How do I generate a barcode?
To generate a barcode, open FixDoks's Barcode Generator, choose a type such as Code 128, EAN-13 or UPC-A, and type the value. The tool calculates the check digit and draws the barcode in your browser. Paste a whole column of values to make hundreds at once, then download PNG or SVG files.
Barcode Generator at a glance
| Types | Code128, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, Code39, ITF-14, Codabar |
|---|---|
| Batch | Up to 500 values |
| Processing | In your browser; your files are not uploaded |
| Price | Free, no watermark |
| Download | Free Google sign-in |
| Works on | Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone |
How to use Barcode Generator
- Choose the barcode type. Use Code 128 for your own labels, EAN-13 or UPC-A for retail products.
- Type the value. To make many barcodes at once, put one value on each line.
- Optionally open Size and colours to adjust bar width, height and print resolution.
- Click Download PNG (several barcodes download as a ZIP) or Download SVG for sharp printing.
Which barcode type should I use?
| Type | What it holds | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Code 128 | Any letters, numbers and symbols | Inventory, asset tags, shipping labels, internal SKUs |
| EAN-13 | 13 digits | Retail products in India, Europe and most of the world |
| EAN-8 | 8 digits | Very small retail packs |
| UPC-A | 12 digits | Retail products in the USA and Canada |
| Code 39 | Capital letters, digits, a few symbols | ID cards, older industrial and government systems |
| ITF-14 | 14 digits | Outer cartons and cases of retail products |
| Codabar | Digits and a few symbols | Libraries, blood banks, courier slips |
If the barcode is only for your own shop, warehouse or office, Code 128 is almost always the best choice. It is compact, holds any text and every scanner reads it.
Retail barcodes need a registered number
This is the most important thing to know before selling a product. A shop, supermarket or marketplace such as Amazon or Flipkart expects the EAN-13 or UPC number on your pack to be registered to your company with GS1, the global barcode standards body. In India that is GS1 India, and Indian numbers begin with 890. The generator draws a correct barcode for any number you enter, but it cannot give you a registered number. If you make up a number, it may clash with another company's product. Register with GS1, get your number range, then use this tool to create the barcode images.
Check digits are added for you
EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A and ITF-14 end with a check digit calculated from the other digits. Scanners use it to catch misreads. You can type the number without it (12 digits for EAN-13, 11 for UPC-A, 7 for EAN-8, 13 for ITF-14) and FixDoks calculates it. If you type the full number, the tool checks that the last digit is correct and tells you if it is not, which catches typing mistakes before you print a thousand labels.
Making many barcodes at once
Paste a column from Excel or Google Sheets into the value box, one code per line, and download them all as a ZIP of PNG or SVG files. Each file is named after its value, which makes it easy to use them in label software, Word mail merge or a spreadsheet. Up to 500 values are handled in one go.
Printing tips
- Use SVG or the 4x PNG for printing. A low resolution image makes fuzzy bars that scanners reject.
- Do not stretch the barcode unevenly in Word or Canva. Resize it with the corner handle so the proportions stay the same.
- Keep the white margins. The blank space on each side, called the quiet zone, is part of the barcode.
- Black on white is safest. Dark blue or dark green on white also works. Red bars do not scan with red laser scanners.
- Test before a big print run. Scan a printed sample with a handheld scanner or with the barcode scanner on this site.