Barcode format guide

What it does

When you add a barcode element to your template, you can choose which barcode format to use. Different formats have different rules and are used in different industries.

Available formats

EAN-13

• Standard retail barcode used worldwide (except North America).
• Accepts 12 or 13 input digits. The complete symbol has 13 digits, including its check digit; a supplied check digit must be valid.
• Good for: Products sold in stores outside North America.

UPC-A

• Standard retail barcode used in North America.
• Exactly 12 digits. The last digit is a check digit.
• Good for: Products sold in US and Canadian stores.

UPC-E

• Compressed version of UPC-A.
• 6 digits (expanded to 12 internally).
• Good for: Small products where space is limited.

CODE39

• Older format that encodes letters, numbers, and some symbols.
• Variable length.
• Good for: Inventory tracking, ID badges, logistics.

EAN-8

• Short version of EAN-13.
• Exactly 8 digits.
• Good for: Very small products where EAN-13 does not fit.

ISBN

• Used for books.
• 13 digits (same structure as EAN-13).
• Good for: Books, publications.

GS1-128

• Extended version of CODE128 with special application identifiers.
• Used in supply chain and logistics.
• Good for: Shipping labels, cartons, pallets.

How to choose

1. In the template editor, add a Barcode element.
2. Select the element on the canvas.
3. In the properties panel, find the Barcode Type setting.
4. Choose the format you need.

The Barcode Type dropdown is the same in both editors. Some format names appear without a hyphen: EAN13, UPCA, UPCE, and EAN8.

For the human-readable text below the barcode, use the controls that match your editor:

Turn on the text switch to reveal the gap and size controls.

Good to know

• If you are not sure which format to use, CODE128 is the safest choice. It supports alphanumeric SKUs and internal codes; use the required format when a retailer or other recipient specifies one.
• Retail formats validate both the data length and check digit. A value with the expected number of digits can still be invalid. See Barcode not showing on label to check the linked data source before changing the format.
• You can choose to show or hide the barcode text below the barcode image.
• You can also adjust the text size and the gap between the barcode and the text.