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Barcode Generator

CODE128 and EAN barcodes, ready to download.

100% FreeRuns instantlyNo watermark
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  1. 1Choose toolOpen the Vootkit workspace.
  2. 2Add inputProvide the content or settings.
  3. 3ProcessLet the browser do the work.
Private by designProcessed on your device where possible.
Works on any deviceDesktop, tablet and mobile browsers.
No installationOpen the page and start working.
Always free coreUse the free plan for everyday tasks.

How to use Barcode Generator

Choose tool

Open the Vootkit workspace.

01
Add input

Provide the content or settings.

02
Process

Let the browser do the work.

03
Finish

Copy, download or continue.

04

Your files stay private

Your work is processed locally in your browser where possible and is never added to a Vootkit upload library.

Learn more about privacy
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Barcode formats are not interchangeable, and picking the wrong one produces something that scans perfectly on your screen and is rejected the moment it reaches a real till.

What Barcode Generator does

Generates a scannable barcode in CODE128, EAN-13, UPC-A or CODE39 from whatever value you enter.

The format choice is the decision that matters. Retail formats validate their contents and calculate a check digit; general-purpose ones accept anything you give them.

Which format to use

CODE128Any text or numbers — the default for internal use, shipping and asset tags
EAN-13Retail outside North America; 12 digits plus a calculated check digit
UPC-ARetail in North America; 12 digits including its check digit
CODE39Older, bulkier, uppercase and digits — still common in defence and automotive
Check digitCalculated for you on EAN and UPC — it is not part of what you type
Quiet zoneThe white margin either side is required, not decoration

Detailed steps

  1. Pick the format for where the code will actually be scanned.
  2. Enter the value. For EAN-13 and UPC-A that is digits only, and the length must match.
  3. Print at a sensible size — too small and the bars merge under a scanner, and a laser printer beats an inkjet for edge sharpness.
  4. Keep the white margin either side. Cropping to the bars breaks it.

Worth knowing

Generating your own EAN-13 does not give you a retail barcode. Codes that appear on products sold through shops are issued by GS1, and the leading digits identify the company that registered them — inventing a number that passes the check-digit test will scan, but it may already belong to somebody else and no retailer will accept it. For internal stock, asset tags and shipping labels, none of that applies and CODE128 is the sensible choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which format should I choose?

CODE128 for anything internal — stock, assets, shipping, warehouse locations — because it encodes any text and is compact. EAN-13 or UPC-A only if the item is genuinely going to be sold through retail, in which case the number needs to be issued to you rather than invented.

Can I make my own retail barcode?

Not legitimately. Retail numbers are allocated by GS1 and the leading digits identify the registering company, so a self-generated number may collide with a real product. It will scan, and it will fail the moment a retailer checks it against the global registry. For internal use there is no such constraint.

What is the check digit?

A final digit calculated from the others, so a scanner can detect a misread rather than silently returning the wrong product. On EAN-13 you provide twelve digits and the thirteenth is computed; UPC-A works the same way. You do not type it, and typing it produces a length error.

Why will my printed barcode not scan?

Most often it is size or margin. Printed too small, the bars blur together at scanner resolution; cropped tight to the bars, the quiet zone either side is gone and the scanner cannot find the edges. Low-contrast printing and glossy laminate reflections account for most of the rest.

Is Barcode Generator free?

Yes. The Vootkit free plan includes 5 tool runs a day. Upgrade to Vootkit Pro for unlimited daily use, an ad-free workspace and saved workflows.

Are my files uploaded?

No. Barcode Generator runs entirely in your browser — your file is processed on your own device and never sent to a server. There is nothing for us to store or delete.

Do I need to install anything?

No. Barcode Generator works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet or phone. Open the page and start.

How often can I use it? Is there a daily limit?

On the free plan you get 5 tool runs a day. When you reach the limit you'll see a prompt to upgrade, and it resets the next day. Vootkit Pro removes the cap entirely for unlimited daily use.

This tool processes everything locally in your browser. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it will still work.