What Each Barcode Format Is For

Code 128: your own product codes

Code 128 holds letters, numbers, and symbols, and it packs them into a short, dense pattern. It is the usual choice for codes you invent yourself: product codes, SKUs, shelf and bin labels, asset numbers, and shipping references.

Code 39: older systems

Code 39 holds capital letters, digits, and a few symbols: the hyphen, the full stop, the space, and $ / + %. It is wider than Code 128 for the same text. You still find it on older equipment, some ID badges, and some industry forms. Use it only when a system asks for it.

EAN-13 and EAN-8: products in shops

EAN-13 is 13 digits, the last one a check digit. It is the product number printed on goods in shops across most of the world. EAN-8 is the short form, 8 digits, for packs too small for an EAN-13.

UPC-A: products in North America

UPC-A is 12 digits, the last one a check digit, and it is the product code used in the United States and Canada. It is the same as an EAN-13 with a zero in front, and many scanners show it as 13 digits.

QR code: links and longer text

A QR code is a square pattern that holds any text, such as a web address. It fits small square labels well, and phone cameras read it. It holds far more than a linear barcode, but the more text it holds, the smaller each square gets.

UPC-E: small packs in North America

UPC-E is a UPC-A with some of its zeros left out, so it fits small packs. It shows 8 digits: the number system, 0 or 1, then six digits, then the check digit. Only UPC-A numbers with zeros in the right places can be shortened this way, and scanners turn it back into the full UPC-A.

ITF-14: cartons and outer cases

ITF-14 holds 14 digits, the number for a carton or case of a product. The first digit says which kind of pack it is, the next twelve are usually the product’s EAN-13 without its check digit, and the last is a new check digit. Its wide bars suit cardboard.

GS1 asks for a thick bar called a bearer bar along the top and bottom of an ITF-14. This tool draws them, and leaves the sides open, which suits label printers. GS1 also asks for bars at least 31.75 mm tall for cartons, so use a label tall enough; the tool warns when the bars are shorter.

ISBN: books

The barcode on a book is an EAN-13 that holds its ISBN. A 13-digit ISBN starts with 978 or 979 and is used as it is. An older 10-digit ISBN gets 978 in front and a new check digit. ISBNs come from the ISBN agency in each country.

GS1-128: batch, expiry, and shipping labels

GS1-128 is Code 128 holding data in a standard layout. Each part starts with a number in brackets: (01) for the product number, (10) for the batch, (17) for the expiry date, and (00) for a shipping container code. The brackets are printed for people to read but are not stored in the bars. It is used on cases and pallets, and by suppliers whose customers ask for GS1 labels.

Codabar: libraries and older systems

Codabar holds digits and - $ : / . + between a start and a stop letter, A to D. It is old, and still found on library books and cards and in some labs. Use it only when a system asks for it.

How to choose

Your own stock, shelves, and equipment: Code 128.
Products sold through shops: EAN-13, or UPC-A in North America, with numbers licensed through GS1.
A web address or more than a short code: a QR code.
Cartons and outer cases: ITF-14.
Books: ISBN.
Batch numbers and expiry dates for a customer that asks for GS1 labels: GS1-128.
A customer or a system asks for a format: use that format.

Questions

Which barcode is best for inventory?

Code 128 for your own codes, because it is compact and holds letters and numbers. If you scan with phones, a QR code works too.

Do I need different scanners for different formats?

Most scanners read all the common formats. A scanner can have some formats turned off, so check its manual if one will not read.

Can one item have two codes?

Yes. A common choice is a barcode for the scanner at the till and a QR code for a phone. This tool makes one format in each run, so make two runs from the same list.

Sources

Checked on 9 November 2026.

What each barcode format is for