Barcode Generator

This makes the two barcodes that cover almost every real need: Code 128 for asset tags, shipping labels and internal SKUs, and EAN-13 for retail products. Type the value and the bars appear, with the EAN-13 check digit worked out for you. Download as a PNG, or as an SVG that stays sharp at whatever size you print it.

How to use it

1. Pick the barcode type — Code 128 for labels and SKUs, EAN-13 for retail.
2. Enter the value: any plain text for Code 128, or 12 digits for EAN-13.
3. Download the SVG for printing, or the PNG for a screen.

Examples

• EKAAN-001 as a Code 128 label for an asset tag
• 12 digits like 890123456789 become a scannable EAN-13, with the check digit computed

Frequently asked questions

Which barcode type do I need?

If you are labelling your own things — equipment, shelves, internal stock — use Code 128. It takes letters and digits, so your own reference can go straight on the label. If you are putting a product on a shop shelf, you need EAN-13, which is digits only and follows the international retail standard. Choosing wrongly is obvious quickly: a retail scanner will not accept an arbitrary Code 128 string as a product.

What is the EAN-13 check digit?

It is the thirteenth digit, calculated from the first twelve, and it exists so a scanner can tell a misread from a real number. The digits are weighted alternately by one and three, summed, and the check digit is whatever brings that total to the next multiple of ten. This tool computes it for you, and if you type all thirteen and the last one disagrees, it says so rather than quietly replacing it — because a wrong check digit usually means you mistyped one of the other twelve.

Can I use these on products I sell?

For your own internal use, yes, freely. But a retail EAN-13 that will be scanned in shops must use a number range assigned to you by GS1, the body that issues them, for a fee. Inventing a number that looks valid risks colliding with another company's product. This tool encodes any valid number correctly; it cannot give you the right to use one.

Will it scan if I resize it?

Download the SVG and it will, because it stays sharp at any size. Enlarging the PNG softens the bar edges, which is exactly what a scanner struggles with. Keep the white space at each end — those quiet zones are part of the symbol, not padding — and avoid printing very small: below about 2cm wide, Code 128 becomes unreliable on cheap scanners.