Which barcode type should you use
There is no general-purpose barcode. Each symbology encodes a different alphabet, has a different length rule, and is expected in a different place. Picking the wrong one is why a barcode scans perfectly on your desk and is rejected at the till. Here are the six the app draws and what each is actually for.
Retail: EAN-13, EAN-8 and UPC-A
These are the barcodes on things sold in shops, and they only carry digits. EAN-13 takes 12 digits and calculates the 13th, or you supply all 13. EAN-8 is the short version for small packaging, 7 digits plus the check digit. UPC-A is the North American form, 11 digits plus a check digit; it is mathematically an EAN-13 with a leading zero, which is why a US product often scans fine in Europe. All three are laid out with guard bars that drop below the number line — that is the standard, not a decoration.
Internal use: Code 128 and Code 39
Code 128 is the workhorse for anything that is not a retail product: warehouse locations, work orders, asset tags, internal SKUs. It encodes the full ASCII set — letters, digits, punctuation — with no length limit, and it switches automatically to a compact mode for runs of digits, so a long number stays narrow. Code 39 encodes a smaller set (digits, uppercase A–Z, and a handful of symbols) and produces a wider barcode for the same content. It survives mostly because older scanners and some industrial systems expect it. If you have a free choice, choose Code 128.
Cartons: ITF-14
ITF-14 is the barcode on the outer case rather than the item — 13 digits plus a check digit, encoding the number of a whole carton. It is printed large, often directly onto corrugated board, and it carries a bearer bar: the heavy frame around the barcode that stops a scanner reading a partial code when the print is distorted by the cardboard. The app draws the bearer bar automatically for ITF-14 because it is part of the symbology, not styling.
What each one will refuse
Length rules are strict and the app checks them before drawing rather than producing something unscannable. EAN-13 accepts 12 or 13 digits, EAN-8 accepts 7 or 8, UPC-A 11 or 12, ITF-14 13 or 14 — in each case the short form means you want the check digit calculated. Letters in any of these are rejected outright. Code 128 and Code 39 take text of any length, but Code 39 will refuse characters outside its alphabet; lowercase letters are converted to uppercase because the symbology has no lowercase.
| Type | Encodes | Length | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAN-13 | Digits only | 12 (+ check) or 13 | Retail products, worldwide |
| EAN-8 | Digits only | 7 (+ check) or 8 | Small retail packaging |
| UPC-A | Digits only | 11 (+ check) or 12 | Retail products, North America |
| Code 128 | Full ASCII | Any | Internal SKUs, logistics, asset tags |
| Code 39 | 0–9, A–Z, - . space $ / + % | Any | Legacy and industrial systems |
| ITF-14 | Digits only | 13 (+ check) or 14 | Cartons and outer cases |
Frequently asked questions
Which barcode should I use for my own stock?
Code 128. It takes letters and digits, has no length limit, stays narrow for numeric content, and every modern scanner reads it. Retail symbologies are only needed if the item is sold through someone else's till.
What is the difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A?
UPC-A is the North American 12-digit form and EAN-13 is the 13-digit international form. A UPC-A number is an EAN-13 with a leading zero, so modern scanners read both.
Can a barcode contain letters?
In Code 128 and Code 39, yes. EAN, UPC and ITF are numeric only and will reject anything else.
Why is my Code 39 barcode so wide?
Code 39 uses nine elements per character and needs a start and stop character, so it is inherently wider than Code 128 for the same text. If the label is tight, switch to Code 128.
What is the frame around an ITF-14 barcode?
The bearer bar. It prevents a scanner reading only part of the code when the print is distorted, which is common on corrugated board. It is part of the specification for ITF-14.
Do I need a QR code instead?
Only if you want to encode a link or a lot of text, or if people will scan it with a phone. A shop till reads a linear retail barcode, not a QR code.
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