ITF-14 generator for master cartons and logistics units
ITF-14 identifies logistics units: master cartons containing multiple products. 14 digits with check digit validated as you type, tolerant of printing on corrugated cardboard. Pro plan.
ITF14 standard
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Scans on any reader
ITF14 is a Pro format
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Classic
Standard black, OCR-B font, default size. Compatible with any scanner.
Compact
Smaller scale, no text below. For small labels with limited space.
Branded
Corporate color on bars, sans-serif font. Scanner readability maintained.
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§WHAT IS
What is ITF-14 and what is it for?
ITF-14 (Interleaved 2 of 5, 14 digits) is the GS1 format for identifying master cartons and logistics units containing multiple products of the same kind at the same time.
When a product is distributed in organized chains, it usually goes grouped in corrugated cardboard master cartons: 12 wine bottles per carton, 24 canned goods, 144 yogurt jars, 100 matchboxes. Each master carton has its own ITF-14 code different from the EAN-13 of the unit product it contains. When the master carton arrives at the retailer's distribution center, operators scan the ITF-14 to record the entry of the wholesale sales unit. When the carton opens and products move to the shelf, the POS readers process the individual EAN-13s.
ITF-14 was specifically designed for printing on corrugated cardboard, which has surface irregularities (corrugations, fibers, unevenly absorbed ink). The wide bars and interleaved structure (even and odd bars interleave encoding two digits per pair) make it very tolerant to imperfect printing. That's why ITF-14 scans in warehouses and distribution centers even when the carton is dirty, wet or slightly damaged in transport.
The GTIN-14 inside the ITF-14 follows a GS1 convention: the first digit is an indicator (1 to 8) that distinguishes packaging levels. Indicator 1 might be inner box with 12 units, indicator 2 master carton with 144 units, indicator 3 display. The next 12 digits are the GTIN-13 of the unit product without check digit, and the last digit is the GTIN-14 check calculated with modulo 10.
GS1 assigns GTIN-14 at the same time as GTIN-13 of the unit product, within the same annual fee.
§WHEN TO USE
When to use ITF-14 and not other logistics formats?
When you pack your product in master cartons for wholesale distribution in organized retail. ITF-14 complements EAN-13: the unit product carries EAN-13, the carton containing them carries ITF-14.
Typical cases where ITF-14 is the right choice:
- A winery sells individual bottles with EAN-13 and groups them in 6-bottle cartons with proprietary ITF-14 the supermarket scans on receiving.
- A yogurt manufacturer puts EAN-13 on each jar and groups 12-jar packs in master cartons with ITF-14.
- A cosmetics distributor ships pallets to logistics centers where each pallet identifies the batch with a visible ITF-14 on the shrink film.
- An industrial bakery delivers packaged bread cartons with unit EAN-13 and carton-level ITF-14 for supermarket warehouse management.
- A magazine printer distributes 50-copy bundles with ITF-14 on plastic.
Don't use ITF-14 for:
- Unit products sold directly to consumer: EAN-13 or UPC-A is correct. ITF-14 doesn't work in customer-facing POS.
- Internal warehouse identifiers without external distribution: Code 128 is more versatile and compact.
- Traceability with extra data (batch, expiration, variable weight): GS1-128 carries that structured information, ITF-14 only carries the GTIN.
- Cartons with heterogeneous products from multiple references: ITF-14 identifies a homogeneous logistics unit (all units inside are the same product). For mixed cartons, SSCC inside GS1-128 is used.
§SPECS
ITF-14 technical specifications
Length
13-14
Characters
Digits only
Example
10012345678902
Check digit
No
ITF-14 is standardized by GS1 General Specifications, based on the ISO/IEC 16390 standard (Interleaved 2 of 5):
- Length: exactly 14 digits (1 indicator, 12 product data, 1 control).
- Character set: digits 0-9 only.
- Check digit: modulo 10 with alternating weights 3 and 1, calculated automatically over the first 13 digits.
- Nominal dimensions: 142.75 mm × 32.00 mm at 100% (much larger than EAN-13). GS1 accepts scaling between 50% and 200%.
- Bearer bars: 4.8 mm thick rectangular frame surrounding the bars. Highly recommended and mandatory in some GS1 cases.
- Quiet zone: 10X on each side, mandatory.
- Density: encodes 14 digits in approximately 130 mm of width at 100%.
- Damage tolerance: check digit detection, no recovery. However, the wide bars tolerate stains, dust and creases better than EAN-13.
- Compatibility: any modern industrial laser reader and 2D image readers used in warehouse process ITF-14 without configuration.
§COMPARISON
How does ITF-14 differ from GS1-128 and EAN-13?
ITF-14 carries only the GTIN of the carton. GS1-128 can carry GTIN plus batch, expiration, weight and any structured data. EAN-13 is only for unit product at POS.
ITF-14 vs GS1-128: if your logistics requires granular traceability (which batch, which expiration, which variable weight, which order number), GS1-128 is the right format. ITF-14 is simpler: identifies the carton but doesn't transmit metadata. Many warehouses use both: ITF-14 visible on one face of the master carton for quick identification and GS1-128 on a secondary label with full data. European pharmaceutical traceability (FMD directive) demands GS1-128, not ITF-14.
ITF-14 vs EAN-13: ITF-14 encodes the master carton with multiple products inside, EAN-13 encodes a unit product destined for consumer at POS. They are complementary. The first digit (indicator) of GTIN-14 distinguishes the carton from the product.
ITF-14 vs SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code): SSCC is used in GS1-128 with AI 00 to identify pallets and unique shipment units (not homogeneous). If the carton contains several different products or is a unique shipment with tracking number, SSCC + GS1-128 is the option.
§FAQ
Frequently asked questions about ITF14
Yes. The GTIN-14 inside the ITF-14 must be assigned by GS1 with your company prefix. Without that registration, the code won't fit in retailer systems that scan master cartons in their logistics centers. GTIN-14 assignment is included in your annual GS1 membership once you have a company prefix.
It is meant for printing on corrugated cardboard where surface irregularity requires wide bars to ensure reading. Reducing the size below 50% compromises legibility on non-smooth material. If the code is printed on a smooth adhesive label stuck on the cardboard, you can scale it to 50% without issue.
GS1 recommends bearer bars (rectangular frame) in all implementations and requires them when the code is printed directly on corrugated cardboard. If the code goes on a smooth-surface adhesive label, GS1 accepts the version without bearer bars.
50% of nominal size, giving about 71 × 16 mm. Below that size, reading on corrugated cardboard degrades and retailers may reject incoming merchandise for unreadable code. If you need a smaller code, consider Code 128 on smooth label stuck on cardboard, or GS1-128 if you also need structured data.
GTIN-14 derives from GTIN-13 by adding an indicator digit at the start (defining the packaging level) and recalculating the check digit. If your unit product is 8412345678901, a master carton with 12 units could be 18412345678907 (indicator 1, same product data, new check digit). GS1 documents how to derive GTIN-14 from GTIN-13 in their General Specifications.
§GENERATORS
What other codes can you generate here?
You have 9 generators on codigo-qr.es. QR codes always free, Code 128 and EAN-13 too. The other 6 retail and industrial formats are part of the Pro plan.