Free Prepress & Artwork Tool · Zero Watermarks
Free UPC & Packaging Barcode Generator
Generate true-scale UPC-A, EAN-13, Code-128 (Amazon FNSKU), ITF-14 corrugated case, and EAN-8 barcodes in seconds. Built specifically for packaging prepress: automatic GS1 check-digit calculation, 80%–200% magnification sizing, Bar Width Reduction (BWR), 660 nm scanner contrast verification, and 1:1 mm vector SVG export for Adobe Illustrator.
Valid GS1 check digit (2) verified
Compensates for press dot gain so printed bars pass ANSI/ISO Grade A retail verification.
Next Step · Boxes
AI Box Dieline Generator →
Generate a custom mailer, folding carton, or rigid box dieline to place your barcode on.
Next Step · Mylar
Free Pouch Dieline Tool →
Create a stand-up pouch or 3-side seal mylar bag artwork template with safe zones.
From $0.04 / Unit
Custom Barcode Roll Labels →
Order high-tack waterproof UPC, FNSKU, and thermal transfer barcode labels on rolls.
Reviewed against GS1 General Specifications (Release 24+) and ISO/IEC 15416 print quality verification standards.
GS1 UPC-A & EAN-13 Packaging Barcode Size Chart (80%–200%)
Retail checkout scanners require a minimum quiet zone (unprinted light margin) on both sides of the bars and a proportional magnification between 80% and 200%. Never crop bar height solely to save space if you sell into big-box retailers—truncating bar height prevents omnidirectional checkout lasers from reading the symbol at an angle.
| GS1 Scale | X-Dim (mm) | Total Width × Height (mm) | Width × Height (in) | Recommended Packaging Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80% (Minimum) | 0.264 mm | 29.83 × 20.73 mm | 1.17 × 0.82 in | Cosmetic cartons, lip balm boxes, small 3.5g mylar bags |
| 90% | 0.297 mm | 33.56 × 23.32 mm | 1.32 × 0.92 in | Supplement bottles, tincture cartons, 4 oz coffee pouches |
| 100% (Nominal) | 0.330 mm | 37.29 × 25.91 mm | 1.47 × 1.02 in | Standard retail folding cartons, stand-up pouches & roll labels |
| 120% | 0.396 mm | 44.75 × 31.09 mm | 1.76 × 1.22 in | Cereal boxes, beverage carriers, coated corrugated mailers |
| 150% | 0.495 mm | 55.94 × 38.87 mm | 2.20 × 1.53 in | Club-store multi-packs, 5 lb mylar bags, E/B-flute retail shippers |
| 200% (Maximum) | 0.660 mm | 74.58 × 51.82 mm | 2.94 × 2.04 in | Direct flexo print on corrugated boxes & warehouse pallet cases |
Which Barcode Format Does Your Packaging Need?
| Symbology | Characters | Where Scanned | Packaging Format Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPC-A (GTIN-12) | 12 numeric digits | US & Canada retail checkout | Folding cartons, mylar bags, stand-up pouches |
| EAN-13 (GTIN-13) | 13 numeric digits | UK, EU, APAC & global retail POS | International retail boxes, cosmetics, ISBN book mailers |
| Code-128 (FNSKU) | Alphanumeric (ASCII) | Amazon FBA & 3PL warehouses | Barcode roll labels, poly bags, mailer boxes |
| ITF-14 (GTIN-14) | 14 numeric digits | Receiving docks & DC conveyors | Corrugated shipping boxes & master cases |
| EAN-8 (GTIN-8) | 8 numeric digits | Retail POS (space-constrained items) | Dropper bottles, pre-roll tubes, mini cosmetic cartons |
| Dynamic QR (GS1 Sunrise 2027) | URL + Lot/Batch data | Smartphones & 2D optical POS | Create free connected QR codes in Cubit One |
5 Packaging Prepress Rules So Your Barcode Never Fails at Retail
- 1. Print bars in 100% K Black (0C 0M 0Y 100K): Never build a barcode out of 4-color CMYK rich black. Single-channel black guarantees razor-sharp bar edges on offset, digital, and flexographic presses.
- 2. Knock out white behind metallic & clear films: On holographic mylar bags, silver foil cartons, or clear transparent BOPP labels, place a solid opaque white ink patch spanning the entire barcode and both quiet zones.
