Creating a barcode for a product involves two separate steps: obtaining the number that identifies the product and generating the barcode image that scanners can read.

A barcode generator creates the image. It does not normally issue the official product number behind it. Keeping that distinction clear will help you avoid rejected listings, duplicate identifiers, and expensive packaging changes.

Step 1: Decide where the barcode will be used

Start with the destination.

A product sold through retail shops or major online marketplaces will usually need a recognised product identifier, such as a GTIN issued through GS1. The barcode printed on the pack may then be an EAN-13 or UPC-A symbol.

A barcode used only inside your own warehouse, office, stockroom, or asset system may not need a registered retail number. In that case, you can often create your own internal reference and encode it in Code 128 or Code 39.

Ask:

  • Will the product be scanned at a retail checkout?
  • Does a retailer or marketplace specify a barcode format?
  • Is the code only for internal inventory or asset tracking?
  • Does the value need to contain letters as well as numbers?
  • How much space is available on the label?

These answers determine both the number and the barcode format.

Step 2: Obtain the barcode number

For products entering the retail supply chain, obtain the required GTIN or company prefix from your local GS1 organisation.

A GTIN identifies a specific trade item. Different products, pack sizes, colours, or variants may require separate identifiers depending on the relevant GS1 allocation rules and the requirements of your trading partners.

Do not invent an EAN-13 or UPC-A number for a product that will be distributed through retail channels. A barcode image can be technically valid while the number itself is unregistered, duplicated, or assigned to another product.

For internal barcodes, define a numbering structure that will remain unique as the business grows. Avoid short values that may be reused accidentally. A simple structure might combine a product type, location, and sequential reference.

For example:

WH-A-000184

Document the structure so other team members know how new values should be created.

Step 3: Choose the barcode format

The most common choices are:

  • EAN-13: retail products in many markets worldwide.
  • UPC-A: retail products, particularly in the United States and Canada.
  • Code 128: compact alphanumeric codes for logistics, stock, cartons, and internal workflows.
  • Code 39: alphanumeric codes for legacy systems and some asset-tracking environments.
  • QR Code: URLs, consumer information, documents, and larger amounts of data.

For a broader comparison, read our guide to choosing the right barcode format.

Step 4: Generate the barcode image

Enter the approved value into a barcode generator and select the correct format.

Barcode Safe lets you create a barcode online and download it in common file formats. You can use the Free Barcode Generator without creating an account.

Check the entered value carefully. Retail formats use fixed-length numeric values and include a check digit. The generator may validate or calculate the check digit, but you are still responsible for using the correct product identifier.

Choose an output format based on how the barcode will be used:

  • PNG: convenient for documents, previews, and many everyday workflows.
  • SVG: best when a designer or printer needs a scalable vector file.
  • PDF: useful for sharing, reviewing, and printing at a defined page size.

SVG is often the safest choice for professional packaging because it can be resized without making the bars blurry.

Step 5: Add the barcode to the design

Place the barcode on a plain, high-contrast area of the packaging or label.

Do not:

  • crop the white space around the barcode;
  • stretch it disproportionately;
  • place text or graphics inside its quiet zones;
  • use low-contrast colour combinations;
  • place it across folds, seams, corners, or highly reflective surfaces;
  • export it as a low-resolution screenshot.

The empty space on each side of a linear barcode is part of the symbol’s scanning requirements. It is not decorative padding.

Keep the human-readable number visible where the format normally requires it. This gives staff a fallback when a code cannot be scanned.

Step 6: Print and test the barcode

A barcode that scans on a bright laptop screen may fail after printing.

Print a production-quality sample at the intended size and test it using the scanners and devices that will be used in practice. Test several samples rather than relying on one perfect print.

Check:

  • bar and background contrast;
  • physical size;
  • quiet zones;
  • print sharpness;
  • label material;
  • packaging curvature;
  • scanner distance and angle;
  • whether the encoded value matches the product record.

For important retail or supply-chain projects, ask a qualified provider to verify the printed symbol using appropriate barcode verification equipment.

Read How to Print Barcodes That Scan Reliably for a practical print checklist.

Step 7: Store the barcode and its product data

Once a barcode is approved, keep the value, format, product name, SKU, and final artwork together.

A managed barcode library helps prevent common problems such as:

  • assigning the same value twice;
  • using an old barcode on new packaging;
  • losing the final vector file;
  • sending different versions to suppliers;
  • forgetting which barcode belongs to a product variant.

Barcode Safe can help you save and organise your barcode library after generating the initial image.

A simple product barcode checklist

Before approving a barcode, confirm:

  • The identifier belongs to the correct product.
  • The selected format matches the retailer or workflow requirement.
  • The visible number matches the encoded data.
  • The barcode has not been stretched or cropped.
  • Quiet zones remain clear.
  • A production sample scans correctly.
  • The final file and product information are stored safely.

Creating the image takes seconds. Choosing the right number, format, placement, and print setup is what makes the barcode reliable.