Barcode Generator

Create scannable barcodes from any text or number in common formats, and download as an image. No signup. Ideal for inventory, labels, products and asset tracking.

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Text or number to encode

Barcode type

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This barcode generator creates a scannable barcode from any text or number, directly in your browser. Enter your data, choose a barcode format, and download the barcode as an image ready to print or use. No account, no install, so businesses and individuals can make barcodes for inventory, labels and products on any device in seconds.

On this page

How to Generate a Barcode Step by Step
What Barcodes Are and How They Encode Data
Barcodes Versus QR Codes for Your Data
Who Uses a Barcode Generator
Pro Tips for Scannable Barcodes
Common Barcode Mistakes to Avoid
Related Tools You May Need Next
Frequently Asked Questions

How to Generate a Barcode Step by Step

Enter your data. Type the text or number you want the barcode to represent, such as a product code, an SKU, an asset ID or a reference number, into the input field.
Choose a barcode format. Select the barcode type that suits your use. Some formats accept only numbers, others accept letters and numbers, and different formats are standard in different industries.
Generate the barcode. The tool encodes your data into the barcode's pattern of bars and spaces, producing a scannable image that represents exactly what you entered.
Check it scans. Before relying on it, scan the barcode with a phone or a scanner to confirm it reads back the correct data. A barcode that looks fine may not scan if the data or format is wrong.
Download the image. Save the barcode as an image, ready to place on a label, print onto packaging, or add to a document. Keep it at a size large enough to scan reliably.

Barcode generator creating a scannable barcode from a code

What Barcodes Are and How They Encode Data

A barcode is a machine readable representation of data, encoding text or numbers as a pattern of parallel bars and spaces of varying widths. The first barcode was patented in 1952, but barcodes only became ubiquitous in the 1970s when the Universal Product Code, the familiar UPC on retail products, was standardised and adopted by supermarkets. A scanner reads the pattern of light and dark and decodes it back into the original data almost instantly.

There are many barcode formats, called symbologies, each with different rules and uses. Some, like UPC and EAN, are numeric only and used for retail products worldwide. Others, like Code 128 and Code 39, accept letters and numbers and are common for shipping, inventory and asset tracking. Choosing the right format matters, because the wrong one may not accept your data or may not be recognised by the scanners in your industry.

The barcode is a key, not a container. A barcode holds a short code, not full information. It works as a lookup key: the scanner reads the code and a database provides the details. This is why barcodes are small and reliable. If you need to embed more data directly, a QR code holds far more than a linear barcode.

The genius of barcodes is speed and accuracy at the point of scanning. Typing a long product code by hand is slow and error prone, but a scanner reads a barcode in a fraction of a second with virtually no errors, because the format includes checks that catch misreads. This is why barcodes transformed retail, logistics and inventory: they replaced manual data entry with instant, reliable scanning across billions of items every day.

A barcode encodes data linearly, in one dimension, which limits how much it can hold, typically a short code or number. This is usually all that is needed, because the barcode is a key that looks up full details in a database rather than carrying those details itself. A product barcode holds only the product identifier, and the till system uses that to fetch the name, price and stock information, keeping the barcode simple and reliable.

Barcodes Versus QR Codes for Your Data

Aspect	Linear barcode	QR code
Data capacity	Small, a short code or number	Large, URLs, text, contact details
Shape	Bars and spaces in a line	A square grid of dots
Typical use	Retail products, inventory, shipping	Marketing links, tickets, payments
Scanning	Dedicated scanners and phones	Phone cameras
Best for	A code that looks up details in a system	Embedding data or a link directly

Who Uses a Barcode Generator

Retailers and shopsA shop generates barcodes for products or SKUs so items can be scanned at the till and tracked in stock, replacing manual code entry.

Warehouse and inventory managersSomeone managing inventory creates barcodes for shelves, bins or items so stock can be counted and located quickly with a scanner.

Asset trackersAn organisation labels equipment, tools or IT assets with barcodes so each item can be scanned to log its location, owner or maintenance.

Small businesses and makersA small seller generates barcodes for their products to meet a marketplace requirement or to run their own simple point of sale system.

Event and library organisersSomeone managing tickets, memberships or a library collection uses barcodes on cards or items for fast check in and lending.

Warehouse manager labelling stock with generated barcodes

Pro Tips for Scannable Barcodes

Match the format to your industry. Retail products usually need UPC or EAN, while shipping and internal tracking often use Code 128 or Code 39. Using the format your scanners and systems expect is essential for the barcode to be recognised.

