Shopify Barcode Generator

Turn your Shopify product export into barcodes. Open the products CSV, choose the Variant SKU or Variant Barcode column, and download a ZIP or print labels for your stockroom and POS.

Opening a CSV lets you pick the column. Pasting a column from Excel or Google Sheets works too.

Your barcodes

    Colours

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

    Barcodes for a Shopify store, step by step

    1. In Shopify admin go to Products → Export, choose All products and Plain CSV file. Shopify emails you the file.
    2. Here, click Open CSV or text file and pick that file. Choose the column: Variant SKU for your own stock codes, or Variant Barcode if you've already entered UPCs or EANs.
    3. Choose Code 128 for SKUs, or UPC-A / EAN-13 if the column holds GS1 numbers.
    4. Download the ZIP of images, or press Print on label sheets to print stickers for your shelves and products.

    SKU or barcode, which should I use?

    Shopify gives every variant two fields: SKU, your own stock code, and Barcode (ISBN, UPC, GTIN, etc.). Shopify POS can find a product by scanning either.

    • Selling only through your own store and POS? Code 128 barcodes of your SKUs cost nothing and work with every scanner. Put the SKU in the Barcode field too, so POS scans it straight away.
    • Selling on Google Shopping, Amazon, Walmart or to retailers? You need GS1 GTINs (UPC or EAN) in the Barcode field. Google Merchant Center uses them to match your products.

    Adding barcodes back into Shopify

    To fill the Barcode field for many variants at once, add your codes to the Variant Barcode column of the same CSV and use Products → Import with Overwrite products with matching handles ticked. Test with a few products first: an import overwrites every column in the file.

    Good SKU habits

    • Keep SKUs short and readable, like TSHIRT-BLK-M. Shorter codes mean smaller barcodes.
    • Use capitals, digits and dashes only, so the same code works in Code 39 systems and spreadsheets.
    • Never reuse a SKU for a different product, even after the old one is discontinued.
    Pallet racking in a distribution warehouse
    Pallet racking in a distribution warehouse.

    Questions

    • Shopify stores a barcode number for each variant but doesn't draw barcode images in the admin. Shopify's own Retail Barcode Labels app prints labels; this tool works from your CSV with any printer and no app.

    • Yes. Shopify POS scanners read Code 128, UPC and EAN. The scanned value must match the variant's Barcode or SKU field.

    • Not for your own store. You need GS1 UPCs or EANs for Google Shopping (for most branded products), Amazon, Walmart and many retailers.

    • No. The CSV is read in your browser and stays on your computer.