Which barcode type should I use?
| Type | Typical use |
|---|---|
| EAN-13 | Retail products sold in most of the world |
| UPC-A | Retail products in the US and Canada |
| EAN-8 / UPC-E | Small packages with little space |
| ITF-14 | Outer cartons and cases in a warehouse |
| Code 128 | Internal labels, shipping, asset tags; supports letters |
| Code 39 | Older industrial and inventory systems |
| Codabar | Libraries, blood banks and legacy systems |
About product numbers
A barcode is just a way of printing a number. For products sold through retailers or major marketplaces, the number itself (the GTIN) normally has to come from GS1, the organisation that manages the system. This tool draws a correct barcode for any number you enter, but it can't issue registered numbers. For internal stock, Code 128 with your own SKU is usually the better choice.
Printing tips
- Print black bars on a white or very light background. Red bars are invisible to many laser scanners.
- Leave the light margin (quiet zone) on both sides of the bars clear.
- Use the SVG for packaging artwork so bar widths stay exact at any size.
Learn how these compare with QR codes in QR code vs barcode.
