Barcode Maker: Turn Text or Numbers Into a PNG
Turn text or numbers into a scannable barcode, ready to download as a PNG.
About Barcode Generator
Barcode Generator turns the text you type into a Code 128 barcode: type a value, click Generate Barcode, and a scannable barcode appears with the original text printed underneath it for human reference. Letters, digits, spaces and most punctuation are all supported in a single barcode, unlike formats that only accept digits.
It's built for the labels that don't come from a retailer's own system: tagging shelves or bins in a small warehouse, numbering equipment or library books, printing a ticket or voucher number, or giving an internal part number something a handheld scanner can read instead of typing it in by hand.
Everything runs from the published Code 128 Subset B symbol table: each character is converted to its standard bar-and-space pattern, a checksum digit is calculated and appended automatically, and the whole thing is framed by the required start code, stop pattern and quiet margin. Only plain ASCII text is accepted — accented letters, Urdu script and emoji aren't part of the Code 128 character set, so the tool rejects them with a clear message instead of producing a barcode that looks right but won't scan.
How to use Barcode Generator
- Type the text or number you want encoded into the box. It can mix letters, digits and most punctuation.
- Click Generate Barcode.
- Check the status line — it confirms how many characters were encoded, or explains exactly which character couldn't be used.
- Scan the on-screen barcode with a phone camera or scanner app to confirm it reads back correctly before you print it anywhere.
- Click Download PNG to save the image, white margin included, ready to place in a label template or document.
Tips for best results
- Keep the white margin on both sides of the bars when you place the image in a label or document — that quiet zone is part of the barcode, and cropping it off is a common reason a barcode fails to scan.
- Don't shrink the barcode too far. If the narrowest bar becomes thinner than a scanner's optics can resolve, scans start failing intermittently even though the image looks fine on screen.
- Code 128 is case-sensitive: SKU-1025 and sku-1025 encode to different bars. Keep your source data consistent (pick one case) so the same item always produces the same barcode.
- The text shown under the bars is for people, not scanners — only the bars themselves are read. If it's cut off because the value is very long, that's cosmetic only; the scanned data is unaffected.
- For a product meant to be sold at retail, don't use this: you need an EAN-13/UPC number from GS1, not a Code 128 barcode of your own text.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a free bar code generator, and do I need to sign up?
Yes, it is free and there is no sign-up, watermark or limit. Bar code and barcode mean the same thing. Type your text or number, click Generate Barcode and download the PNG. It makes barcodes for your own labels, such as stock, assets and files. It cannot make the numbered barcodes shops use at the checkout.
How do I create a barcode with a barcode generator?
Type the text or number you want into the box, click Generate Barcode, check the preview and the status line, then click Download PNG. The result is a Code 128 barcode with its checksum, drawn in your browser. Scan the preview with a phone camera before you print it, and keep the white margin around the bars.
How to make barcodes for free?
Use the generator on this page: it is free, with no sign-up and no watermark, and you can make as many barcodes as you need by changing the text and clicking Generate Barcode again, one at a time. It supports plain ASCII text only (no Urdu, emoji or accented letters) and makes Code 128 barcodes only, not EAN-13 or UPC.
How to get a free barcode?
For your own labels, such as inventory, assets, library items or tickets, you can get a free barcode here in seconds: type a value and download the PNG. A barcode for a product sold in shops is different. Those numbers are licensed through GS1, which usually means a paid licence, and this tool cannot create them.
How to get a barcode for a product I want to sell in shops?
Shops and many online marketplaces expect EAN-13 or UPC numbers issued through GS1, the barcode standards body, by its member organisation in your country (GS1 Pakistan for Pakistani businesses). You apply for a company prefix, receive numbers for your products and only then print them as barcodes. A generator can draw a barcode for a number you own but cannot give you one, so check GS1's current steps and fees before you apply.
Which barcode format does this generate?
Code 128, Subset B — a 1D barcode that encodes any printable ASCII text, not just digits. It's one of the most widely supported formats for inventory, shipping and internal tracking labels, and most phone scanner apps and warehouse scanners read it natively.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. The barcode is drawn entirely in your browser using the HTML canvas element; the text you type never leaves your device.
Can this make an EAN-13 or UPC barcode for a retail product?
No. Those formats require a globally unique number issued by GS1 (or your country's numbering authority) and a different checksum scheme. This tool only produces Code 128, which is correct for internal use — asset tags, warehouse bins, library items — but not for a barcode meant to be scanned at a retail checkout.
What characters can I encode?
Plain ASCII: letters, digits, spaces and common punctuation (space through ~, character codes 32–126). Urdu script, emoji, accented letters and curly quotes aren't supported by Code 128 and are rejected with a clear error rather than silently dropped or mangled.
Will the barcode actually scan?
It should — the encoding includes the standard Code 128 start code, checksum digit and stop pattern, generated from the published symbol table rather than approximated. Scan it with a phone camera or barcode scanner before printing a large batch, the same way you'd check any barcode from any generator.
Can I change the bar color or add a logo?
No, only plain black bars on a white background. Scanners rely on strong contrast between bars and background, so a colored or low-contrast barcode is more likely to fail to scan.