Barcode Types Explained: EAN, UPC, Code 128, and ITF-14
Not all barcodes are the same. Here's which symbology to use for retail, cartons, and internal labels — and how to generate any of them for free.
Different jobs, different barcodes
Choosing the right barcode symbology avoids scanning problems down the line. The free Barcode Generator supports the main types and downloads a print-ready PNG.
The common types
- EAN-13 — the standard retail product barcode worldwide (12–13 digits).
- EAN-8 — a shorter version for small packages.
- UPC-A — the North American retail standard (11–12 digits).
- ITF-14 — for outer cartons and cases, built on a 14-digit GTIN.
- Code 128 — flexible, encodes letters and numbers; common for shipping and internal labels.
- Code 39 — an older industrial format.
Retail vs internal use
For products scanned at a retail till you'll need a GTIN licensed from GS1 and an EAN-13 or UPC-A barcode. For internal stock, asset, and shipping labels, Code 128 paired with your own SKU codes is usually the right choice.
Pharma and serialization
Regulated products often need a 2D GS1 DataMatrix instead — for UAE Tatmeen, use the Tatmeen DataMatrix Generator.