Free · No sign-up · Runs in your browser
Free Barcode Generator.
Type a number or text, pick the format (EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 128 and more) and download your barcode free as a high-resolution PNG or an SVG vector for print, with or without the numbers underneath and on a white or transparent background. Nothing is sent to a server. EAN-13 and UPC-A take digits only; for letters, use Code 128.
Not uploaded — nobody sees it No watermark, ever Unlimited barcodes No subscription or account
Barcode format
Your barcode will appear here as you type.
Nothing here is ever uploaded — it’s all generated right in this browser tab, on your device. It never reaches a server, so we never see it, copy it or keep it.
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Barcode generator: quick facts
A free barcode generator for retail, stock and label barcodes, with a high-resolution PNG or SVG ready to print.
Updated
- Price
- Free. No sign-up, no watermark, fine for commercial use.
- Formats
- Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, ITF-14, Codabar and Pharmacode.
- Download
- High-resolution PNG or SVG vector, white or transparent background, with or without the numbers. Made in your browser with nothing uploaded.
- Check digits
- Added for you on EAN, UPC and ITF-14 numbers.
- Best default
- Code 128 for any text. EAN-13 or UPC-A only with a registered product number.
- Retail numbers
- Selling in shops needs a GS1-registered number (GS1 UK in the UK). This tool draws the barcode for it.
How it works
How to make a barcode
Type your text or number, pick a format, and the barcode redraws as you type, ready to download and print. Formats that need a set number of digits tell you straight away if yours doesn’t fit.
- 01
Type your text or number
The barcode updates live as you type.
- 02
Choose a format
Code 128 for anything, or a retail format if you have one.
- 03
Download
Save it as a high-resolution PNG, or as an SVG that stays sharp at any size.
Tips
Tips for barcodes that scan first time
Most barcode problems come down to the wrong format, poor printing or too little space around the bars.
- Choose the format for the jobCode 128 handles any letters and numbers, which suits labels, stock and asset tags. EAN-13 and UPC-A are for products sold in shops, and ITF-14 is for outer shipping cartons.
- Retail numbers have to be registeredShops only accept EAN and UPC numbers issued by GS1, the organisation that runs the system. A made-up number gives a barcode that scans but belongs to nobody, so for products you sell, get numbers from GS1 UK.
- Leave white space at both endsScanners need a clear margin, called the quiet zone, before and after the bars. Don’t let text, borders or the edge of a label run up against them.
- Print dark bars on a light backgroundBlack on white is the safest choice. Red bars, or bars on a red or glossy background, often fail, because many scanners read with red light and can’t see the contrast.
Like every Altto tool, this runs on your device — nothing you add is uploaded. How Altto works
13
digits make up an EAN-13 barcode: twelve that identify the product and a check digit, worked out from the others, that lets a scanner catch a misread.
Guide
Which barcode do you need?
The generator can draw any of these for free. What matters is whether the number has to be registered.
| What it’s for | Format | Do you need a registered number? |
|---|---|---|
| A product sold in UK or European shops, or online marketplaces | EAN-13 | Yes, from GS1 UK |
| A product sold mainly in the US or Canada | UPC-A | Yes, from GS1 |
| A small pack with no room for EAN-13 | EAN-8 | Yes, from GS1 |
| Outer cartons and cases of a product | ITF-14 | Yes, built from your product numbers |
| Your own stock, shelf labels, asset tags, tickets, parcels, name badges | Code 128 | No, use any text or number you like |
| Older systems that ask for it (some libraries and labs) | Codabar or Code 39 | No |
Getting a barcode for a product you sell (UK)
- Get your numbers from GS1 UK. GS1 is the not-for-profit body that runs retail barcodes. Membership gives you your own company prefix and a batch of product numbers (GTINs). At the time of writing, plans start at £50 a year plus VAT for businesses with turnover under £100,000, with 10 numbers on the smallest plan. Check GS1 UK for current prices.
- Give every product its own number. Each size, colour, flavour and pack size needs a different number, so a T-shirt in 3 sizes and 2 colours uses 6.
- Make the barcode image. Choose EAN-13 above, type your number and download the PNG or SVG. Type 12 digits and the check digit is added for you; type all 13 and it’s checked.
