Barcode basics: EAN, UPC, Code 128, Data Matrix and QR codes
Barcodes come in two families. Linear barcodes are the familiar lines read by shop scanners. 2D codes, like QR codes and Data Matrix, store far more in a small square and can be read by phone cameras.
Linear barcodes
| Type | Holds | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| EAN-13 | 13 digits | Retail products worldwide (outside North America) |
| UPC-A | 12 digits | Retail products in the US and Canada |
| EAN-8 / UPC-E | 8 digits | Small packages with little space |
| Code 128 | Letters, digits and symbols | Shipping labels, warehouses, internal tracking |
| Code 39 | Capital letters and digits | Older industrial, ID and government systems |
| ITF-14 | 14 digits | Outer cartons and cases |
| ISBN | 13 digits (EAN-13) | Books |
2D codes
- QR codes hold up to a few thousand characters, are read by every phone camera and can carry links, WiFi details, contacts and payments.
- Data Matrix is tiny and robust. It's used for marking parts, electronics and medicines.
- GS1 QR and GS1 Data Matrix carry product numbers plus extra data like batch and expiry, and are replacing linear barcodes on many products.
Which one do you need?
- Selling in shops? You need a GS1-issued product number printed as EAN-13 or UPC-A. Retailers check that the number is registered to you, so you can't make one up.
- Shipping or warehouse? Code 128 for labels; ITF-14 for cartons.
- Reaching customers? A QR code. It opens your page on any phone, and you can add your logo.
Printing barcodes
- Keep the clear margins (quiet zones) at both ends of linear barcodes.
- Print black bars on white. Red bars are invisible to many laser scanners.
- Don't shrink retail barcodes below about 80% of the standard size.
- Use vector files (SVG, PDF or EPS) for print.