Free Barcode Generator

Create a barcode in the format you need — free, no sign-up, nothing leaves your browser.

Enter a value to generate a barcode

Why some formats reject numbers that "look" valid

EAN-13 and UPC-A aren't just a fixed number of digits — the final digit is a check digit, mathematically calculated from all the digits before it using a specific formula. A scanner recalculates that check digit from the digits it just read and compares it to the one printed in the barcode; if they don't match, it knows the read was wrong and tries again rather than accepting bad data. This is why entering an almost-right 13-digit number for EAN-13 can still produce an error — the check digit has to be exactly correct for the specific 12 digits before it, not just any 13th digit. Formats like CODE128 and CODE39 don't have this restriction, which is part of why they're a safer default for encoding an arbitrary code rather than an official retail product number.

Frequently asked questions

Is this barcode generator really free?

Yes, completely free with no sign-up and no limit on how many barcodes you create.

Which format should I use?

CODE128 works for almost any letters and numbers and is a safe default. Use EAN-13 or UPC-A specifically for retail product barcodes, which follow strict length and checksum rules.

Why does my EAN-13 or UPC-A code show an error?

These formats require an exact number of digits (13 for EAN-13, 12 for UPC-A) and a valid checksum digit — try CODE128 instead if you just need to encode an arbitrary code.

What's Pharmacode or Codabar used for?

These are specialized, older formats still used in specific industries — Pharmacode in pharmaceutical packaging, Codabar in some libraries and blood banks. Most general uses are better served by CODE128.

Does my data get uploaded anywhere?

No. Barcodes are generated entirely in your browser — nothing is sent to a server.

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