Barcode Types Explained (UPC, EAN, Code 128 & More)
Different barcodes suit different jobs: UPC and EAN for retail, Code 128 for logistics. Learn the common 1D barcode types and which to use.
Most barcodes are one of a few standard "symbologies" — the rules for turning numbers or text into stripes. The right one depends on what you are labelling and who will scan it.
The common types
- UPC-A — 12 digits, used on retail products in North America
- EAN-13 — 13 digits, the global retail standard used outside North America
- Code 128 — encodes digits, letters and symbols; compact, used in shipping and logistics
- Code 39 — older, encodes letters and digits; common in industry and ID cards
- ITF-14 — 14 digits, printed on shipping cartons
Retail vs logistics
Retail products need UPC or EAN because point-of-sale systems and product databases expect them. Internal tracking, shipping labels and asset tags usually use Code 128 for its flexibility and density.
Create one now
Generate the symbology you need with the barcode generator. Need to encode a URL or more data instead? A QR code holds far more — see Barcode vs QR code.