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Barcode Generator — EAN-13, Code 128, More

Generate barcodes in every common format — EAN-13 / EAN-8 (retail), UPC-A / UPC-E (US retail), Code 128 (general purpose), Code 39 (legacy / industrial), ITF (cartons), DataMatrix (small content), PDF417 (high-density). MiniMax Converter validates the input for each format (EAN-13 needs 12 or 13 digits with checksum, etc.) and exports as PNG or SVG.

Barcode Generator — EAN-13, Code 128, More — screenshot

Which format when

EAN-13: retail products globally. 12 or 13 digits, you get the checksum auto-calculated. UPC-A: US retail (essentially EAN-13 with country code 0). Code 128: general purpose, encodes any ASCII, compact for short alphanumeric. Default for shipping labels, ID badges. Code 39: older but ubiquitous in industrial / military / healthcare. Less compact than Code 128. ITF (Interleaved 2 of 5): numeric only, very compact — used on shipping cartons. DataMatrix: 2D, encodes any data, tiny. Pharmaceuticals, electronics, postage. PDF417: 2D, high density — driver licenses, boarding passes.

How to use it

  1. Open Tools → Create & Generate → Barcode.
  2. Pick the barcode type.
  3. Enter the content. Format-specific validation runs as you type (EAN-13 expects digits, Code 39 expects alphanumeric, etc.).
  4. Adjust appearance: bar width, height, include text below, font size.
  5. Save as PNG or SVG.

EAN-13 checksum — how it works

EAN-13 has 12 data digits + 1 check digit. The check digit is computed by alternating ×1 and ×3 multipliers across the first 12, summing, taking modulo 10, then computing (10 − that) mod 10. If you enter 12 digits, the tool auto-calculates and appends the checksum. If you enter all 13, it verifies the checksum matches.

Questions and answers

EAN-13 or UPC-A?

EAN-13 is the global standard. UPC-A is a US/Canada subset (essentially EAN-13 starting with 0). Modern scanners read both. For US retail, UPC-A is traditional; for everywhere else, EAN-13.

How small can I print a barcode?

Standard scanner minimum is ~80% of "nominal" size. EAN-13 nominal is ~30mm wide; minimum is ~24mm. Smaller and scanners struggle. DataMatrix can go down to ~3mm — that's its advantage.

Do I need to apply for a real EAN/UPC range?

For real retail use, yes — GS1 assigns ranges. For internal use (warehouse tracking, asset labels), any 12-digit number works. The tool doesn't validate the prefix against GS1's registry.

PNG or SVG?

SVG for print (vector, perfect at any size). PNG for screen or quick use.

Related tools

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