Everything you need to know about generating, customising, and downloading barcodes — 18 formats, live preview, and SVG export, all running in your browser.
Read the GuideA barcode generator is a tool that converts human-readable data — a product number, a URL, a serial code, or any text — into a machine-readable barcode symbol that a scanner or camera can decode instantly.
Traditional barcodes were created by specialist software installed on dedicated workstations. An online barcode generator runs entirely in your web browser: you type your data, choose a format, and the barcode is drawn on screen in milliseconds, ready to download and use.
Our generator supports both 1D (linear) barcodes — the familiar striped symbols seen on supermarket products, courier labels, and library books — and 2D barcodes such as QR codes and Data Matrix, which store significantly more information by encoding data in a grid of squares rather than a series of bars.
The first product scanned with a barcode in a retail store was a pack of Wrigley's chewing gum at a Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio, on 26 June 1974. The barcode format used was UPC-A — the same format supported by this generator.
Generate linear barcodes (Code-128, Code-39, EAN-13, UPC-A, ITF-14, Codabar and more) as well as 2D symbologies including QR Code, Data Matrix, PDF417, and Aztec — all from a single tool.
Your barcode renders in real time as you type. No buttons to click, no page reloads — the preview updates instantly so you can iterate quickly.
Each barcode type enforces its own input rules. EAN-13 requires exactly 12–13 digits, ITF-14 exactly 14, Pharmacode a number between 3 and 131,070. Invalid input is flagged immediately with a clear explanation.
Adjust bar width, height, margin, colors, font size, text position, error-correction level (for QR/Aztec), quiet zone, and rotation — then download the result.
Download your barcode as a high-resolution PNG, JPEG, or vector SVG. SVG is ideal for print production; PNG and JPEG suit web and email use.
No data is sent to a server. All generation happens client-side using JsBarcode and bwip-js, two trusted open-source libraries. Your data stays private.
Generating a barcode takes less than a minute. Follow these four steps:
Choose from the sidebar. Types are grouped by family — Linear Codes, EAN/UPC, 2D Codes, and GS1/Industry — so you can find the right format quickly. Each entry shows a short description of what data it accepts.
Type or paste your content into the Data field. The generator validates as you type: the border turns red and an error message explains exactly what needs fixing. A green border means your input is valid.
Open the Settings panel to fine-tune the output. You can change bar width, height, colors, quiet zone, and more. For QR and Aztec codes, you can also choose the error-correction level. All changes update the preview live.
Click Download to save your barcode. Use the arrow button next to it to choose between PNG, JPEG, or SVG. For linear barcodes, the Copy SVG button lets you paste the vector markup directly into a design tool or web page.
The generator uses two open-source libraries that run entirely in your browser. No data is transmitted to any server at any point.
Linear barcodes (Code-128, EAN, UPC, Codabar, ITF-14, MSI, Pharmacode, and most GS1 variants) are rendered as inline SVG using JsBarcode, a battle-tested open-source library. The SVG is drawn directly in the browser — no images, no server round-trips.
2D symbologies (QR Code, Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec, GS1 DataMatrix) and Code-93 are generated using bwip-js, a JavaScript port of the industry-standard BWIPP PostScript barcode library. Output is rendered to an HTML Canvas element.
For formats that require a check digit (EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, ITF-14), the library calculates and appends it automatically. You can supply either the full digit string or omit the check digit and let the tool add it.
PNG and JPEG exports serialise the SVG or Canvas to a data URL and trigger a browser download. SVG export wraps the raw markup in a Blob. All file naming is automatic — you receive a clean barcode.png, barcode.jpg, or barcode.svg.
Open the tool and start generating immediately. There is no sign-up, no email verification, and no subscription tier blocking features.
Every format, every setting, every export option is free. There are no watermarks on downloaded barcodes, no resolution limits, and no daily quotas.
Because the generator runs entirely client-side, the data you encode in your barcodes never leaves your device. This matters for serial numbers, patient IDs, or any sensitive information.
SVG export produces vector artwork suitable for offset printing, packaging design, and large-format labels. PNG export at 600px+ is sufficient for most digital uses.
The generator checks your input against each format's specification before rendering. You will never download a barcode that a scanner cannot read because of a character-set violation or incorrect digit count.
The tool is fully responsive and tested on desktop, tablet, and mobile browsers. Generate a shipping label barcode on your phone while standing in a warehouse.
No account. No watermarks. No limits. Runs entirely in your browser.
Open Barcode Generator