Test scan before printing a batch. Always scan the generated barcode to confirm it reads the correct data before printing hundreds of labels. A format or data error caught now saves a costly reprint later.

Keep the barcode large enough. A barcode printed too small may not scan reliably. Give it enough size and a clear quiet zone, the blank margin around it, so scanners can read it cleanly at the distance they will be used.

Use numeric only data for numeric formats. Formats like UPC and EAN accept only numbers. If your data includes letters, choose an alphanumeric format like Code 128 instead, or the barcode cannot be generated correctly.

Consider a QR code for more data or links. If you need to encode a URL, contact details or more than a short code, our QR tools handle that, since a linear barcode holds far less than a QR code can.

Print on a plain, high contrast background. Barcodes scan best as dark bars on a light background with good contrast. Avoid printing over patterns or in low contrast colours, which can defeat the scanner.

Common Barcode Mistakes to Avoid

Choosing a format that rejects your data. Numeric only formats like UPC cannot encode letters. If your code contains letters and you pick a numeric format, generation fails or is wrong. Match the format to whether your data is numeric or alphanumeric.

Printing the barcode too small to scan. A barcode shrunk to fit a tiny label may become unscannable. Keep it at a readable size with a clear margin around it, and test scan at the actual print size before committing to a batch.

Skipping the test scan. Assuming a barcode works because it looks right is risky. Always scan it to confirm it decodes to the correct data, since an unnoticed error propagates across every label you print.

Using the wrong format for your scanners. If your industry or equipment expects a particular symbology, a barcode in a different format may not be recognised even if it is technically valid. Use the format your scanning systems are set up to read.

For encoding links, contact details or more data than a barcode holds, our QR tools are the better choice, and the QR Code Scanner reads them back. To generate unique codes to encode, the Random String Generator creates identifiers.

Downloaded barcode image ready to print on a label

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I generate a barcode?

Enter the text or number you want to encode, choose the barcode format that suits your use, and the tool creates a scannable barcode image you can download. Before printing in quantity, scan the barcode with a phone or scanner to confirm it reads back your exact data. Keep the barcode large enough, with a clear margin, so it scans reliably at the size you will use it.

What barcode format should I use?

It depends on your data and industry. Retail products typically use UPC or EAN, which are numeric only. Shipping, inventory and asset tracking often use Code 128 or Code 39, which accept letters and numbers. Choose the format your scanners and systems expect, and make sure it accepts the kind of data you have, numeric or alphanumeric, so the barcode generates correctly and is recognised.

What is the difference between a barcode and a QR code?

A linear barcode encodes a small amount of data, usually a short code, as bars and spaces in a line, and works as a key that looks up full details in a database. A QR code is a square grid that holds far more data, such as a URL, contact details or longer text, directly. Use a barcode for a short code in a system, and a QR code to embed a link or more information.

Why will my barcode not scan?

Common causes are printing it too small, insufficient contrast, a missing quiet zone (the blank margin around it), or using a format your scanner does not support. Sometimes the data does not match the format's rules, such as letters in a numeric only format. Test scan at the actual print size, ensure good contrast and margin, and confirm the format suits both your data and your scanners.

Can a barcode contain letters as well as numbers?

Some formats can and some cannot. Numeric only formats like UPC and EAN accept digits alone, while alphanumeric formats like Code 128 and Code 39 accept both letters and numbers. If your data includes letters, you must choose an alphanumeric format. Trying to encode letters in a numeric only format will fail, so match the format to the characters in your data.

How much data can a barcode hold?

A linear barcode holds a relatively small amount of data, typically a short code or number of up to a few dozen characters depending on the format. This is by design, since the barcode usually acts as a key that looks up full details in a database rather than carrying those details itself. For larger data such as URLs or contact information, a QR code is the appropriate choice.

Do I need special software to use the barcode?

No special software is needed to generate it here, and to scan it you can use a dedicated barcode scanner or, for many formats, a smartphone camera or scanning app. The barcode image you download can be printed on labels or packaging or added to documents. To use barcodes in a full inventory or point of sale system, that system reads the scanned codes and looks up the details.

Is the barcode generator free?

Yes, it is completely free with no account and no usage limit. You can generate as many barcodes as you like, in the supported formats, as often as you like, at no cost. It runs entirely in your browser on any device, so there is nothing to download or install, and your barcode image downloads ready to print or use immediately.