Free Barcode Generator

The generator above turns a single code, or a whole list of SKUs, into scannable barcode labels you can print and stick today. It is free, runs in your browser, and needs no signup. Here is how to pick a format, make your own codes without paying for them, and print labels that scan the first time.

How to create barcodes for your inventory

Creating a barcode takes three steps. Pick a format, usually Code 128 for internal stock. Enter your SKU or item number for one code, or paste your whole list in the Batch tab. Then download the image or print the sheet. For a single item, use Single. For a stockroom or a van full of parts, paste every SKU at once and the tool lays them out on one printable sheet, instead of you generating them one at a time.

Which barcode format should you use?

For tracking your own stock, Code 128 is the usual choice. It is compact, reads letters and numbers, and suits SKUs like TS-WHITE-S. Use UPC-A or EAN-13 only if you sell products that get scanned at a retailer's till, UPC for the United States and EAN for international. For tools, equipment and assets, a QR code works well, since it holds more data and scans easily from a phone. If you label tools and gear, see tool tracking.

Do you need to buy barcodes, or can you make your own?

If you only track your own items, make your own for free, which is what the tool above does. You buy official GS1 barcodes only when your products are scanned at other retailers' checkouts, such as a supermarket or Amazon, because those have to be unique worldwide. For internal inventory, tools and assets, your own codes are enough. If an item already carries a manufacturer barcode, skip creation and scan the code it already has.

How to print barcode labels that actually scan

A normal printer with label sheets handles small batches, and a thermal label printer pays off at volume. Keep retail-style codes roughly 1.25 to 2 inches wide with at least a half-inch height, and leave the quiet zone, the clear margin around the bars, since crowding it is the top reason a code will not read. Print at full resolution with high contrast, black on white, and do not stretch the image. Print one test label and scan it before you run the full batch.

From label to tracked stock

A label only earns its keep once a scan updates your count. After you print, scan each code with your phone to track stock, tools and assets in HomyScan, with no extra hardware to buy. For how the whole setup fits together, read the guide to a barcode inventory system, or see how phone barcode scanning works.

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