- 3. Use “Ladder” orientation on curved bottles & pouches: On narrow bottles, cans, tubes, and flexible pouches with tight curvature, rotate the barcode 90° so the bars stack horizontally like rungs of a ladder—preventing edge bars from wrapping out of scanner view.
- 4. Keep 5 mm clear of score lines, gussets, and heat seals: Place barcodes on a flat back or bottom panel at least 5 mm inside cut/crease lines on box dielines and outside the 10 mm heat-seal jaws on pouch dielines.
- 5. Pair 1D UPC with Smart QR for GS1 Sunrise 2027: Retailers are transitioning toward 2D QR codes alongside traditional UPCs. You can pair your static vector UPC from this tool with a free trackable dynamic QR code in Cubit One or serialized anti-counterfeit authentication via Cubit Secure.
Packaging Barcode Questions & Answers
How do I generate a print-ready UPC barcode for packaging artwork?
Select UPC-A, enter your 11-digit GS1 company + item prefix (or full 12-digit GTIN-12), choose your GS1 magnification scale (100% nominal = 37.29 × 25.91 mm), set ink to 100% K Black, and click Download True-Scale Vector SVG. Place the SVG directly onto your Adobe Illustrator or ArtiosCAD dieline without ungrouping or stretching non-proportionally.
What size should a UPC barcode be on a custom box or mylar bag?
Per GS1 General Specifications, a 100% nominal UPC-A or EAN-13 barcode measures 37.29 mm wide by 25.91 mm tall (1.47 × 1.02 inches), including quiet zones, with a 0.330 mm X-dimension. The smallest retail-compliant size is 80% magnification (29.83 × 20.73 mm), and the largest is 200% magnification (74.58 × 51.82 mm).
Should packaging barcodes be printed in CMYK rich black or 100% K black?
Always set packaging barcodes to 100% K (CMYK 0/0/0/100) single-plate black rather than 4-color rich black. Even a 0.1 mm plate misregistration across cyan, magenta, and yellow blurs the narrow 0.33 mm bar edges and drops scanner verification from Grade A to failure.
Does this generator create official GS1 company prefixes, or format existing numbers?
This tool encodes your existing GTIN/UPC, EAN, ITF-14, or Amazon FNSKU numbers into press-ready vector artwork and automatically calculates the official GS1 Modulo-10 check digit. If you sell in retail stores that require registered GTINs (such as Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, or Costco), license your numeric GTIN/company prefix from GS1 US first, then enter those digits here to export vector print artwork.
What is the difference between a UPC-A barcode and an Amazon FNSKU barcode?
UPC-A is a 12-digit numeric GS1 barcode scanned at retail checkout registers across North America. An Amazon FNSKU (starting with X00...) is an alphanumeric Code-128 barcode used inside Amazon FBA fulfillment centers to tie inventory to your specific seller account. Select Code-128 above to generate print-ready FNSKU vector barcodes.
When should I use an ITF-14 barcode on corrugated shipping boxes?
Use ITF-14 (14-digit Interleaved 2 of 5) on outer corrugated master cartons and wholesale cases that hold inner retail units. ITF-14 uses a wide 1.016 mm X-dimension and a thick 4.8 mm rectangular bearer frame that equalizes flexographic printing plate pressure on brown kraft corrugated board.
What is Bar Width Reduction (BWR) in packaging prepress?
Bar Width Reduction slightly narrows each vector bar in the digital file (typically 10 µm for offset folding cartons, 15 µm for flexo flexible pouches, and 25 µm for corrugated kraft) so natural wet-ink spread on press expands the printed bar back to exact GS1 tolerance.
Why can't I print a barcode in red ink or directly on unbacked metallic foil?
Retail laser and CCD checkout scanners illuminate barcodes with 660 nm red light. Red, orange, coral, and warm brown inks reflect red light identically to white paper, making the bars invisible to the scanner. On holographic or metallic mylar bags and foil cartons, always knock out a solid opaque white ink window behind 100% black bars.
Barcode ready? Print your labels, boxes, or pouches
Whether you need high-tack roll barcode labels from $0.04/unit or full-color custom boxes and mylar bags with verified Grade-A prepress barcodes, our Fremont packaging team quotes in hours.