How to Make Barcode Labels

Last updated: April 12, 2026

Barcode labels are essential for inventory management, retail products, warehouse operations, library systems, and asset tracking. A simple barcode sticker can automate what would otherwise require manual data entry : saving hours of work and dramatically reducing errors. This guide covers barcode formats, label sizes, printing tips, and how to create barcode labels for free.

Understanding Barcode Formats

Different industries and use cases require different barcode formats. Here are the most common ones you'll encounter:

1D Barcodes (Linear)

• UPC-A : The standard 12-digit barcode on retail products in the US and Canada. Required for selling in physical retail stores. You need a GS1 membership to obtain legitimate UPC numbers.
• EAN-13 : The international equivalent of UPC, used in Europe and worldwide. 13 digits. If you sell internationally, EAN-13 is the standard.
• Code 128 : A high-density barcode that can encode all 128 ASCII characters. Widely used for shipping labels, inventory, and logistics. FedEx and UPS use Code 128 on their labels.
• Code 39 : An older, simpler format that encodes uppercase letters, digits, and a few special characters. Common in government, military, and healthcare applications. Easy to generate but lower density than Code 128.
• Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF) : A numeric-only, high-density format used on case-level packaging in warehouses. Often seen on shipping cartons.

2D Barcodes

• QR Code : Stores up to 4,296 characters. Scannable with any smartphone camera. Ideal for linking to URLs, contact info, or text data. See our QR Code Labels guide for more details.
• Data Matrix : A compact 2D barcode used in electronics manufacturing, pharmaceutical packaging, and small-part marking. Can be printed very small while remaining scannable.

Choosing the Right Label Size

Barcode labels need to be large enough for reliable scanning. The minimum size depends on the barcode format and the scanner type:

• UPC/EAN retail labels: Standard size is 1.469″ wide × 1.02″ tall (100% magnification). Can be reduced to 80% for small packages, but never below that or scanners will struggle.
• Code 128 / Code 39 labels: Minimum bar height of 0.5″ (15mm). Width depends on the data length. A typical 10-character Code 128 barcode at 100% is about 2″ wide.
• Inventory / asset labels: Common sizes are 1.25″ × 1″, 2″ × 1″, and 3″ × 1″. Include space for human-readable text below the barcode.
• Shelf labels: 2″ × 1.25″ or 3″ × 1.25″ with the barcode, price, and item description.

How to Print Barcode Labels at Home

You don't need industrial equipment to print scannable barcode labels. Here's what you need:

1. A laser printer (recommended) : Laser printers produce the sharpest edges on barcode bars, which improves scan reliability. Inkjet printers work but may produce slightly fuzzy edges, especially on glossy label stock.
2. Label sheets or rolls : For sheet-fed printers, use Avery-compatible label sheets in your desired size. For thermal printers (like a DYMO LabelWriter), use compatible roll labels.
3. A barcode generator : Our free label maker includes built-in barcode generation for Code 128 and other common formats. Enter your data, and the barcode is rendered directly on the label.

Print Quality Checklist

• Print at 300 DPI or higher. Lower resolutions cause thin bars to merge or disappear.
• Use black ink on white labels for maximum contrast. Colored barcodes are harder to scan.
• Don't stretch or compress the barcode : always print at the correct aspect ratio.
• Leave a quiet zone (blank space) of at least 0.25″ on both sides of a 1D barcode.
• Test scan every batch with your actual scanner before applying labels to products.

Batch Printing Barcode Labels

If you need to print many labels with sequential or unique barcodes : for example, numbering inventory items from 001 to 500 : you'll want a batch printing workflow:

1. Create a spreadsheet (CSV) with a column for the barcode data (product IDs, serial numbers, SKUs).
2. Import the CSV into the label maker.
3. The tool generates a barcode for each row and places them on printable label sheets.
4. Print the sheets on your label stock.

This approach scales from dozens to thousands of labels without manual data entry for each one.

Create Your Barcode Labels

Our free label maker generates Code 128, Code 39, and other barcode formats directly in your browser. Combine barcodes with text, batch import from CSV, and print on standard label sheets : all with no account required and no data uploaded to any server.

Frequently Asked Questions

What barcode format should I use?

Code 128 is the most versatile — it supports letters and numbers and is used for shipping, inventory, and asset tracking. UPC-A is required for retail products in North America. EAN-13 is the international equivalent.

Can I generate barcodes without special software?

Yes. printshi generates Code 128, Code 39, UPC, and EAN barcodes directly in the browser. No separate barcode generator or software installation needed.

What size should barcode labels be?

The barcode itself should be at least 1.5" wide and 0.5" tall for reliable scanning. Leave a quiet zone (blank space) of at least 0.25" on each side. A 2" x 1" label works well for most barcode applications.

Do I need to buy UPC codes?

If you're selling products in retail stores, yes. UPC codes must be purchased through GS1 (gs1.org). For internal inventory tracking, you can use any Code 128 or Code 39 barcode with your own numbering system.

Can I print barcode labels on a thermal printer?

Yes. Thermal printers produce crisp barcodes that scan reliably. printshi supports 4x6 thermal label sizes and smaller custom sizes for barcode labels.

How do I test that my barcodes scan correctly?

Print a test label and scan it with a barcode scanner app on your phone. Check that the scanned value matches what you encoded. Always test before printing a full batch.