§BARCODES / TODOS LOS FORMATOS
codigo-qr.es supports 8 1D barcode formats. Code 128 and EAN-13 are free. The other six formats require a Pro plan.
Every format has its use case. Pick the one that fits your industry, generate the barcode and download print-ready PNG or vector SVG.
1D barcodes encode data in vertical bars of varying widths. Each format has an allowed character set, a fixed or variable length, and a dominant industry sector. They are not interchangeable: a supermarket expects EAN-13, a shipping box expects ITF-14, and an internal warehouse can use Code 128.
Before generating, identify where the barcode will be scanned: point of sale, warehouse, postal shipment or internal system. That determines the right format. If in doubt, check the comparison table at the bottom of the page.
Universal alphanumeric barcode for inventory, shipping labels and internal identifiers. Supports all ASCII characters.
Logistics, warehouse, shipping
Fact: Published in 1981 by Computer Identics. The most used barcode in global logistics.
Example: ABC-1234-XYZ
Global standard for retail products. 13 digits: 12 entered by you plus a check digit calculated automatically.
Retail, supermarkets, books
Fact: Managed by GS1 since 1977. Required to sell in European supermarkets and retail chains.
Example: 5901234123457
Compact version of EAN-13 for small packaging where the 13-digit code does not fit. Only 8 digits.
Small packaging, cosmetics, gum
Fact: GS1 assigns it under strict criteria: you must justify that the packaging size is insufficient.
Example: 12345670
Retail standard for the United States and Canada. 12 digits. Compatible with EAN-13 scanners: an invisible leading zero makes them equivalent.
North American retail
Fact: First barcode format adopted at mass scale, published in 1973 by the Uniform Code Council.
Example: 036000291452
Compressed version of UPC-A for small packages sold in the US. 8 visible digits representing a full UPC-A code.
US retail, small packaging
Fact: The scanner expands the 8 digits back to 12 in real time before querying the product database.
Example: 01234565
Industrial alphanumeric format supporting uppercase letters, numbers and seven special characters. Widely used in defense and healthcare.
Defense, healthcare, industry
Fact: The first alphanumeric barcode, designed in 1974 by Intermec.
Example: INVENTORY-001
Barcode for shipping cases and pallets. 14 digits printed on corrugated cardboard. Encodes the GTIN-14 of the product inside.
Logistics, shipping cases, pallets
Fact: The thick bars of ITF-14 tolerate the low print quality of industrial cardboard.
Example: 10012345678902
Extension of Code 128 that encodes structured logistics data: expiry dates, lot numbers, net weight and more.
Advanced logistics, pharma, food
Fact: The parentheses in the code indicate Application Identifiers (AI) defined by GS1.
Example: (01)05012345678900(17)260301(10)ABC123
| Format | Main use | Sector | Data | Length | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code 128 | Internal inventory and shipping | Logistics, warehouse, shipping | Alphanumeric ASCII | 1-80 chars | Free |
| EAN-13 | European retail product | Retail, supermarkets, books | Numbers only | 13 digits | Free |
| EAN-8 | Retail product, small packaging | Small packaging, cosmetics, gum | Numbers only | 8 digits | Pro |
| UPC-A | North American retail product | North American retail | Numbers only | 12 digits | Pro |
| UPC-E | US retail, small packaging | US retail, small packaging | Numbers only | 8 digits | Pro |
| Code 39 | Industrial labels and defense | Defense, healthcare, industry | Uppercase + numbers | 1-43 chars | Pro |
| ITF-14 | Shipping case and pallet | Logistics, shipping cases, pallets | Numbers only | 14 digits | Pro |
| GS1-128 | Structured GS1 logistics | Advanced logistics, pharma, food | Alphanumeric + AIs | Variable | Pro |
A QR code is two-dimensional (a matrix of dots) and can store up to 3,000 characters. A 1D barcode is linear (vertical bars) and stores between 8 and 80 characters depending on the format. QR codes can be read with any smartphone camera; 1D barcodes often require a dedicated laser or image scanner in industrial environments.
EAN-13 is the most used for point-of-sale products in Europe. Code 128 is the most common for internal logistics and shipping. ITF-14 dominates shipping cases in organised distribution.
Not to generate the code here. If you need a unique code recognised in organised retail, you must obtain a company prefix assigned by your national GS1 member organisation. Without that registration the code is not valid in supermarkets or major retail chains.
Yes. The generator produces scalable vector SVG with no quality loss at any print size, and high-resolution PNG for standard label printers. Both formats are scannable by industrial readers.
The generator validates the check digit for EAN-13 and EAN-8. If you enter 13 digits with an incorrect last digit, the generator flags it. You can enter only the first 12 digits and the last one will be calculated automatically.
Besides barcodes, codigo-qr.es generates QR codes with an editable destination, scan analytics and logo customisation. Try the QR generator for free.
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