How to Make a Barcode (Free, No Upload)
Updated 2026-06-21
To make a barcode, type the value you want to encode, choose the right barcode type (CODE128 for general use, EAN-13 or UPC-A for retail products), and download it as a PNG or SVG. The Barcode Generator does this entirely in your browser — your product numbers and SKUs never leave your device.
Pick the right barcode type
The symbology you choose depends on where the barcode will be scanned:
- CODE128 — the safest default for shipping labels, internal inventory, and asset tags. It encodes letters, digits, and symbols, and packs data densely.
- EAN-13 — the standard retail barcode used on most products worldwide. It needs exactly 13 digits (the 13th is a check digit that's calculated for you).
- UPC-A — the 12-digit retail standard common in North America.
- CODE39 — older but widely supported in automotive, defense, and badge systems; encodes uppercase letters and digits.
- ITF (Interleaved 2 of 5) — used on shipping cartons and cases; encodes an even number of digits.
If you don't have a real GS1-issued product number, use CODE128 for any in-house tracking rather than inventing a fake UPC or EAN.
Make and download your barcode
- Open the Barcode Generator.
- Select your barcode type from the list.
- Type or paste the value to encode. For EAN and UPC, enter only digits and match the required length.
- Adjust options like the displayed text and size if you need them.
- Download as PNG for documents, spreadsheets, and quick previews, or as SVG for print.
Choose SVG whenever the barcode will be printed at large sizes or scaled, such as on packaging or signage. Because SVG is vector-based, the bars stay razor-sharp at any resolution — there's no blurring or pixelation. PNG is fine for screen use and smaller labels.
Avoid common scanning failures
A barcode that looks fine on screen can still fail at the scanner. Watch for these pitfalls:
- Wrong digit count. EAN-13 needs 13 digits and UPC-A needs 12. Too few or too many will be rejected.
- No quiet zone. Scanners need blank margin on the left and right of the bars. Don't crop tight against the edges or place the barcode flush against other graphics.
- Too small or low contrast. Print in solid black on a white background, and don't shrink it so far that the bars merge. Test-scan with a phone before printing hundreds.
- Scaling a PNG up. Enlarging a raster image distorts the bars. Use SVG instead when you need a bigger size.
Because everything renders locally in your browser, you can generate sensitive SKUs, batch numbers, and internal asset IDs without uploading them to any server — there's no signup and nothing is stored.
Ready to create yours? Open the Barcode Generator, enter your value, and download a print-ready PNG or SVG in seconds.