PDF417 barcode generator
The stacked barcode on ID cards, licences and boarding passes. It holds a page of text and survives scratches.
1. Content
2. Size and style
Bulk barcodes PRO
Make up to 500 barcodes in your current type and style. Each one is test-scanned, and the ZIP includes an index.csv with the results.
What is a PDF417 barcode?
PDF417 is a stacked barcode: rows of small linear codes piled on top of each other. It holds up to about 1,800 characters of text with strong error correction, so data stays readable even when the print is scratched.
It's the barcode on the back of US and Canadian driver's licences, on many airline boarding passes and on shipping and government documents.
Where it's used
- Driver's licences and ID cards
- Airline boarding passes
- Shipping and customs documents
- Membership and access cards
How to make a PDF417 barcode
Type your data
Plain text, up to about 1,800 characters.
Set the module width
The rows are three modules tall, the usual minimum for reliable reading.
Download and test
Test with the scanner that will read it.
Sizing and printing a PDF417 barcode
Quiet zone
At least 2 modules of blank space on every side.
Module width
0.25 mm or more for cards and labels read with handheld scanners.
Scanners
Read by 2D imagers and many linear imagers; some older laser scanners can't.
Use a vector file for print
SVG, PDF and EPS stay sharp at any size, so packaging designers and print shops prefer them. For PNG, download at your printer's resolution and place it at 100%.
PDF417 questions
What does PDF417 mean?
Portable Data File: each codeword is 4 bars and spaces spread over 17 modules.
PDF417 or QR code?
PDF417 fits long, narrow spaces such as the back of a card and is standard for IDs and boarding passes. For links scanned by phones, use a QR code.