turn off headers and footers, or the labels will drift out of line. For thermal label printers, pick the 58 mm or 80 mm roll and the tool prints one label per page.
Keeping track of what the barcodes stand for matters as much as printing them. See what a SKU is and how to create SKUs.
Frequently asked questions
Is this barcode generator really free?
Yes. There’s no sign-up and no watermark, and you can use the barcodes on your products. The barcodes are made in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Which barcode type should I choose?
Use Code 128 for your own SKUs; it handles letters and numbers. Use UPC-A or EAN-13 only with official numbers from GS1, usually needed when a retailer or marketplace sells your product.
Can I make a UPC barcode for my product here?
You can draw the barcode for a UPC number you already have. The number itself has to come from GS1 US if a retailer needs an official UPC; this tool can’t issue one.
Will the labels print on Avery 5160 sheets?
Yes. Choose the Avery 5160 layout (30 labels, 3 columns by 10 rows) and print at 100% scale with no page scaling.
Can I make many barcodes at once?
Yes. Paste a list of SKUs, one per line, and the tool makes a barcode for each and lays them out on a label sheet.