Barcode Tools · Guide
Which barcode do I need?
Answer four questions to get a recommendation, or read the comparison table. The answer mostly depends on where the barcode will be scanned and who has to issue the number.
Quick quiz
Nothing is uploaded; the quiz runs in your browser.
Recommendation
Barcode comparison table
| Type | Data capacity | Typical use | GS1 membership needed? | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPC-A | 12 digits (GTIN-12) | Retail checkout, North America | Yes, for retail GTINs | Open tool |
| EAN-13 | 13 digits (GTIN-13) | Retail checkout, worldwide | Yes, for retail GTINs | Open tool |
| EAN-8 | 8 digits (GTIN-8) | Very small retail packages | Yes | Open tool |
| Code 128 | Variable length; full printable ASCII | Inventory, shipping labels, internal IDs | No (open symbology) | Open tool |
| GS1-128 | Variable length; GS1 Application Identifier data | Distribution: batch, expiry, SSCC, case GTIN | Yes, GS1 identifiers | Open tool |
| QR Code | Up to 7,089 numerals (Model 2, version 40) | URLs, tickets, marketing, any text | No for plain QR; GS1 Digital Link uses GS1 numbers | Open tool |
| Data Matrix | High-capacity 2D, small footprint | Tiny parts; GS1 DataMatrix in healthcare | No for plain; GS1 DataMatrix uses GS1 numbers | Open tool |
| ITF-14 | 14 digits (GTIN-14) | Cartons and outer cases | Yes, GTIN-14 | Open tool |
| Code 39 | Variable; 0-9, A-Z and - . space $ / + % | Industrial and legacy internal labels | No (open symbology) | Open tool |
Capacity is stated only where a primary source gives a figure: UPC-A, EAN-13, EAN-8 and ITF-14 are fixed-length GTIN formats, and 7,089 numerals is the QR Code Model 2 maximum per Denso Wave, the QR Code inventor. Variable-length formats have no single figure because capacity depends on symbol size and print quality. Classification follows GS1 barcodes: UPC/EAN for retail, GS1 DataBar for extra attributes such as fresh-food weight, GS1-128 and ITF-14 for distribution, and 2D codes such as GS1 DataMatrix for high-capacity data. As of 30 Sep 2026.
GS1 membership: GS1 states it is the only official provider of GTINs and EAN/UPC barcodes (GS1: get barcodes). The symbology itself (Code 128, Code 39, QR) is open: membership matters only when you encode GS1 identifiers. "Yes" in the table means the number inside the barcode must come from GS1, not that the picture is licensed.
Worked scenarios
- Candle maker selling on a retail shelf: needs a GTIN from GS1, printed as EAN-13 (or UPC-A if a US retailer asks). Use the EAN-13 generator.
- Case of 12 candles to a distributor: a GTIN-14 on an ITF-14 label, or GS1-128 if the distributor wants batch and expiry. See the ITF-14 generator.
- Shop labelling its own shelves and tools: Code 128 with your own scheme, e.g. SHELF-A-04. No GS1 prefix needed. Code 128 generator.
- Restaurant menu on a table card: a QR code with the menu URL. QR generator.
- Clinic tagging small supplies: GS1 DataMatrix is what GS1 documents for healthcare. Follow your supplier's and GS1's guideline; this site covers the 1D formats and QR.
What this page does not do: it does not issue numbers or check that a number belongs to you. A checksum check, such as the EAN/UPC validator, confirms format only. Retailers and marketplaces set their own requirements, so confirm with them before printing.
Barcode choice: FAQ
Do I need GS1 to make a barcode?
Only if you want a GTIN for retail. GS1 says it is the only official provider of GTINs and EAN/UPC barcodes, so UPC-A and EAN-13 numbers for products sold through stores come from a GS1 membership. Code 128, Code 39 and plain QR codes carry whatever data you choose, so no GS1 prefix is involved for internal use.
What is the difference between UPC-A and EAN-13?
UPC-A encodes 12 digits and EAN-13 encodes 13. Both carry a GTIN and are scanned at retail checkouts. Use whichever your sales channel asks for.
Which barcode goes on a shipping carton?
ITF-14 or GS1-128 are the GS1 barcodes used in distribution. ITF-14 carries a 14-digit GTIN-14; GS1-128 can add attributes such as batch or expiry date. Ask the receiving warehouse which one it requires.
Can a QR code replace a product barcode at the till?
Not by itself. A QR code can hold far more data than a linear barcode (up to 7,089 numerals for the largest Model 2 version, per Denso Wave), but a retail checkout expects an EAN/UPC GTIN unless the retailer says otherwise. GS1 describes 2D barcodes as the direction of travel and runs a retail migration programme, so check with the retailer.
When should I choose Data Matrix?
Data Matrix is a compact 2D symbol. GS1 publishes a guideline for using GS1 DataMatrix in healthcare, where small items need a GTIN plus batch and expiry data. This site does not yet have a dedicated Data Matrix generator.
Does a generated barcode prove the number is mine?
No. A barcode image is only a picture of the digits you typed. A format or checksum check confirms the digits are well formed, not that the number was issued to you.
Is anything I enter uploaded?
No. The quiz and every generator it links to run in your browser.