Free Barcode Generator
Generate CODE128 barcodes for products, inventory labels, shipping, and internal IDs. The barcode is drawn instantly in your browser and can be downloaded as a PNG — no account required and nothing is uploaded.
QR codes carry far more data than a barcode — the QR Code Generator handles links and text, and the Random Number Generator supplies test values to encode.
How to use the Barcode
- 1 Type the text or number you want to encode.
- 2 Set the width and height, and choose whether to show the human-readable value underneath.
- 3 Check the preview, which re-renders as you type.
- 4 Download the barcode as an image.
How to Use
Enter the value you want to encode, then adjust the bar width and height to suit your label. The preview updates live. Click Download PNG to save a print-ready image.
- CODE128 encoding — the general-purpose standard
- Encodes letters, digits, and punctuation
- Adjustable bar width, height, and colors
- Optional human-readable text under the bars
About CODE128
CODE128 is a high-density linear barcode that can encode all 128 ASCII characters, making it the most flexible one-dimensional symbology for general use. Unlike UPC or EAN (which encode only fixed-length numbers for retail), CODE128 handles arbitrary text and is widely used for shipping labels, asset tags, and inventory management. Every CODE128 barcode includes a built-in checksum digit so scanners can detect read errors automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Which barcode format is used?
CODE128 Set B, which encodes the full printable ASCII range — letters, digits and punctuation — so it handles product codes and text labels alike. It is one of the most widely read symbologies in retail and logistics equipment.
Why does a barcode fail to scan?
Usually the quiet zone. Scanners need blank space at least ten times the width of the narrowest bar on both sides, and a barcode placed flush against text or an image edge will not read. Printing small is the other common cause — below about 0.25 mm per module, most laser scanners struggle.
Is a checksum required?
CODE128 includes a mandatory check character computed from the data, which the scanner verifies automatically. That is why a mistyped or smudged barcode fails outright rather than silently returning the wrong number — a useful property for inventory and shipping labels.
Related Generators & Misc
You might also need
Tools from other categories that people pair with the Barcode: