Question 1

What barcode format should I use for retail products?

Accepted Answer

For retail products use EAN-13 (13 digits, used worldwide including UK, EU, India) or UPC-A (12 digits, primarily US and Canada). Most retail scanners read both. For Amazon FBA, Walmart and major retailers, the code must be officially registered with GS1.

Question 2

What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?

Accepted Answer

UPC-A is 12 digits used in US/Canada retail. EAN-13 is 13 digits used globally. EAN-13 is essentially UPC-A with a leading country/region digit. Most modern barcode scanners read both formats interchangeably.

Question 3

Do I need a GS1-registered barcode to sell on Amazon?

Accepted Answer

Yes — for new ASIN creation under Brand Registry, Amazon now verifies your EAN/UPC against the GS1 global database. Generated codes work for internal use (warehouse, library, asset tracking) but not for selling on Amazon, Walmart or major retail.

Question 4

When should I use Code 128 instead of EAN-13?

Accepted Answer

Code 128 is alphanumeric and high-density — best for shipping labels, courier waybills, internal SKU codes and warehouse picking systems. EAN/UPC are digits-only and used at retail point of sale.

Question 5

How do I print barcodes correctly?

Accepted Answer

Always download SVG when possible — vectors scale to any size without pixelation. If using PNG, our tool exports at 3× resolution. Maintain a quiet zone (white space) of at least 10× the narrow bar width on left and right. Print on matte label paper at 300+ DPI.

Question 6

Is the EAN-13 check digit calculated automatically?

Accepted Answer

Yes. For EAN-13 enter 12 digits and we compute the 13th (check) digit. For UPC-A enter 11 digits and we compute the 12th. The math follows the standard mod-10 algorithm.

Question 7

Is this barcode generator really free with no watermark?

Accepted Answer

Yes — 100% free, no signup, no watermark, no usage limit. Generated barcodes are yours to use commercially.

Question 8

Can I generate barcodes in bulk from a CSV or Excel file?

Accepted Answer

The current tool generates one barcode at a time with instant SVG/PNG download. For bulk runs, generate up to 50 in a session — each export is named after the encoded value so you can batch-rename. A native CSV upload mode is on our roadmap.

Question 9

What size should my printed barcode be?

Accepted Answer

Minimum scannable size for EAN-13 / UPC-A is 80% of nominal (29.83 × 20.74 mm). For shelf retail use 100% (37.29 × 25.93 mm). Code 128 shipping labels: minimum 0.5 inch tall, narrow bar 0.013 inch (X-dimension). Always test scan with a real handheld before printing thousands.

Question 10

Why is my generated barcode not scanning?

Accepted Answer

Top causes: (1) printed too small or too low DPI — print at 300+ DPI; (2) no quiet zone — leave 10× the narrow bar width as white space on each side; (3) printed on glossy/reflective material; (4) compressed JPG — always use SVG or PNG. Re-export from this tool and reprint on matte label stock.

Question 11

Can I add a logo or text below the barcode?

Accepted Answer

The tool prints the human-readable digits below the bars by default (toggleable). For a logo above the barcode, download the SVG and edit in Figma/Illustrator — the vector file scales without quality loss.

Barcode Generator (EAN-13, UPC-A, Code128)

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Free Barcode Generator — EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 128, ITF-14, Code 39

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