Barcode Generator
Create CODE128, EAN-13, UPC and more as PNG
About the Barcode Generator
Need a scannable barcode for a product label, a library book, a warehouse bin, or an asset tag? This generator turns a line of text or digits into a crisp 1D barcode you can download and print, supporting the symbologies that actually show up in retail and logistics.
It renders with JsBarcode directly in the page and covers CODE128 and CODE39 for general alphanumeric data, EAN-13 and EAN-8 for international retail, UPC-A for North American products, ITF-14 for shipping cartons, plus MSI, Pharmacode, and Codabar. Each format has strict rules — EAN-13 expects 12 or 13 digits and computes a check digit — and the tool tells you immediately when your data does not fit the chosen format instead of producing an unscannable image.
Small businesses printing their own price stickers, makers labelling inventory, and developers mocking up packaging all use it the same way: type the data, pick the format, tune the look, and export a PNG.
How to Use the Barcode Generator
- Type or paste your data into the Data field — a valid sample loads for whichever format you pick.
- Choose a symbology from the Format dropdown (CODE128 is the safe default for mixed text).
- Adjust the bar width, height, and margin sliders until the barcode suits your label size.
- Set the bar and background colors, and toggle whether the human-readable text prints beneath the bars.
- Click "Download PNG" to save the barcode rendered at 3× resolution for sharp printing.
Why Use ToolForge’s Barcode Generator
- Generation happens in your browser through JsBarcode, so the data you encode — SKUs, asset IDs, tracking numbers — never leaves your machine.
- Live validation flags input that is wrong for the chosen symbology (for example, letters in an EAN-13) before you waste a print run.
- The PNG is rasterized at triple resolution from the vector render, so scanners read it cleanly even at small label sizes.
- Ten formats sit behind one dropdown, covering both the fixed-length retail GTINs and the flexible alphanumeric codes used internally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between CODE128 and UPC/EAN?
CODE128 is a variable-length symbology that encodes letters, digits, and symbols, which makes it ideal for internal use like asset tags and shipping references. UPC and EAN are fixed-length, digits-only retail standards that identify a product globally (a GTIN) and include a mandatory check digit — you use them when a barcode must scan at a store checkout.
Why does it say my barcode value is invalid?
Each format enforces its own rules. EAN-13 needs 12–13 digits, EAN-8 needs 7–8, and UPC-A needs 11–12, all numeric. CODE39 and Codabar restrict the allowed characters. Switch to CODE128 if you just need to encode arbitrary text, or correct the length and character set for your chosen retail format.
Can I print these barcodes for real products?
Yes for internal codes. For retail UPC or EAN barcodes that scan at checkout, the underlying number must be a legitimate GTIN you have been assigned by GS1 — this tool renders the barcode correctly, but it cannot issue you a registered product number.
Is the barcode image free to use?
Completely. The generated PNG has no watermark and is free for personal and commercial use.
