Choose in 30 seconds
- Selling a product in shops or on marketplaces? Use the code GS1 gave you: UPC-A (US, Canada) or EAN-13 (everywhere else). Books use an ISBN barcode.
- Labelling cartons for distribution? ITF-14, or GS1-128 if you need batch, expiry or an SSCC.
- Labelling your own stock, assets or documents? Code 128, unless a system asks for Code 39.
- Lots of data in a small space, or marking parts? Data Matrix.
Linear (1D) and 2D barcodes
Linear barcodes store data in the widths of bars and spaces, read across in one line. Every scanner reads them, including cheap laser scanners. But they hold little data: a number, or a short code.
2D barcodes store data in a grid or in stacked rows. They hold far more in less space and survive damage thanks to error correction, but need an imaging scanner or a phone camera.
All the main types compared
| Type | Holds | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| UPC-A | 12 digits | Retail products, US and Canada |
| UPC-E | 8 digits (compressed UPC-A) | Small packs, US |
| EAN-13 | 13 digits | Retail products, worldwide |
| EAN-8 | 8 digits | Small packs, worldwide |
| ISBN (Bookland EAN) | 13 digits + optional price | Books |
| ITF-14 | 14 digits | Shipping cartons |
| GS1-128 | GS1 data with AIs, up to 48 characters | Pallets, cases, SSCC labels, batch and expiry |
| Code 128 | Any ASCII text | SKUs, inventory, shipping, FBA labels |
| Code 39 | A–Z, 0–9, 7 symbols | Asset tags, badges, automotive, defence |
| Codabar | Digits, 6 symbols | Libraries, older lab systems |
| Data Matrix | Up to ~2,300 characters | Parts marking, medicines, electronics |
| PDF417 | Up to ~1,800 characters | Documents, shipping, boarding passes |
| QR Code | Up to ~4,300 characters | Links, Wi-Fi, marketing; GS1 Digital Link on products |
| Aztec Code | Up to ~3,000 characters | Tickets and boarding passes |
| GS1 DataBar | GTIN, or GTIN plus weight, price, dates | Fresh produce, small items, coupons |
| Code 93 | A–Z, 0–9, 7 symbols, 2 check characters | Logistics, Canada Post |
| Interleaved 2 of 5 | Even-length digits | Warehouses, industrial systems |
| Intelligent Mail | 31 digits, 4-state | USPS letters and flats |
Retail barcodes need GS1 numbers
UPC, EAN, ISBN, ITF-14 and GS1-128 carry numbers from the GS1 system. The barcode itself is free to make, but the number has to come from GS1 (or, for books, an ISBN agency). Code 128, Code 39, Codabar, Data Matrix and PDF417 can carry any data you like, so use them for your own codes.
What about QR codes?
QR codes are 2D codes best known for linking phones to websites. They're great for marketing but aren't used for product identification at the till, at least not yet. GS1 is moving retail toward 2D codes, including QR codes carrying GS1 Digital Link web addresses, through its "Sunrise 2027" programme. For now, a UPC or EAN is still what tills expect. You can make both here: a plain QR code for links, or a GS1 Digital Link QR that carries your GTIN.
