Barcode Generator

Which barcode type should you use?

Different industries use different barcode standards. Choosing the right one ensures your label scans correctly at checkout counters, warehouses and shipping hubs.

Quick guide

• EAN-13 — the global retail standard. Used on almost every product sold in shops outside North America. Requires a 12-digit number (the 13th check digit is calculated automatically).
• UPC-A — the North American retail standard, found on products sold in the US and Canada.
• Code 128 — the most flexible type. Encodes letters, numbers and symbols, making it ideal for internal inventory, shipping labels and asset tracking.
• Code 39 — an older alphanumeric format still common in logistics, government and industrial settings.
• ITF-14 — used on shipping cartons and outer packaging that contains multiple retail units.
• EAN-8 — a compact version of EAN-13 for very small products like cosmetics and chewing gum.

Barcode vs QR code — what is the difference?

A traditional barcode stores a short number read in one direction, which is why it is perfect for product identification at points of sale. A QR code stores far more data — links, text, contact cards — and can be scanned from any angle by a phone camera. If you need a product label for retail, use a barcode; if you want people to open a link or connect to WiFi, use a QR code.