Free barcode generator: EAN-13, UPC, Code 128, ISBN

What is a barcode generator?

A barcode generator turns a product number, ISBN, serial number or any text into black and white bars that a scanner or phone camera can read. Shops, warehouses, publishers and online sellers use barcodes to identify products and move them quickly at the till or in the warehouse.

WebToolsMe's free barcode generator creates the most widely used formats: EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, ITF-14, Code 128, GS1-128, Code 39 and ISBN, with optional EAN-2 and EAN-5 add-ons. It calculates the check digit, warns you about mistakes and lets you download a sharp PNG, JPG or print-ready SVG. No sign-up, no watermark.

How to create a barcode

• Choose the type: EAN-13 for retail products, Code 128 for text, ITF-14 for cartons, ISBN for books.
• Enter the data: for EAN and UPC you can leave out the check digit; it is added for you.
• Adjust the look: bar width, height, text size, colors, quiet zone and rotation.
• Test it: “Test scan” reads the image with a real barcode decoder.
• Download: PNG, JPG or SVG, or copy the image to paste it into a label design.

Bulk barcode generator and label printing

No need to create barcodes one by one for hundreds of products. In the bulk generator tab, type one barcode number per line or paste a column from Excel to create up to 500 barcodes at once. Add the product name after a semicolon and it is printed under the barcode. CSV and TXT uploads work too.

Every line's check digit is calculated or verified; invalid lines are listed with their line number and duplicates are counted. Then choose a label sheet template (A4 3×8, 3×7, 2×7, 4×10, 5×13, US Letter 3×10 or a custom size), how many copies of each barcode you need and which label to start from on a partly used sheet. Export the barcodes to PDF or print them directly: the PDF is vector, so bars stay sharp on any printer.

Barcode types explained

• EAN-13: the standard retail barcode used worldwide. 13 digits, the last is the check digit.
• UPC-A and UPC-E: the retail barcode of the USA and Canada; UPC-E is the compressed version for small packs.
• EAN-8: a shorter retail code for very small products.
• ITF-14: marks outer cartons and cases with the 14-digit GTIN; it prints well on corrugated board.
• Code 128: encodes letters, digits and symbols compactly; common in shipping labels and inventory.
• GS1-128: Code 128 with GS1 Application Identifiers, e.g. GTIN, lot number, expiry date and serial number.
• Code 39: a simple, robust alphanumeric code used in industry, healthcare and ID cards.
• ISBN: the EAN-13 barcode of a book (978/979). Add an EAN-5 add-on for the suggested price.

Check digits and validation

Most retail barcodes end with a check digit calculated from the other digits. It lets the scanner detect misreads. You can type the code without it and the generator adds the right digit. If you type the full code and the last digit is wrong, you will see the correct value instead of a barcode that fails at the till.

UPC-E codes are expanded to UPC-A to calculate the check digit, ISBN-10 numbers are converted to ISBN-13, and GS1-128 values are checked for the correct length per Application Identifier.

Where do product barcode numbers come from?

You can create any barcode here, but the numbers on retail products (EAN/UPC, the GTIN) are issued by GS1, the global standards organization, through its national member offices. Marketplaces and large retailers check that the number is registered to your company. For internal use such as stock, asset tags, library or event tickets, Code 128 or Code 39 with your own numbers is perfectly fine.

ISBNs are issued by the national ISBN agency of the country where the book is published.

Printing tips

• Size: EAN-13 is designed for about 37 × 26 mm (100%); it may be scaled from 80% to 200%. Do not shorten the height too much.
• Bar width: at 300 DPI, 4 px per module is about 0.34 mm, close to the standard EAN size. The page shows the printed size for each setting.
• Colors: black bars on a white background are safest. Red, orange or yellow bars are invisible to many red-light scanners.
• Quiet zone: keep empty space on both sides; text or a frame touching the bars breaks the scan.
• Vector: use SVG for print shops and label software; it stays sharp at any size.
• Test: use “Test scan”, then try a printed sample with a real scanner.

Privacy

The barcode is created entirely in your browser. Product numbers and texts are not sent or stored anywhere. Only your appearance settings and the last barcode type are remembered in this browser.

Frequently asked questions