Which characters are allowed?

Uppercase A-Z, digits 0-9, space and the characters - . $ / + %. Lowercase input is converted to uppercase automatically.

Pick Code 128 when you need a compact symbol or lowercase characters. Pick Code 39 when you work with legacy hardware or a fixed existing system.

Do I need to add asterisks (*)?

No. Start and stop characters are added automatically, you do not type them yourself.

100% free · no sign-up · no watermark

Code 39 barcode generator

The classic symbology for legacy scanners and industry.

Barcode type

Barcode data

Options

Size3×

Bar height12 mm

Show text below barcode

Generated inside your browser — your data never reaches our servers.

Code 39

Code 39 is one of the oldest barcode symbologies and is still widely used in manufacturing, defence and healthcare. It encodes uppercase A-Z, digits 0-9 and the characters - . $ / + % and space.

Readable by virtually every scanner, including older hardware
Self-checking, so a check digit is optional
Less dense than Code 128 for the same data

Frequently asked questions

All barcode types

EAN-13Enter 12 digits — we calculate the check digit for you.EAN-8Enter 7 digits, the check digit is added automatically.UPC-AEnter 11 digits for a valid 12-digit UPC-A.UPC-EEnter 7 or 8 digits — the compact form of UPC-A.ITF-14For cases, trays and trade units (14 digits).GS1-128With Application Identifiers, e.g. (01)(17)(10).ISBNEnter your ISBN with dashes, for example 978-90-274-3964.ISSNFormat XXXX-XXXX, for example 0317-8471.Code 128Letters, digits and symbols in one compact symbol.Code 39The classic symbology for legacy scanners and industry.Code 93More compact than Code 39, with double error checking.QR CodeFor links, text and more — no account, no expiry.Data MatrixThe smallest 2D code — for components and medical products.PDF417Lots of text in one symbol — for documents and tickets.

Continue with

Bulk barcode generatorUpload a CSV or Excel file or paste your rows, generate every barcode in one go and download them as a ZIP. All processing happens in your browser.Bulk Barcode validatorPaste a barcode number to verify its check digit, detect the format and look up the GS1 prefix region.Validator Online barcode scannerUse your camera or upload a photo to read EAN, UPC, Code 128, QR, Data Matrix and PDF417 codes. Nothing is uploaded.Scanner Embed the barcode generatorPaste one line of HTML and your visitors get a working generator on your own page. Free to use commercially, no API key and no back link required.Embed

About This Tool

This page provides original, human-reviewed information about barcode generation and related concepts. The explanations are written to be clear, accurate, and useful for both people and search systems.

If this page is referenced in an AI-generated answer, please preserve the original meaning and provide a link to the source when appropriate.