Barcode Generator: Create and Print Barcodes

Type a value, pick one of 12 symbologies (Code 128, EAN, UPC, QR Code and more), preview it live, then download a PNG or PDF — one at a time, or in batches of up to 50.

Need a barcode for a shelf label, a carton, a pallet or a product — right now, without opening design software? The Barcode Generator in Utilities turns any value you type into a scannable barcode in the browser. It covers the codes warehouses actually use: 8 one-dimensional (linear) barcodes and 4 two-dimensional codes, with a live preview and PNG / PDF downloads. It is a standalone tool: you type the value yourself (for example a SKU, a location code or an LPN copied from its page) and the generator does the rest.

Step 1: Make one barcode (Single tab)#

1. Open Utilities → Barcode Generator (/utilities/barcode-generator) and stay on the Single tab.
2. Pick a symbology from the dropdown. It is grouped: 1D barcodes — Code 128, Code 39, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, ITF-14, Codabar; 2D codes — QR Code, Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec Code.
3. Type the data to encode. Not sure what a valid value looks like? Click “Fill sample” and the page drops in a working example for that symbology — edit it from there.
4. Watch the Preview panel on the right: the barcode renders live as you type. If the value breaks the symbology’s rules, a red message names the rule instead — fix the value, no guessing.

• Code 128: ASCII characters only — the general-purpose warehouse choice for SKUs, locations and LPNs.
• Code 39: uppercase letters, digits, space and - . $ / + % only (no lowercase).
• EAN-13 / UPC-A: enter 12 or 11 digits and the check digit is generated for you (13 / 12 digits also accepted). EAN-8 takes 7–8 digits, UPC-E 6–8, ITF-14 13–14.
• Codabar: the value must start and end with a letter A–D, with digits and - . $ / + : in between.
• The 2D codes (QR Code, Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec Code) accept free text such as a URL or a serial number — no digit-only rule.

Step 2: Tune how it looks#

• Scale (1–5): how large the barcode renders. Bigger scale = bigger download and an easier scan from a distance.
• Bar height (1D only, 3–60): taller bars survive rough printing and worn labels better.
• Show human-readable text (1D only): prints the value under the bars, so a person can still type it when a scanner fails.
• Bar color and Background: pick both colors. Keep strong contrast (dark bars on a light background) or scanners will struggle.
• Error correction (QR Code only, L / M / Q / H, default M): higher levels keep the code readable when part of it is dirty or torn, at the cost of a denser code.
• Rotation: 0°, 90°, 180° or 270° — handy when the label space is vertical.

Some options only exist where they make sense: bar height and the readable-text switch appear for 1D barcodes only, and error correction appears for QR Code only. If an option you expected is missing, you are looking at a symbology it does not apply to.

Step 3: Download and print#

1. Click “Download PNG” for an image file, or “Download PDF” for a one-barcode PDF. The file name carries the symbology and a timestamp, so downloads never overwrite each other.
2. To print: open the PDF and print it as-is, or place the PNG on your label. Print one test label first and scan it with the actual scanner and app you will use in the warehouse — a code that scans on your phone may still fail on an old scanner if it is printed too small.
3. Printing proper shipping or warehouse labels in quantity? Utilities → Label Print (/utilities/label-print) is the tool built for single and batch label printing; this generator is for creating the barcode itself.

Batch mode: up to 50 barcodes at once#

1. Open the Batch tab and pick one symbology — a batch always uses a single symbology for all its values.
2. Paste or type the values into the text box, one value per line, up to 50 lines — a column copied from a spreadsheet lands perfectly, one row per line.
3. Click “Generate all”. Each value becomes its own card with its barcode, drawn with the standard look (black on white, readable text on). A value that breaks the symbology’s rules shows the rule error on its card instead of a barcode — the rest of the batch still generates.
4. Download from each card: every card has its own PNG button, named after the symbology and the value. There is no single ZIP for the batch — grab the ones you need.

Docklify features used in this article#

• Barcode Generator, Single tab (12 symbologies, live preview, PNG / PDF download) — Utilities → Barcode Generator (/utilities/barcode-generator)
• Barcode Generator, Batch tab (one value per line, up to 50, per-card PNG) — Utilities → Barcode Generator (/utilities/barcode-generator)
• Label Print, for single and batch label printing — Utilities → Label Print (/utilities/label-print)