- Print it at the right size and test it. The standard EAN-13 is about 37 × 26 mm and can go from 80% to 200% of that. Scan a printed copy with a phone app or the scanner your stockist uses before you print thousands.
Be careful with cheap “resold” barcodes. Websites selling numbers for a few pounds each are reselling numbers first issued to other companies, so the number won’t be registered to you. GS1 UK says it is the only authorised provider of product numbers for trading on Amazon and leading retailers, and big retailers and marketplaces can reject numbers that don’t belong to the seller. If you only sell at markets, on your own website or through a shop that doesn’t ask for barcodes, you may not need one at all.
How the EAN-13 check digit works (example)
Take the made-up number 501234567890. Multiply the digits by 1 and 3 in turn, starting from the left, add them up, and see how far the total is from the next multiple of 10:
5×1 + 0×3 + 1×1 + 2×3 + 3×1 + 4×3 + 5×1 + 6×3 + 7×1 + 8×3 + 9×1 + 0×3 = 90 90 is already a multiple of 10, so the check digit is 0 → 5012345678900
The generator does this for you. If you type 13 digits and the last one doesn’t match, it tells you, which usually means a digit was copied wrongly.
For a side-by-side comparison of every format, see our guide to barcode types.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about barcode formats, sizes and scanning. Our guide to barcode types compares the formats in more detail.
Can I download a barcode as an SVG or vector file?
Yes. Press Download SVG and you get a vector file that stays sharp at any size, which suits printing, label software and design apps such as Illustrator, Inkscape, Affinity, Canva and Word. The PNG download is made at three times the on-screen size for clean printing too.
Can I make a barcode without the numbers underneath?
Yes. Untick Show the number under the bars and the PNG and SVG contain only the bars. Scanners read the bars, not the printed digits, but shops and warehouses usually expect the numbers on retail EAN and UPC barcodes, so keep them for products.
Can I get a barcode with a transparent background?
Yes. Tick Transparent background and the PNG and SVG are saved with no white box behind the bars, so you can place them on a coloured label or packaging design. Keep a light, plain colour behind the bars and leave a clear margin either side, or scanners may struggle to read it.
Which barcode format should I use?
Code 128 works for almost anything — any letters, numbers or symbols — so it's the safest default. Use EAN-13 or UPC-A only if you already have a retail barcode number issued for a product; those formats have strict digit-count rules.
Why does it say my text doesn't fit the format?
Formats like EAN-13, UPC-A and ITF-14 encode a fixed number of digits only — no letters. Switch to Code 128 if you need to encode letters, or check the exact digit count required for the format you've chosen.
Can I use this barcode commercially?
Yes — the barcode is generated on your device with no watermark or licensing restriction from Altto. For real retail products, you'll still need a properly registered GS1 barcode number, not just a scannable image.
Will any scanner read this?
Most standard barcode scanners and phone camera apps read Code 128, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 39 and Code 93 without any extra setup. Codabar is common on older library and blood-bank systems specifically.
What is the check digit?
The last digit of an EAN, UPC or ITF-14 number is calculated from the digits before it, so a scanner can tell when it has misread the bars. Type 12 digits for EAN-13 and the 13th is added for you; type all 13 with a wrong last digit and the barcode won’t be made.
What size should I print a barcode?
A standard EAN-13 is about 37 by 26 mm, and GS1 allows it to be printed from 80% to 200% of that size. Much smaller and cheaper scanners struggle. For your own labels, print a test and scan it with the scanner you’ll actually use.
Can a barcode hold a web link?
Code 128 can, but a long link makes a very wide barcode that’s hard to scan, and phone cameras generally won’t open a link from a barcode the way they do from a QR code. For links, use the QR Code Generator instead.
How do I get a barcode number for my product?
In the UK, join GS1 UK, the organisation that issues retail barcode numbers. Membership gives you a company prefix and a set of product numbers (GTINs), with the smallest plan starting at around £50 a year plus VAT. Give each product variant its own number, then type it into this generator as an EAN-13 to make the barcode image.
Can I sell products with a barcode made here?
Yes, as long as the number is one registered to your business, such as a GTIN from your GS1 membership. The generator draws a standard EAN-13, UPC-A or other barcode from that number, the same as paid software would. What it can’t do is give you a registered number: a made-up number will scan, but shops and marketplaces won’t accept it.
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