GS1-128 Barcode Generator

Make GS1-128 (formerly UCC/EAN-128) barcodes with Application Identifiers for GTIN, batch, expiry date, serial number and SSCC. We check the data before drawing it.

Application Identifiers in brackets, e.g. (01)…(10)…

Change the bar width, height and text here. The barcode on the left is drawn at the size it will print, so at 100% zoom it should match a ruler held to the screen.

PNG and JPG files store their resolution, so Word, Canva and label software place them at this size.

Colours

Dark bars on a light background scan best. Most scanners use red light, so red, orange and yellow bars read as blank.

What is GS1-128?

GS1-128 is a Code 128 barcode that starts with a special FNC1 character, which tells the scanner the data follows GS1 rules. Inside, each piece of data begins with an Application Identifier (AI): a 2–4 digit code in brackets saying what follows. That lets one barcode hold a product number, a batch number and a use-by date, and lets the receiving system file each one correctly.

Common Application Identifiers

AIMeaningFormat
(00)SSCC: serial shipping container code for a pallet or parcel18 digits
(01)GTIN of the trade item14 digits
(02)GTIN of items inside a logistic unit14 digits
(10)Batch or lot numberUp to 20 characters
(11)Production dateYYMMDD
(15)Best before dateYYMMDD
(17)Expiry dateYYMMDD
(21)Serial numberUp to 20 characters
(37)Count of itemsUp to 8 digits
(3103)Net weight in kg, 3 decimal places6 digits (001250 = 1.250 kg)
(400)Customer's purchase order numberUp to 30 characters

Use the AI buttons under the input box to add them. Put fixed-length AIs like (01), (17) and (00) first and variable-length ones like (10) and (21) last; that keeps the barcode shortest.

How to make a GS1-128 barcode

  1. Type each AI in brackets followed by its data, with no spaces: (01)09521234543213(17)281231(10)LOT42.
  2. We check lengths, dates and check digits. A GTIN or SSCC with a wrong check digit is refused, and we tell you why.
  3. Keep the bar width at 0.495 mm or more for shipping labels scanned in warehouses, as GS1 specifies. The default here is 0.5 mm, 32 mm tall.
  4. Download SVG or PDF for your label software, or PNG for documents.

SSCC pallet labels

An SSCC (AI 00) is an 18-digit number that identifies one pallet or parcel through the whole supply chain: an extension digit, your GS1 company prefix, a serial reference and a check digit. Retailers that use advance shipping notices (ASNs) scan the SSCC to match the delivery to the notice. Use our check digit calculator to complete the 18th digit.

Pallet racking in a distribution warehouse
Pallet racking in a distribution warehouse.

Questions

  • Yes. UCC-128 and EAN-128 are the old names. GS1-128 has been the official name since 2006.

  • Yes, type them so we know where each AI starts. The brackets are printed in the text under the bars but aren't encoded in the bars.

  • An 18-digit Serial Shipping Container Code that identifies a single pallet or parcel, encoded with AI (00).

  • The standard allows up to 48 data characters and a maximum width of about 165 mm. Split very long data across two barcodes.